De Koninklijke Schouwburg

Part of The Hague Visit report

The elegant facade of the De Koninklijke Schouwburg (Royal Theatre) on Korte Voorhout is not obviously identifiable as a theatre. What are now the entrance and foyers of the theatre are formed from a palatial building dating from 1766 that was intended as the residence for Carolina van Nassau-Weilburg, sister of stadhouder William V and her husband. The theatre was added behind it in 1804.

The changes to the theatre are not clearly recorded. The shape of the auditorium is as originally built but a central royal box was removed and boxes inserted on either side of the proscenium in the 1860s and the painted ceiling and central light added at later dates.

In the early 20th century there were plans to build a new theatre on this or another site and hence the competition which was the subject of the lecture which occasioned the Society's visit. In the 1990s a restoration programme and modernisation, on which Iain Mackintosh was advisor, removed the proscenium arch, greatly improved audience circulation and added necessary modern facilities, including beautiful glass spiral staircases on either side of the auditorium.

Plan of the theatre at first circle level. The shaded areas
are the foyers formed in the original building.

The 675-seat main auditorium. Note the side-mounted lighting
gantries which avoid mounting lamps on the gallery fronts.
There is also a 70-seat studio theatre, Het Paradijs,
which has been created on the upper floor of the building.

Related Pages STR Visit to the Koninklijke Schouwburg General Events Archive General Events Programme Frank Matcham and Co. External Links Koninklijke Schouwburg (as translated by Google)

3rd March 2008

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