Pantomime Theatre
Step into a fairytale world hidden behind the peacock’s splendid tail
Behind the marvellous shimmer of the peacock’s tail unfolds a fairytale of love and laughter, of joy and jest, of dreams and dance.
The Pantomime Theatre, with its unique front curtain shaped like a peacock’s tail, is likely the only theatre in the world where the curtain falls as the performance begins. Its rich chinoiserie and whimsical ornamentation offer the perfect setting for enchanting performances where young lovers must fight for their happiness, and goodness always prevails.
A Wonderful Story
The Pantomime Theatre, the oldest surviving building in Tivoli Gardens, is now a listed landmark. This Chinese-style theatre replaced Tivoli’s first playhouse, which stood on the same site. Contemporary newspapers reveal that the Chinese design and fan-shaped front curtain were inspired by the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. However, it was Tivoli Gardens’ Artistic Director, Bernhard Olsen, who conceived the idea of the magnificent peacock, which has become the theatre’s enduring symbol.
To celebrate the Pantomime Theatre’s 150th anniversary in 2024, HM Queen Margrethe designed a new peacock curtain in shimmering shades of blue and green.
New Enchanting Performances
The Pantomime Theatre is more than just a stage for classical pantomimes. Since 1911, ballets have been a regular part of its repertoire, often drawing inspiration from stories within Tivoli Gardens or the world of fairytales. Since 2001, HM Queen Margrethe has served as the theatre’s resident set designer. In close collaboration with various choreographers and composers, she has created sets and costumes for a series of fairytale ballets based on the tales of Hans Christian Andersen.
Home to Tivoli Ballet Theatre
The Pantomime Theatre is home to the Tivoli Ballet Theatre, Tivoli Gardens’ own ballet company, led by Artistic Director Peter Bo Bendixen. Danish and international dancers spend their days here with rehearsals and nearly 300 performances each summer season, all on the theatre’s sloping stage. Apart from the Royal Danish Ballet, Tivoli Ballet Theatre is the only classically based ballet company in Denmark. The company also has strong partnerships and activities beyond the Pantomime Theatre, including hosting guest performances by international ballet companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the New York City Ballet, as well as performing productions of The Nutcracker and The Snow Queen at Tivoli Concert Hall.
