The Theatre of Drottningholm - Then and Now: Performance between the 18th and 21st centuries

The Theatre of Drottningholm - Then and Now tells the story of the Drottningholm Court Theatre, from 1766 - the year it was built - to today?s performances presented during annual summer festivals. The court theatre was rarely used after Gustav III?s death in 1792 until it was rediscovered in 1921, [...]
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The Theatre of Drottningholm - Then and Now tells the story of the Drottningholm Court Theatre, from 1766 - the year it was built - to today?s performances presented during annual summer festivals. The court theatre was rarely used after Gustav III?s death in 1792 until it was rediscovered in 1921, luckily for us, because this has meant that not only the auditorium but also the stage machinery, painted flats and backdrops have been almost perfectly preserved. This book provides a vivid picture of the Drottningholm Court Theatre: the architecture, the many different activities which took place here during the Gustavian era, and the use made of the theatre since its rediscovery to explore the nature of Baroque performance.

Thomas Postlewait writes in his preface:

"This fine book thus meets the needs of several types of readers. It serves those summer visitors who want a well-written and accessible survey of Drottningholm that provides a reliable and detailed record of their immediate experiences; it serves practitioners of theatre and opera who want to understand the challenges of crafting successful performances for this specific site and its special audiences; it serves teachers of theatre and opera who want a solid historical record of this theatre, including its architectural features and staging practices; and it serves theatre scholars who require an accurate and fully engaged study of one of the few remaining theatres from the Enlightenment era. To their credit, Sauter and Wiles address each of these potential readers. They invite us, chapter by chapter, to experience the historical context and artistic qualities of Drottningholm Theatre."

Willmar Sauter is Professor of Theatre Studies at Stockholm University (Sweden)

David Wiles is Professor of Drama at the University of Exeter (UK)