The facade on Frederiksberg Allé
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Address |
Frederiksberg Allé, Frederiksberg Copenhagen Denmark |
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Coordinates | 55°40′27″N 12°32′13″E / 55.6741°N 12.5370°E |
Type | Event venue (current) |
Capacity | 775 numbered seats |
Opened | 1859 |
Website | |
bettynansen.dk |
Betty Nansen Teatret (Betty Nansen Theatre) is a theatre situated on Frederiksberg Allé in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It takes its name from the actress Betty Nansen, who managed it from 1917 until her death in 1943.
A beer garden called Odéon opened at the site of the current theatre in 1857 as part of the thriving entertainment district which formed along Frederiksberg Allé during the second part of the 19th century. It contained a wooden structure which was used for musical entertainment and had room for 1,200 guests who were seated at small tables.
In 1869 the actor Ferdinand Schmidt changed its name to Frederiksbergs Morskabsteater (English: Frederiksberg Entertainment Theatre) after obtaining a license to arrange theatrical performances, although only during the summer months and with a small cast. Vilhelm Petersen, who took over management of the theatre in 1875, introduced summer revues, a genre which had been seen sporadically in Denmark since 1849 but saw its first major success with Reisen til Maanen which premiered at the theatre on 2 August 1876. It played 170 times before going on tour to the provinces and was also repreated the following year.
By 1888 the wooden pavilion was so worn down that it was demolished and a new building in brick, with a large stage and an auditorium with balconies, was built in its place. The new theatre was open all year round and featured a repertoire of farces, Comédies en vaudeville and revues.
The theatre changed its name to Frederiksberg Teater in 1904 and again in 1914 to Alexandrateatret after Christian IX's eldest daughter. Its profile gradually changed in a more serious and artistically ambitious direction with plays by George Bernard Shaw, Henrik Ibsen, Strindberg and Frank Wedekind.