Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Other Baroque Theatres

Aside from the more well known old (Renaissance or Baroque) theatres, there are other, less well-known theatres. Many of these theatres are outdoor theatres, and may be found in gardens, caves, by cliffs, in forests. Many of these theatres are in small towns. Many of these theatres have simply been forgotten. Unfortunately, many of these theatres, if not torn down as eye-sores, have been rebuilt, all the old fixtures modernized, thereby destroying the theatres altogether. 1 The following list is not complete. 2

The palaces of the nobility and the aristocracy, (with private Baroque theatres in many cases), should impress us. After all, they were intended to impress us. Not only because these people were often the ancestors of "Papa Biedermeier" or Bourgeois even with Classical entablatures to advertise their castles, but because the act of "impressing" was intended to intimidate the "commoners". The strictly hierarchical world of the Baroque nobility and aristocracy was falling apart! Why else the need to intimidate the "commoners"? 1789 was fast approaching! Religious calm: Trials for Witchcraft, Heresy (Lutherans vs Catholics, Jews, even Moslems) were tearing this hierarchical society apart! The Baroque theatre, with its realistic thunder and lightning machines, Gods descending from clouds, wind machines, rain machines intend to show the social realities intentionally placed on the stage: power vs. powerlessness. It worked! At least for a few years. 3

Some of these "old" theatres may not have been built during the Renaissance or Baroque times, they might have been constructed during the 19th century. Nevertheless they are included here as the methods of construction (raked stage, capstan-driven movable wings, stage machinery, etc.) were the same or very similar to those found in older Renaissance or Baroque theatres, or the repertoire and costumes might have been effectively the same as that found in older Renaissance or Baroque theatres.

Ostankino theatre in Russia is especially important.

  1. Austria
    1. Grein Town Theatre: 1793
    2. Lambach Convent Theatre: 1769
    3. Weitra Castle Theatre: 1757
  1. Belgium
    1. Castle Theatre Chimay, Belgium (1863)
  1. Czechosolvakia
    1. Kačina Castle Theatre (1822)
    2. Kozel Castle Theatre (1830)
  1. Denmark
    1. Christiansborg Hofteatret, Denmark (Copenhagen, 1767)
  1. England
    1. Newcastle Theatre Royal (1819)
    2. Georgian Theatre (Richmond, 1788)
  1. France
    1. Chateau Le Petit (Compiegne, 1832)
    2. Chateau Théâtre (Digoine, 1788)
    3. Chateau Théatre (Eu, 1850)
    4. Chateau Théatre (La Roche Guyon, 1767)
    5. Chateau Théatre (Sully, 1830)
    6. Chateau Théatre (Taillis, 19th century)
    7. Chateau Théatre (Valencay, 1810)
    8. Théatre de la Reine (Versailles, 1780)
    9. Voltaire's Théatre (Cirey, 1735)
  1. Germany
    1. Cuvilliés Theatre (Munich, 1755)
    2. Goethe Theatre (Bad Lauchstaed, 1802)
    3. Meiningen Theatre (Meiningen, 1866)
    4. Playhouse Wilhelmsbad (Hanau, 1781)
    5. Putbus Theatre (Putbus, 1821)
    6. Rococo Theatre (Schwetzingen, 1753)
    7. Theatre in the New Palace (Potsdam, 1769)
  1. Italy
    1. Bonci Theatro (Cesena, 1843)
    2. Municpal Theatre (Bologna, 1763)
    3. Municpal Theatre Masini (Faenza, 1788)
    4. Scientific Theatre (Mantua, 1769)
    5. Theatrino del Conservatorio (Braccano, 1527)
    6. Theatrino del Convitto Nacionale Rinaldo Corsa (Correggio, 1783)
    7. Teatro Giuseppe Verdi (Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 1841)
    8. Teatro Valli (Reggio Emila, 17th century)
    9. Teatro in Villa Aldrovandi-Mazzacorati, (Bologna, 1763)
  1. Malta
    1. Manoel Theatre (Valeta, Malta, 1863)
  1. Norway
    1. Fridrickhald Theatre (Halden, Norway, 1838)
  1. Poland
    1. Lancut Castle Theatre (Lancut, Poland, 1784)
  1. Russia
    1. Arkhangelskoye Muzeum (Pietro Gonzago Teatr, Russia, 1817)
    2. Hermitage Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia, 1787)
    3. Kuskovo Theatre (Moscow, 1760)
    4. Ostankino Palace Theatre (Ostankino, Russia, 1795)     ⇐ (especially important)!
  1. Sweden
    1. Hedemona Old Theatre (Sweden, 1820)
    2. Vadstena Old Theatre (Sweden, 1825)
1 Dolejší, Jana; (Ed.), "Akustika" (Journal), Studio D - akustika s.r.o., Volume 18, September, 2012, Speciální Číslo: Svět Barokních Divadel (Special Issue: Baroque Theatres), p. 5
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2 Dolejší, Jana; (Ed.), "Akustika" (Journal), Studio D - akustika s.r.o., Volume 18, September, 2012, Speciální Číslo: Svět Barokních Divadel (Special Issue: Baroque Theatres), pp. 8-11
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3 Dolejší, Jana; (Ed.), "Akustika" (Journal), Studio D - akustika s.r.o., Volume 18, September, 2012, Speciální Číslo: Svět Barokních Divadel (Special Issue: Baroque Theatres), pp. 12, 13

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