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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