On the 9th September 1912 the architect and builder Axel Stenberg opened the doors to Victoriateatern for the first time. Inspired by Stora Biografteatern, Stenberg built the largest and most magnificent cinema in Malmö. It became an instant success and Victoriateatern was soon the city’s leading cinema.

Already in the early 1920s Victoriateatern lost its place as the leading cinema for silent movies. Bigger and grander cinemas, e.g. Palladium on Södergatan, had opened and the competition was becoming fierce. The ever growing demands for more and more movies and the central location however made it possible for Victoriateatern to survive, if sometimes barely, for the next twenty years. 

In the mid 40’s just as the WW2 changed the world, Victoriateatern also turned in a new direction. The film screen and the orchestra pit had to give way for a large stage – the cinema changed into a variety theater!

In the mid 50’s Victoriateatern once again returned to life as a cinema but being, in comparison, rather small and out of date the 60’ were a constant struggle for survival.

In March 1974 after SF released their last film at Victoriateatern the cinema closed the doors to the public.

Victoriateatern re-opened in 1981 in its current constellation being Malmö’s most multifunctional culture centre – concert hall, cinema and theatre all in one. A year after the re-opening the cultural society Kontrast took over the cinema side and in 1990 the entire scenic management.

After a decade of theatre variety shows, events and concerts Victoriateatern celebrated its 100 birthday in 2012, but a more vibrant, young and exuberant Centenarian would be hard to find. Today’s range of performances are more varied and multifaceted than ever before and with an audience of all ages we can look forward to another hundred years of great events.