author
Thomas Overskou
1798–1873
A central figure in 19th-century Danish theater, this actor, playwright, and historian helped preserve the story of the stage while writing popular comedies of his own. He is remembered both for his lively dramatic work and for the vast theater history that made him a lasting authority on Danish performance.
1 Audiobook
Roistoväkeä eli Ylemmistä ja alemmisto : Huvinäytelmä viidessä näytöksessä
by Thomas Overskou
About the author
Born in Copenhagen in 1798, Thomas Overskou became known as a Danish actor, playwright, theater historian, and later a titular professor. His career was closely tied to the world of the theater, and he built a reputation not only through performance and playwriting but also through his deep knowledge of stage history.
Overskou wrote comedies and other dramatic works for the Danish stage. Reference works describe Østergade og Vestergade as one of his best-known plays, and Capriciosa remained in the Royal Theatre's repertoire for years. His plays are preserved in the Dramatic Collection of the Royal Danish Library.
He is especially remembered for his multivolume theater history, Den danske skueplads, a major account of Danish theatrical life from its early beginnings into his own era. He also published memoirs, Af mit liv og min tid, adding a more personal record to a life spent documenting and shaping the theater. Overskou died in Copenhagen in 1873.