Göta Lejon, Movie theater in Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Göta Lejon is a cinema and theater on Götgatan in Södermalm with a neoclassical stucco facade and copper canopy topped by a lion sculpture by artist Einar Forseth. The building holds roughly 1100 seats spread across the ground floor and balcony, with accessible facilities and a restaurant located on the upper level.
The theater opened in 1928 as a cinema following architect Birger Borgström's design and was converted into an event venue during the 1990s. This transformation allowed the building to become an established center for live performances.
The copper lion above the entrance, made by Einar Forseth, gave the building its name: Göta Lejon means "Gothic Lion". Inside, the foyer stucco is by Hugo Borgström, the auditorium stucco by Nils Enberg and Carl Elmberg, and the balcony is decorated with muses by sculptor Carl-Oscar Avén. Since the 1990s the house has been known for Swedish-language musicals, from The Sound of Music with Carola and Tommy Nilsson to Jesus Christ Superstar with Ola Salo.
The stage and rear spaces were rebuilt for the 1998 Miss Saigon production, and the auditorium regained more seats at that time. Load and stage entrances face both Folkungagatan and Kocksgatan, so the building can be approached from either side of the block. A restaurant and bar opened at the top of the theatre in 1998, later called The Greenroom.
The balcony is decorated with muses by sculptor Carl-Oscar Avén, a detail above eye level that many visitors miss. The copper lion on the entrance canopy was made by Einar Forseth, who also decorated the auditorium. The site previously held the tavern Källaren Hamburg, demolished in 1912.
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