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of the g reatest importance to D a n ish nationality, and many
interesting episodes of the stage history of this coun try have
tak en place here. T h ro u g h o u t the collection testimonies h ereof
will be found. In 1826, Jo h a n Ludvig Heiberg, one of the most
im p o rta n t poets of D e nm a rk , in these rooms ma de the acquain-
tance of his fu tu re wife, Jo h a n n e Luise Heiberg , the greatest
actress of D e nm a rk , and this meeting was to be of great im
portance to the literatu re and stage of Scandinavia. A lso
K ing F red erik V II (1808-1863) met w ith his spouse, the Coun -
tess of D a n n e r, at the d an cing school of the Theatre, where
she was a pupil. Later on she held a position as a quasi queen
by the k in g ’s side in the royal box in the centre of the dress
circle. A n o th e r stage candidate acquired a wo rld re nown ed
name, i. e. H a n s An d ersen , the fairy-tale poet, who in his y o u th
in vain tried to become an actor of the C o u rt Theatre.
T h e conflagration of the V ie n n a R ing T h eatre in 1881 caused
the closure of the C o u rt Theatre. Since th e n it has been used
for only three performances in 1914. W h e n , in 1922, the D a
nish stage celebrated its 200 y e a rs ’ jubilee, the Theatrical M u
seum was ina ugu rated . It now comprises abou t 30.000 pictures
a n d objects, no t only from the stage of the Capital b u t also
from those of the provincial towns. It is the first a n d greatest
theatrical m u seum of Scandinavia. Th e tende nc y of th e C o l
lection is of a ma rk ed ly nation al character, and its historical
rooms form a frame in good h a rm on y w ith its contents. It is
a mu seum in a museum .