The Stadsschouwburg is the largest theater building in the city of Utrecht. The building designed in 1937 by the famous architect Willem Dudok is located on the Lucasbolwerk on the edge of Utrecht's city center. . The building was recognized as a national monument around 2009 after being named in 2007 in the Top 100 Dutch Monuments 1940-1958.
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht History
In the earlier history of this city theater, there was a ban on the theater for religious reasons. The first predecessor of the theater arose after the lifting of the Vredenburg ban in 1796. In what was a wooden building, theatrical performances were performed. King Louis Napoleon made it the Royal Theater. Twelve years after its opening, it was destroyed by fire.
In 1821, Cees van Leeuwen opened a new theater on the Vredenburg, built by Gerrit van Dorssen. Around 1860, this theater was owned by the actor couple Jan Eduard de Vries and Maria Francisca Bia. Although the building was in poor condition and the municipality threatened to stop the subsidy, Mrs. Bia continued the exploitation after her husband's death in 1875. In 1880, a gas explosion occurred during a performance, causing extensive damage to the entire structure. That same year, Bia sold the theater for 18,000 guilders to the Utrechtsche Schouwburg Vereeniging, which had the building substantially rebuilt.
Around 1914, the municipality of Utrecht became the new owner, and soon the Vredenburg also housed the Utrecht Jaarbeurs, which gradually expanded. In the 1930s it was decided to build a completely new theater in a different location.
In 1937, construction began on the new city theater on the Lucasbolwerk. At the outbreak of World War II, the building was still not ready and the Nazis and members of the NSB threatened to demolish the building. According to architect Dudok, he was threatened with a letter and jail time.
After its completion in 1941, the old theater on the Vredenburg was demolished and the new theater used by the NSB for mass demonstrations. Dudok had to answer to the Honorary Board of Architecture in 1946 and was cleared of all blame.
The most substantial renovation of the Stadsschouwburg took place in 1995, when the existing fly tower was fitted with a transparent dome, the stage entrance was enlarged, and a flexible grandstand was added to the auditorium.
In 2002, the lobby and foyer area underwent a transformation. The theater restaurant and the Zindering café were also opened.