Pierre Deland
Encyclopedia
Pierre Joseph Deland, was a Swedish actor and theatre director. As director of the Deland travelling theatre, he was one of the most famous artists in both Sweden
and Finland
during the mid 19th century. His troupe inaugurated several of the first theatres founded in the Swedish and Finnish towns during this period. They toured between the theatres of the countryside. Such theatres did not have a standing ensemble and therefore regarded these troupes as their regular staff.
, was the master of the Royal Swedish Ballet
.
Pierre Deland worked as a clerk and an officer before he joined the travelling theatre of Kristoffer Svanberg with his brothers Lars Mauritz and Fredrik in 1822. He married the stepdaughter of the director, Charlotta de Broen, and in 1833, he took over the Svanberg troupe, now called the Deland troupe, and the year after, they performed in Gothenburg
, where the star Charlotta Eriksson
performed with them as a guest artist.
His troupe inaugurated the theatre in Uppsala
in 1840, the Åmål
theatre in 1848, and others. They regularly performed at the Åbo Svenska Teater
after its foundation in 1839. They inaugurated the Swedish Theatre
in Helsinki
in the 1860–1861 season, and it was from his troupe that the first regular troupe of this Finnish national stage was hired. His wife Charlotta Deland and his brother Fredrik Deland where also popular actors, and his daughter Betty Deland
and son-in-law Knut Almlöf were to be stars at the Royal Dramatic Theatre
.
As an actor he was considered well educated and versatile; he taught his students a more natural way of speaking, upheld a high artistic standard, and often played French comedies. However, as a person he was not very well liked by his colleagues, as he was a very strict director. He was described as cold and arrogant towards his actors, and he demanded "virtue and order" not only in their work but also in their private lives.
In 1835 he bought Djurgårdsteatern jointly with Ulrik Torsslow
and Sara Torsslow
; the theatre and its licence belonged to his wife's family. She was the daughter of director Isaac de Broen (d.1815) and the niece of Aurora de Broen, whose husband they bought it from. The companionship was dissolved in 1837, but in 1849, he was again made director, and the troupe then performed there in the summers and in Finland during the winters. In the 1850s, his finances deteriorated, as he chose to play to solemny plays for the taste of the audience, and in 1861, he accepted an offer to join the Royal Dramatic Theatre
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
during the mid 19th century. His troupe inaugurated several of the first theatres founded in the Swedish and Finnish towns during this period. They toured between the theatres of the countryside. Such theatres did not have a standing ensemble and therefore regarded these troupes as their regular staff.
Biography
Pierre Deland was born the child of Jean Pierre Deland, violinist of the royal chapell; his grandfather, Louis Antoine Deland, was from Luxembourg and was originally hairdresser of the queen. His uncle, Louis DelandLouis Deland
Louis Joseph Marie Deland was a Swedish ballet dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and ballet master in the Royal Swedish Ballet...
, was the master of the Royal Swedish Ballet
Royal Swedish Ballet
The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in Europe. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav III founded the ballet in 1773 as a part of his national cultural project in response to the French and Italian dominance in this field; he also founded the Royal Swedish Opera and the...
.
Pierre Deland worked as a clerk and an officer before he joined the travelling theatre of Kristoffer Svanberg with his brothers Lars Mauritz and Fredrik in 1822. He married the stepdaughter of the director, Charlotta de Broen, and in 1833, he took over the Svanberg troupe, now called the Deland troupe, and the year after, they performed in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, where the star Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Maria Eriksson was a Swedish actress, one of the most popular and notable actors in Sweden in the first half of the 19th century. She was also a translator, an actor-instructor, a vice principal, and a painter....
performed with them as a guest artist.
His troupe inaugurated the theatre in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
in 1840, the Åmål
Åmål
Åmål is a locality and the seat of Åmål Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 9,380 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Vänern....
theatre in 1848, and others. They regularly performed at the Åbo Svenska Teater
Åbo Svenska Teater
Åbo Svenska Teater is a Finland-Swedish theatre in the city of Turku in Finland and the oldest theatre in the country, founded in 1839. The building itself is also the oldest still functioning theatre house in Finland...
after its foundation in 1839. They inaugurated the Swedish Theatre
Swedish Theatre
The Swedish Theatre is a Swedish-speaking theatre in Helsinki, Finland and is located at the Erottaja square, at the end of Esplanadi . It was the first national stage of Finland.- History :...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in the 1860–1861 season, and it was from his troupe that the first regular troupe of this Finnish national stage was hired. His wife Charlotta Deland and his brother Fredrik Deland where also popular actors, and his daughter Betty Deland
Betty Deland
Betty Deland, as married Almlöf, , was a Swedish child actor, actor and principal at Dramatens elevskola...
and son-in-law Knut Almlöf were to be stars at the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
.
As an actor he was considered well educated and versatile; he taught his students a more natural way of speaking, upheld a high artistic standard, and often played French comedies. However, as a person he was not very well liked by his colleagues, as he was a very strict director. He was described as cold and arrogant towards his actors, and he demanded "virtue and order" not only in their work but also in their private lives.
In 1835 he bought Djurgårdsteatern jointly with Ulrik Torsslow
Ulrik Torsslow
Olof Ulrik Torsslow , was a Swedish actor and theatre director. He is considered one of the most notable actors in his country's history...
and Sara Torsslow
Sara Torsslow
Sara Fredrica Torsslow, née Strömstedt was a Swedish actor at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm and one of the most popular and notable actors in Swedish history.- Biography :...
; the theatre and its licence belonged to his wife's family. She was the daughter of director Isaac de Broen (d.1815) and the niece of Aurora de Broen, whose husband they bought it from. The companionship was dissolved in 1837, but in 1849, he was again made director, and the troupe then performed there in the summers and in Finland during the winters. In the 1850s, his finances deteriorated, as he chose to play to solemny plays for the taste of the audience, and in 1861, he accepted an offer to join the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
.