The French troupe, which had performed for the royal court in Copenhagen since 1682, had been fired in 1721 by the king, who wished to hire an Italian opera troupe instead.

As the French actors, who in many cases have lived in Denmark for generations, do not all wish to leave, René Magnon and another French immigrant, Etienne Capion, ask or permission to open a public theater.

They are granted royal permission and in 1722, the first public theater was opened in Copenhagen on Lille Grönnegade, the first Danish-language theater open to the public.

Capion is the director, Magnon is responsible for the actors, and Marie Madeleine de Montaigu becomes the first actress to have performed for the Danish public at an official theater.

The female actors are few: among them are also Helene le Coffre, Maren Magdalene Lerche and Marie Madeleine's own daughter Frederikke Sophie.

Plays are performed in Danish but there is also dance: in 1726, Jean-Baptiste Landé is a guest ballet master.

The economic difficulties, however, prove too difficult.

The theater is closed in 1728; in 1730, theater is banned in Denmark.