Theatre and Dance

Associations Norsk teater- og orkesterforening (The Norwegian Association of Theatres and Orchestras, NTO) serves both as an employers’ organization and as a professional support network for Norwegian theatres and orchestras. In 2006, its membership consists of 29 different theatres, including the Black Box Theatre in Oslo and the BIT Teatergarasjen (Bergen International Theatre Garage) in Berg... Read more

The 1970s were a stimulating and creative period for the Norwegian cultural sphere in general, and especially for the performing arts. From 1970 to 1980 the state established five regional theatres and, at the same time, the first independent companies were started by enthusiastic young artists who were influenced by the more avant-garde forms of contemporary theatre in Europe, especially in... Read more

In Norway, theatre is a relatively young art form. The oldest theatre, Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, was established in 1850, while the first national theatre, Nationaltheatret in Oslo, opened its doors nearly 50 years later, in 1899. This may in part be due to the fact that theatre is an urban art, while Norway was – and is – a country of few big cities. Gradually, however, other theatres wer... Read more

In 1990 Stein Winge, then director of the National Theatre, established the Ibsen Festival, which is held every other year in August/September. The National Theatre presents its latest Ibsen productions, and also invites the top international stagings of Ibsen’s plays created during the previous two years The Ibsen Festival alternates with the Contemporary Theatre Festival, which presents moder... Read more