Stockholm City Theatre

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Stockholm City Theatre at Sergel Square.

Stockholm City Theatre, or Stockholms stadsteater in Swedish, is Sweden's most popular theatre stage. It was created in 1956 but the first performance was delayed until 1960. It had not yet been decided where the theatre would lie so the Folkets hus building at Norra Bantorget, with a temporary stage, became the first solution. However, this "temporary solution" lasted for a near thirty years and until the autumn of 1990, when all activity finally moved to the present location at Sergels torg.

Stockholm City Theatre is situated in the heart of Stockholm, in the building commonly known as Kulturhuset (the House of Culture); the large enlighted glass building at Sergels torg (Sergel Square), near the Sergel fountain and the Stockholm city roundabout. Kulturhuset is one of Stockholm City's most popular public buildings and, besides the theatre, also includes small cafés, book shops, a bar and a restaurant, various exhibitions, art and different public happenings (such as debates, lectures, book signings, work shops, etc.).

The theatre is Sweden's most popular stage and the theatre with the highest bookings - as well as the constant "competitor" in Stockholm to the Royal Dramatic Theatre (the official national stage). Stockholm City Theatre produces 30-40 productions a year on nine stages and in 2005 it had a total number of 450 000 visitors (which is a very high visiting number considering Sweden's population of ~9 million people and for an only Stockholm based, non-touring theatre).

Popular Swedish actors of the Stockholm City Theatre ensemble include Helena Bergström, Göran Ragnerstam, Ingvar Hirdwall, Sven Wollter, Ann Petrén and Jakob Eklund, among others.

[edit] Stockholm City Theatre's nine stages

Stora scenen (the main stage; 550 seats)
Lilla scenen (323 seats)
Klarascenen (336 seats)
Kafé Klara/Klara soppteater (café and lunch theatre)
Parkteatern (the outdoor/open-air stage; summer stage run by Stockholm City Theatre, free entrance)
Lagret (stage part of "Unga Klara"; founded by director Suzanne Osten in the 1970s; 200 seats)
Akvariet (stage part of "Unga Klara"; founded by director Suzanne Osten in the 1970s; 90 seats)
Skärholmen (stage in Skärholmen suburb, outside Stockholm city centre, run by Stockholms City Theatre)
Bryggan (intimate stage for contemporary drama; 70 seats)