It was designed by architect Hartvig Sverdrup Eckhoff, and initially held close to 500 seats.

[2] Claes Gill was theatre director from 1952 to 1956 and during his period, the venue got a new profile, with lower ticket prices and a new marketing strategy.

[3] Bjørn Endreson was director from 1960 to 1970, and he established the small stage "Mandagsteatret", which put on plays by contemporary dramatists, such as Eugène Ionesco and Samuel Beckett, and was a forerunner of "Intimscenen" from 1974.

[5] Later directors have been Alf Nordvang (1982–1986 and 1990–1991), Bentein Baardson from 1986 to 1989, Hans Rosenquist from 1989 to 1990, Ketil Egge from 1991 to 1994, Ola B. Johannessen from 1994 to 1997, Eirik Stubø from 1997 to 2000, Ingjerd Egeberg from 2000 to 2004, and Hanne Tømta from 2005 to 2008.

[2] Actor Even Stormoen received both the Hedda Award for best stage performance and the Norwegian Critics Prize for Theatre for his role as Harpagon in Molière's Den gjerrige in 1998.