It has been 50 years since the demolition-threatened Victoria Theatre in Malmö was occupied. In the 1970s, Victoria functioned as a cinema and was threatened with demolition when the Lugnet district in Malmö was redeveloped. Victoria was saved from demolition and today the Victoria Theatre, as it is now called, is run by the cultural association Kontrast.
The 50th anniversary of the occupation was celebrated on Saturday with an event that included film screenings, live music, and discussions about the occupation. According to major media, interest was so great that not everyone could be let in at once, and many had to queue outside in the rain despite it being called 'open house'. Several members of the Victoria Committee, which fought to take over and create a cultural center from the theatre building, were present, including Mikael Wiehe and Dan Hylander.
The occupation was preceded by wild discussions about how far they would go and how disobedient or violent they would be. Christina Claesson says they agreed to do this neatly and that there would be no destruction, and they would hand over the premises in better condition than when they entered. At dawn, around 5:30 AM, Christina Claesson and a few others from the committee went to the building to try to get in.
Christina Claesson says, 'I was lifted up and heaved myself in through a small square toilet window that stood open on the backside of the house. ' After getting in, she let the others in and they barricaded the entrance. At seven o'clock, the press was informed, and then the occupation topped all news broadcasts during the day.
The committee held speeches from the balcony and invited the public to events in the evening, asking them to bring flashlights and long underwear to see and stay warm in the dilapidated house. Police patrolled outside but left the occupiers alone. Christina Claesson says, 'A police officer wondered if we had enough food.
We said that we had sandwiches but that we might need pizza a little later. Some bought pastries for us. ' The occupation of the Victoria Theatre was recently highlighted in the SVT program 'Så byggdes Sverige'.
The exact number of people who participated in the initial occupation on February 28, 1976, is unknown.