The history of Victoria

It started as a cinema

On 9 September 1912, the architect and builder Axel Stenberg opened the doors to Victoriateatern for the first time. Inspired by Stora Biografteatern, Stenberg built the largest and most magnificent cinema in Malmö. It became an instant success, and Victoriateatern was soon the city’s leading cinema.

Originally, Victoriateatern had a pit at the front where a small orchestra sat and accompanied the silent movies. At that time, there was no stage, and windows lined the north wall. The horseshoe-shaped balcony seen in this picture existed well into the 1950s. In 1916, the house was modified for the first time; for example, all the windows were bricked over to allow for the possibility of a house being built next door.

Already in the early 1920s, Victoriateatern lost its place as the leading cinema for silent movies. Bigger and grander cinemas, such as Palladium on Södergatan, had opened, and the competition was becoming fierce. The ever-growing demand for more and more movies and the central location, however, made it possible for Victoriateatern to survive—if sometimes barely—for the next twenty years.

Variety theater in the 1940s

In the mid-1940s, just as World War II changed the world, Victoriateatern also turned in a new direction. The film screen and the orchestra pit had to give way to a large stage – the cinema transformed into a variety theater! Sigge Hommerberg and “Dubbel-Olle” Ohlsson started doing summer variety theater, and this success was followed by some high-profile productions. The legend Thor Modén performed Skånerapsodi 2 in 1948, and the following year Hjördis Petterson starred in Vår Tages Hage. Other famous names who performed at Victoriateatern during the variety era were Git Gay and Hans Lindgren.

However, the era of variety performance was to be short-lived. In the mid-1950s, Victoriateatern once again returned to life as a cinema, but being relatively small and out of date, the 1960s were a constant struggle for survival.

The occupation of Victoria

In March 1974, after SF released their last film at Victoriateatern, the cinema closed its doors to the public. When the building was threatened with demolition the following year, a committee, Victoriakommittén, was formed, demanding that the premises be turned into a cultural building.

In early 1976, the issue had escalated to breaking point, and Victoriakommittén, led by Mikael Wiehe, Lasse Söderberg and a young Fredrik Gertten, occupied the building. This action drew a lot of attention, and finally the decision-makers listened – Victoriateatern was saved, and extensive restoration work could begin.

Modern times

Victoriateatern re-opened in 1981 in its current constellation, becoming Malmö’s most multifunctional cultural centre – concert hall, cinema and theater all in one. A year after the re-opening, the cultural society Kontrast took over the cinema side, and in 1990 the entire scenic management.

After a decade of theatre variety shows, events and concerts, Victoriateatern celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012 – but a more vibrant, young and exuberant centenarian would be hard to find. Today’s range of performances is more varied and multifaceted than ever before, and with an audience of all ages we can look forward to another hundred years of great events.