Kvadraturen for children - Bankplassen and Christiania Theater
Bankplassen 4
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Photo: Tove Solbakken, Byantikvaren
A part of the tour Kvadraturen for children
Bankplassen was once home to the Christiania Theater. One of the more infamous incidents in old Christiania was the great theatre riot, which took place right in front of the theatre.
Christiania Theater was opened in 1837. It was they city’s first, real theatre building. At this time Norway had broken free from a union with Denmark. It was now in union with Sweden, but with much more freedom than before. It was important for many people to build a Norwegian identity, through language, art, politics and other subjects and the theater was one of the places these subject were raised. Should the plays be performed in Norwegian or Danish?
Photo: Photo: Christian Heinrich Grosch / Oslo Museum
This painting was made in 1838, when Christiania Theater was brand new. The grey building to the right is the old Norges Bank, who's still standing.
The two poets Wergeland and Welhaven couldn’t agree on the debate around the Norwegian language. When Wergeland’s play «Campellerne» was premiered at Christiania Theater in January 1838, the two poets fan groups clashed. Inside the theater Welhaven’s followers did everything they could to disturb the play. They blew whistles, played harmonicas and threw apples and tobacco at the actors.
After the play finished, the fight continued outside in front of the theatre. The police tried to interfere, but it wasn’t easy. People were attacking each other with sticks, others had their wigs ripped off. Afterwards no one could tell who actually won the battle.
Christiania Theater was closed and demolished in 1899, when the new National theatre was build.
Photo: Photo: Lorentz Kleiser / Oslo Museum
We don't have any photos of the so called "Theatre-battle", but this is what the theatre looked like from the inside. You can imagine it's full of people who's shouting and screaming, and throwing things at the stage.