Thomas Overskou (11 October 1798 in Copenhagenâ€" 7 November 1873 in
Copenhagen) was a Danish actor, playwright and theater historian and a
titular professor in 1852. His plays are preserved in the Dramatic
Collection of the Royal Danish Library.Unlike his slightly younger
contemporary Hans Christian Andersen, Thomas Overskou was born in what
was then the societal bottom, and he had to fight a hard battle to
come forth in the Danish artistic scene. He was commissioned by the
theatre once he had a keen understanding of the requirements for
dramatic production. He was not only successful in achieving the
position of stage actor in minor roles, and later theater director,
but a number of his original stage plays was performed at the Royal
Danish Theatre. Capriciosa, as well as East Street and Western Street
were some of his well-known solid successes in the Casino Theater in
Copenhagen.Overskou's permanent profit happened as theater historian.
His first five-act comedy The Danish stage in its history (1854â€"64)
is a fundamental tool. Also his autobiography entitled Of my life and
my time (1868), re-released with notes by Robert Neiiendam
(1915â€"16), is worth reading. Here he tells, among other things,
about Copenhagen bombardment of 1807 which he witnessed at first hand,
in addition to the story of how he made a career in the theater. He
died in Copenhagen. After his death, a road in the Åløkke Quarter,
in central Odense, has been named after him.
Copenhagen) was a Danish actor, playwright and theater historian and a
titular professor in 1852. His plays are preserved in the Dramatic
Collection of the Royal Danish Library.Unlike his slightly younger
contemporary Hans Christian Andersen, Thomas Overskou was born in what
was then the societal bottom, and he had to fight a hard battle to
come forth in the Danish artistic scene. He was commissioned by the
theatre once he had a keen understanding of the requirements for
dramatic production. He was not only successful in achieving the
position of stage actor in minor roles, and later theater director,
but a number of his original stage plays was performed at the Royal
Danish Theatre. Capriciosa, as well as East Street and Western Street
were some of his well-known solid successes in the Casino Theater in
Copenhagen.Overskou's permanent profit happened as theater historian.
His first five-act comedy The Danish stage in its history (1854â€"64)
is a fundamental tool. Also his autobiography entitled Of my life and
my time (1868), re-released with notes by Robert Neiiendam
(1915â€"16), is worth reading. Here he tells, among other things,
about Copenhagen bombardment of 1807 which he witnessed at first hand,
in addition to the story of how he made a career in the theater. He
died in Copenhagen. After his death, a road in the Åløkke Quarter,
in central Odense, has been named after him.
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