If one is in Svendborg in the sommer, one should use the occasion
and visit the oldest sommertheater in Denmark. There is a very special
atmosphere in the over 100 years old theater. The theater was build
in 1883 in the center of Caroline Amalilund forest or Rottefaelden
(rat trap) as it is called. The forest was for many years a prefered
place by the citizens to go in the sommer on picnics. Among other
thing here was the some shootingcontests held.
Revy, a danish sort of music hall, started in copenhagen in 1849,
but were only held during the winter season. In august 1873 there
was the idea of making a sommerrevy, and since then it has been
a tradition in theatres in Denmark. |
In 1883
the board of the forest in Svendborg initatited an expansion of
the in the forest with theater and revy. They had the architect
Henrik Wandall erecting the building worth 12600 kr. It tuned out
to be a very good investment because allready in the summer it was
successful. The theatre was filled with people that came to see
concerts, theater, revy and other sorts of entertainment. If one
goes to the back of the thetre one sees a lot of autographs from
many danish actors who has performet here. It has been tradition
that they put thier autographs here. Unfortunately many of them
has been erased by the weather. In 1972 the I/S Svendborg forest
owners sold the theatre and svendborg coulcil took over and the
management is controled by an institution formed by a group of citizens.
The summer theatre isn't used in the summer only, but is occupied
by Baggårdsteatret (Another small theatre), which earlier had address
in the center of the city. |
| The name
'Rottefælle' is of unknown origin, but there are two stories the
historians has come up with. In the ravine by the sunken road of
at forrest came oneday a group of swedish horsemen riding on their
way home from the swedish wars, but they were trapped here just
like in a rat trap. The other version says that the name derives
from an old marsh by the castle nearby the forest. The marsh was
called rytterfaelden (horsemans trap) because the landlords lured
horsemen into the marsh during a meeting. The word has during the
years since then changed through funen dialect into the word 'rottefaelden'.
Untill now the word is found in old document dating as far back
as 1731. The forest wasn't allowed to be called so officially though,
becouse in 1826 the heads in svendborg counsil thoght the name had
to be changed to something nicer. They applyed the governoer, the
future king Christian 8, to name the forest Christiansminde(Christian's
memorial), but was declined. Three years later, in 1829, the gvernoer
payd a visit to the city at the initiation of the foundation for
a new town hall. They then asked for the name Caroline Amalie grove,
the name of the crown prinsess. This seemed to please the governor
who during the same occasion gave permission the use the name Christians
memorial, but for the forest and area at svendborg sound that before
1829 was called 'Termeriet'. That name probably came from Rome where
'terms' were bathing places with sports areas.
 |
The photograph is
a post card from 1884 and shows the old restaurant and forest
ranger's house in Rottefælden. It was also called Holmehuset.
In 1884 it was replaced by the present theater building. |
|
| The
summertheater can be found on Caroline Amalivej 26, Rottefældeskoven
(forest).
Visit Svendborg's theatres
website
and read more on what is playing in the summer theater. |
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