Denmark 16.5.1974 - Pantomime Theatre in the Tivoli Garden’s in Copenhagen

This Danish stamp issue of 16.5.1974 depicts the delightful Pantomime Theatre in the Tivoli Garden’s in Copenhagen.

The Pantomime Theatre (Danish: Pantomimeteateret) is an open-air theatre located in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. As indicated by the name, it is primarily used for pantomime theatre in the classical Italian commedia dell'arte tradition which is performed daily. Besides this original function, the theatre leads a second life as a venue for ballet and modern dance.

The Pantomime Theatre is Tivoli's open-air silent stage (as depicted on the stamp). Every night, the Chinese Peacock Theatre presents a drama without words of the romantic love between Columbine and Harle-quin, with the foolish clown Pierrot as the eter-nal guardian of Columbine's virtue.

The pantomime came to Denmark from Italy in 1800 at a time when it was popular and widely performed all over Europe. Naturally, Tivoli also wished to introduce this attractive entertainment, and it has been a tradition in Tivoli since 1844.

As in silent movies, the humour is slapstick: blows and falls, silly mistakes and cunning rudeness. This is combined with graceful steps and a special sign language, which replaces dia-logue in Tivoli's pantomimes.

Many of the plays performed today are several hundred years old and date from the time when travelling troupes of actors toured Europe. Today, the Pantomime Theatre operates only in the summer season and for the rest of the year a majority of the performers are employed at the Royal Ballet.

Thank you Maria.

Sydney Opera House 17.10.1973

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the facility is adjacent to the Sydney central business district and the Royal Botanic Gardens, between Sydney and Farm Coves.

Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The NSW Government, led by Premier Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958, with Utzon directing construction. The government's decision to build Utzon's design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect's ultimate resignation.

The Opera House was formally opened by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on 20 October 1973. A large crowd attended. Utzon was not invited to the ceremony, nor was his name mentioned. The opening was televised and included fireworks and a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Thank you Maria.

Centenary of Mariehamn Theatre Society 7.2.2014

The 100th anniversary of the Mariehamn Theatre Society on 7 February 2014 was highlighted with the issue of a stamp by Åland artist Jonas Wilén.

Thanks to the profiling of Mariehamn as a seaside resort, Åland tourism gained momentum at the end of the late 1800s. Seaside life in Mariehamn thrived around the turn of the century, fuelling also theatre activities. Professional performers from both Finland and Sweden teamed up and put up plays in the seaside hotel of the town. When World War I broke out in 1914, these activities came to a halt but, thanks to a group of enthusiasts, led by ‘Åland King' Julius Sundblom among others, the ‘Swedish Theatre Society in Finland Mariehamn Branch' could hold its statutory meeting on 10 June 1914. The name was soon shortened to the present ‘Mariehamn Theatre Society'.

In the early years, performances were given in the spa hotel, but other premises such as Åland lyceum (the secondary school) and the Kino theatre were used, when the hotel was destroyed in a fire in 1916. Since 1939, Mariehamn town hall serves as domicile for the society.

Thank you Ella for this lovely FDC.