Thalia Theatre
Thalia Theatre in the 1850s
AddressDr. J. F. Nassylaan
Paramaribo
Suriname Suriname
Coordinates5°49′49″N 55°09′36″W / 5.83037°N 55.16002°W / 5.83037; -55.16002
Capacity500
Construction
Opened20 January 1840
Renovated2011
ArchitectJohan August Voigt

Thalia Theatre is a theatre in Paramaribo, Suriname. The theatre opened on 20 January 1840.

Overview

The Thalia Theatre Company was founded on 27 April 1837.[1] In December 1837, a terrain on the Dr. J. F. Nassylaan was acquired.[2] The theatre was built by architect Johan August Voigt with a capacity of 700 seats,[3] and opened on 20 January 1840.[4] Slaves and people on barefoot where initially not allowed in the theatre.[5]

In the late 19th century, there was disagreement about the future direction of the theatre. On 4 February 1894, former chairman Wessels postulated that there were two kinds of members: anarchists and conservatives.[6] The staging of a play dedicated to the governor van Wijck culminated in a public fistfight and the hospitalisation of one member of the theatre.[7]

In the 1950s, the theatre started to focus on producing their own plays and started to perform some plays in Sranan Tongo, the Creole spoken in Suriname.[8] The theatre company Pohama performed at Thalia as well, and was known for their 1 July event dedicated to the emancipation of slavery in Suriname.[9]

Inside the theatre

In the late 20th century, the building was in poor shape, and even demolition was considered.[10] In 2011, Thalia Theatre was restored, and reopened with reduced capacity of 500 seats.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "180 jaar Thalia". Werkgroup Caraibische Letteren (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Toneelgenootschap Thalia zit zonder inkomsten". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Kempen 2002, p. 198.
  4. ↑ Kempen 2002, p. 197.
  5. ↑ "Joden in de Cariben". Joods Cultureel Kwartier (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Kempen 2002, p. 307.
  7. ↑ Kempen 2002, p. 308.
  8. ↑ "Theater Thalia, Paramaribo". Theater Encyclopedie (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Papa Koenders, een strijder voor het Sranan". Werkgroup Caraïbische Letteren (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Het verhaal achter het oudste Theater in Paramaribo". Theater Thalia (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Theater Thalia". Uit SU (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 March 2021.

Bibliography

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