Fredrikshald Theatre, Halden (NO) visit 4th of August 2013

Norway‘s best preserved historic theatre opened in 1838., and expanded in 1850 with banqueting rooms and a kitchen. 
An extensive restoration campaign was completed in 1982 and a new dressing room block added.

The theatre has guided tours, but can also be visited on appointment, so we were greeted by Ms. Annerud who especially opened her theatre for us on Sunday morning.

The venue is owned by the by Halden historiske Samlinger (Halden History Museum).
The theatre operates as a theatre and event location within the antiquarian and museum requirements.
 

Fredrikshald Theatre has an extraordinary collection of stage sets from the 19th century

The stage, too, has been preserved, featuring a simple mechanism for scene changes.

There is no understage machinery.

Also visit the fort high on the hill above Halden, and have a drink and something to eat at the restaurants overlooking the waterside at the fjord.

Château de Chimay (BE) visit 18th of July 2015

In the castle of the prince of Chimay is the only court theatre in Belgium that is located inside the walls of the castle.

In the seventeenth century, there already was a theatre, located in the courtyard.
Even then, music festivals were taking place.
In 1863 is started with the construction of a baroque theatre inside the castle, after a design by the architects Cambon and Lefuel.

The theatre is below ground level, because they didn't want to lift the roof.
Since the castle is build on a rock, the theatre is excavated in the rock.
The "Royal box" is at ground level, and has access to the ball room.

In 1935 practically the whole castle was destroyed by fire, but the theatre was saved.
In 2011, The present prince of Chimay, prince Philippe commission an important renovation of the theatre.
The paintings were done by Thierry Bosquet, former head painter at the national opera La Monaie De Munt.

He also painted the new sets, that were put on tracks at the moment of our visit.
Here you see prince Philippe showing us around:

Unfortunatly the understage machinery is no longer there.
The only part that remains are the iron tracks where the wagons used to roll on.
Today, the tracks are in use to store the stock of champagne on.

The audience room is magnificent and very baroque.
The sound of the room that sits 200 people is perfect for music performances.
The music festival is renowned for many years.

The castle and theatre can be visited during opening hours.
When you come in, you receive an iPad trough which you can look at the exterior and interior of the castle with augmented reality.
Very hitech, but also a very nice way to visit the castle at your own pace.
There is a special version for children included.
Included in the visit is a 3D film, shown in the theatre, showing the history of the castle in a very entertaining way.
Well worth a visit, and don't forget to taste the magnificent Chimey beer (blond and brown)

Teatro Farnese Parma (IT) visit 12th of August 2014

The theatre lies hidden inside the vast Palazzo della Pilotta.
It's part of the big art museum, but can also be visited seperatly during museum hours: for a few euro, you're in!

The theatre was designed for tournament-operas, a mix of opera and fighting.

The action on stage could be continued in the arena of the auditorium which could also be filled with water to host sea battles

Performances in the Farnese Theatre were rare and restricted to special occasions.

It became a model for Baroque theatre by virtue of its size and a new element: a monumental proscenium that divides the stage (with the first movable scenery in theatre history) and the auditorium.

This is considered to be the first proscenium in history.

Following an air raid, the wooden interior burnt down in 1944 and was reconstructed in 1956.

Despite the fact that everything is relatively new, I heartily recommend a visit, since it's still a magnificent venue.

Teatro Comunale Bologna (IT) visit 2th of August 2014

The theatre, Designed by  famous architect and stage designer Antonio Galli Bibiena opened on 14 may 1763 

Over the next centuries bigger and smaller changes were executed concerning the camerini, i.e. small rooms behind the boxes, the walls of the stalls area, the portal, the painted ceiling (the current one dates from 1870) and the stage.

The facade was completed only in 1935-36 and the stage technology is of a much later date (90's)

But the real hidden treasure is below the floor of the auditorium.
There is a wooden machinery from 1820 that can lift the whole floor to the level of the stage.

Thanks to several leavers, the whole floor can be tilted so that the auditorium floor comes at the same lavel of the stagefloor, creating a big flat area that can be used for balls, parties, etc.

It(s not uncommon the auditorium floor can be leveled out to stage level, but to my knowledge, this can never be dome mechanicaly.
With just a few people and the matter of minutes the whole floor can be raised.

Nobody knows for sure when the machery was put in, but it's already mentioned in an inventory made in 1800.

Unfortunaly, this extra ordinary machine is not open for visit to the general public.
A technical study is made by Giuseppe Amoruso, titled: "Una macchina di legno nel Teatro Comunale di Bologna"

Royal Opera Stockholm (SE) visit 5 June 2015

The Royal Opera is a neo-classicist theatre from 1898, build at the place of the original opera house, build by Gustav III.

The building across the present opera building used to mirror the first venue, giving you an idea of how it was earlier.

It is in this opera house Gustav III was killed, later made into the opera “Un Ballo in Maschera” by Verdi.

 At the time we were invited to look at the renovation of all the under and upper stage machinery (by Bosch Rexroth), as well as the renewed lighting equipment.

It was of course very impressing to see the newest thing of technology implemented in an historic building, but we also had the chance to join a "historic tour", conducted by a former member of the ballet.

The man was an impressive raconteur, taking us trough the building, telling anecdote after anecdote.

.The Tours can be booked as a public tour trough the box office of the opera house.
If all guides are as good as ours was, I can recommend it fully!

Gripsholm Palace Theatre (SE) visit 6 June 2015

In Grimpsholm castle in Mariefred we find King Gustavs III private theatre.

Court theatres are often found in strange places, and this one is located in one of the towers.

The original design quickly proved to small, so the tower itself was enlarged to host a bigger theatre.

The king's private palace theatre was completed in 1781. It was designed cleanly inspired on Palladio's Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. 

Gripsholm Palace Theatre has been preserved in its entirety since the last recorded performance in 1785. 

 Located in it's position in the tower, the theatre has a peculiar cross section.

 The stage set displayed on stage today is the one used when the play "Drottning Christina"

 The upper machinery is on an enchanting complexity and poetry

 Again, here the understage machinery is impressive, and can, thanks to the windows, being admired at daylight.

At the time, it must have been possible to work there in daylight to, something a lot of present day theatre technicians will envy.

 Sometimes people ask what the the attraction of ancient theatre technology is.
Often one of the attraction is the pure aestatic beauty of the machines.

We visited the theatre in the company of the eminent theatre historian Iain Mackintosh.

He took the opportunity to regale us on a monologue dating from the era the theatre was in use.

The theatre can be visited daily, including a good view of the 18th century stage machinery below the stage.

The site is also accessible by boat from Stockholm (a very nice trip) and the village of Mariefred is also worth a visit.

Confidencen (SE) visit 5 June 2015

Confidencen or The Court Theatre at Ulriksdal Palace features the oldest original theatre interior in Sweden, designed 1753 by the theatre architect Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz. The building itself had originally been constructed as riding stables in the 1670’s

It's rather hard to find but in beautifull surroudings.

The public area is relatively sober, but elegant.

Of course the most impressive here is again the changing of the sets using the baroque machinery.

Two sets were installed at the time we visited.

The wonderful part here is that the machinery and is completely new built, based on old plans an a lot of research:

There is no real understage: the stage is built on the floor of the hall, and the approx. 120 cm height of the stage is used to hide the machinery in.

Also on stage everything looks new and smells as fresh wood.

A strange experince when you're used to old, dusty theatres.

A special feature of the venue is the "confidensen room" where the king could have confidential talks.

In order to do that, it was possible to open a "stagetrap" in the floor, and rize a table that was pre set in the cellar.

That way, they were not disturbed by servant going in and out.

Apart from the dining table, it's also possible to raise 2 smaller side tables to presenr dessert on.

The nice thing is, everything is done with the same technology as used in the theater

Across the street is e very good restaurant called Ulriksdals Wärdshus.

Rather expensive, but beautiful surroundings.