Den Nationale Scene ( en, National Theater) is the largest

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula of ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatres in Norway.

History

Opened under the name '' Det Norske Theater'' in 1850, the theatre has roots dating back to its founding on the initiative of the Norwegian violinist

Ole Bull Ole Bornemann Bull (; 5 February 181017 August 1880) was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer. According to Robert Schumann, he was on a level with Niccolò Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing. Biography Background Bull was ...

. The theatre was created to develop Norwegian playwrights.

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

was one of the first writers-in-residences and art-directors of the theatre and it saw the première in Norway of his first contemporary realist drama ''

The Pillars of Society ''The Pillars of Society'' (or "Pillars of the Community"; original Norwegian title: ''Samfundets støtter'') is an 1877 play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen had great trouble with the writing of this play. The ending i ...

'' (''Samfundets støtter'') on 30 November 1877. The theatre was initially housed in the ''

Komediehuset på Engen Komediehuset på Engen ('Meadow Comedy House') was a historic theatre in Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. , its popul ...

''. In 1909, The National Theatre moved into the new theatre building at Engen. The current theatre building was designed by

Einar Oscar Schou Einar Oscar Schou ( 4 June 1877 - 28 December 1966) was a Norwegian architect. He is most noted for his design of Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, Norway. Background Einar Oscar Schou was born in Oslo, Kristiania, Norway. He studied at the Norwegia ...

, and opened 19 February 1909 with a production of ''

Erasmus Montanus ''Erasmus Montanus'' is a satirical play about academic snobbery set in rural Denmark. Written by Ludvig Holberg in 1722, the script was first published in 1731 and performed in 1747. Today, it is among Holberg's most frequently performed works. ...

'' by

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

. King

Haakon VII of Norway Haakon VII (; born Prince Carl of Denmark; 3 August 187221 September 1957) was the King of Norway from November 1905 until his death in September 1957. Originally a Danish prince, he was born in Copenhagen as the son of the future Frederick V ...

and Queen Maud were in attendance. It soon became apparent that the building was too small. In 1913 the company bought Ekserserhuset Jonsvoll to use as a warehouse. In 1920, an extension was built to the northwest. Over the years the building has undergone major changes, extensions, renovation, restoration and stage technical modernisation. The foyer and the hall were destroyed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, and only temporarily restored.''Den Nationale Scene'' (Store norske leksikon)
/ref> The theatre experienced a pre-war high point during the period 1934-39 under the leadership

Hans Jacob Nilsen Hans Jacob Nilsen (8 November 1897 – 6 March 1957) was a Norwegian actor, theatre director and film director. He was a theatre director at Den Nationale Scene, at Folketeatret, and for two separate periods at Det Norske Teatret. Personal lif ...

. Especially noteworthy was the 1935 premiere of the play ''Vår ære og vår makt'' ("Our Honor and our Power") by

Nordahl Grieg Johan Nordahl Brun Grieg (1 November 1902 – 2 December 1943) was a Norwegian poet, novelist, dramatist, journalist and activism, political activist. He was a popular author and a controversial public figure. He served in World War II as a war c ...

. In 2001 the building was restored almost to its original shape. Today the theatre houses three stages/venues and presents approximately 20 productions each year, both international and national classics, musicals and contemporary drama, as well as children's theatre. Since 1993, the theatre has been state property.

Directors of the Theatre

* 1876–1879

Nils Wichstrøm Nils Wichstrøm (5 September 1848 – 1 December 1879) was a Norwegian actor and stage instructor. He joined the Bergen theatre Den Nationale Scene from its start in 1876, and was the theatre's first stage instructor and artistic leader from 18 ...

* 1879–1880

Johan Bøgh Johan Wallace Hagelsteen Bøgh (27 May 1848 – 22 July 1933) was a Norwegian museum director and art historian based in the city of Bergen. Personal life He was born in Bergen as the son of district stipendiary magistrate Ole Bøgh (1810–1872) ...

* 1880–1881

John Grieg John Grieg (18 August 1856 – 21 April 1905) was a Norwegian printer, publisher and bookseller. Biography Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the son of John Grieg (1819-1887) and Jutta Camilla Lous (1825-1901). Grieg attended Bergen Cathed ...

* 1881–1884

* 1884–1888

Gunnar Heiberg Gunnar Edvard Rode Heiberg (18 November 1857 – 22 February 1929) was a Norway, Norwegian poet, playwright, journalist and theatre critic. Personal life He was born in Oslo, Christiania a son of judge Edvard Omsen Heiberg (1829–1884) and his w ...

* 1888–1889

Henrik Jæger Henrik Jæger (4 January 1854 – 17 December 1895) was a Norwegian literary historian, literary critic and playwright. He was born in Bergen as a son of sailmaker Herman Jæger (1824–1871) and Birgitte Pedersen. He was a nephew of Tycho ...

* 1889–1890 Otto Valseth * 1890–1895 Johan Irgens-Hansen * 1895–1898

Olaf Hansson Olaf or Olav (, , or British ; Old Norse: ''Áleifr'', ''Ólafr'', ''Óleifr'', ''Anleifr'') is a Scandinavian and German given name. It is presumably of Proto-Norse origin, reconstructed as ''*Anu-laibaz'', from ''anu'' "ancestor, grand-father" a ...

* 1899–1900

Hans Aanrud Hans Aanrud (3 September 1863 – 11 January 1953) was a Norwegian writer. He wrote plays, poetry, and stories depicting rural life in his native Gudbrandsdal, Norway. Life Aanrud, who came from a rural family, was born and raised in Auggeda ...

* 1900–1905 Gustav Thomassen * 1905–1907

Anton Heiberg Anton Wilhelm Scheel Heiberg ( 26 March 1878– 11 September 1947) was a Norwegian stage instructor and theatre director. He was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was a son of judge Edvard Omsen Heiberg (1829–1884) and his wife Mi ...

* 1908–1909

Olaf Mørch Hansson Olaf Mørch Hansson (28 July 1856 – 22 February 1912) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director, journalist and newspaper editor. He was married to Thora Hansson from 1880 to 1896, and then to Agnethe Schibsted-Hansson from 1896 to 1912. Biogr ...

* 1910–1924 Ludvig Bergh * 1924–1925 Christian Sandal * 1925–1931

Thomas Thomassen Thomas Thomassen (19 November 1878 – 7 January 1962) was a Norwegian actor, director and theater manager. Biography Thomassen was born in Tønsberg, Norway. He was the son of Thomas Marthinius Thomassen (1845–1925) and Laura Christine Tho ...

* 1931–1934 Karl Bergmann * 1934–1939

* 1939–1946

Egil Hjorth-Jenssen Egil Hjorth-Jenssen (18 April 1893 – 8 November 1969) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director, playwright, children's writer and translator. Personal life Hjorth-Jenssen was born in Fredrikshald as a son of editor Gunnar Olaves Jenssen ( ...

* 1946–1948 Stein Bugge * 1948–1952

Georg Løkkeberg Georg Løkkeberg (20 November 1909 – 19 August 1986) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He appeared in 29 films between 1934 and 1978. He starred in the film ''The Master and His Servants'', which was entered into the 9th Berlin In ...

* 1952–1961

Per Schwab Per Schwab (17 August 1911 – 2 August 1970) was a Swedish-born Norwegian painter, scenographer, and theatre director. Biography Schwab was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His parents were the professor Eigil Wilhelm Schwab (1882–1952) and the pai ...

* 1961–1963

Bjarne Andersen Bjarne Andersen (15 January 1909 – 13 August 1982) was a Norwegian actor, stage producer and theatre director. Personal life Andersen was born in Stavanger to Emil Laurentzius Andersen and Ingeborg Bertine Osmondsdatter Udvig. He married ...

* 1963–1967

Gisle Straume Gisle Straume (26 August 1917 – 1 December 1988) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. Personal life Straume was born in Holla, the son of farmer and headmaster Eivind Straume and teacher Brita Monsine Skanke Aarnes. He married actr ...

* 1967–1976

Knut Thomassen Knut Thomassen (17 March 1921 – 20 January 2002) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He made his stage debut at Det Nye Teater in Oslo in 1941. He served as theatre director of Den Nationale Scene from 1967 to 1976. He was an active ...

* 1976–1982 Sven Henning * 1982–1986

Kjetil Bang-Hansen Kjetil Bang-Hansen (born 16 May 1940) is a Norwegian actor, dancer, stage producer and theatre director. Early and personal life Bang-Hansen was born in Oslo as the son of writer Odd Bang-Hansen and physician Elise Aas. He married dancer and cho ...

* 1986–1996 Tom Remlov * 1996–1997 Ketil Egge * 1997 Aksel-Otto Bull * 1998

Lars Arrhed Lars is a common male name in Scandinavian countries. Origin ''Lars'' means "from the city of Laurentum". Lars is derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". A homonymous Etruscan name was born ...

* 1998–2001

Bentein Baardson Bentein Baardson (born 6 November 1953 in New York City) is Norwegian actor, instructor and theatre director. He was born in New York, and is the son of Brynjolv Baardson. Bentein Baardson graduated from Teaterhøyskolen in 1975. He has set up ...

* 2001–2007

Morten Borgersen Morten Borgersen (born 12 October 1950) is a Norwegian actor, theatre director, artistic director and writer. He has worked for various theatres, including Trøndelag Teater, Rogaland Teater, Riksteatret, Teatret Vårt, Teater Ibsen, Oslo Nye Teat ...

* 2008–2012 Bjarte Hjelmeland * 2012–

Agnete Haaland Agnete Gullestad Haaland (born 10 March 1960) is a Norwegian stage and film actress, organizational leader and theatre director. She was born in Bergen, and is a daughter of actress Anne Gullestad. From 2000 to 2011 she chaired the Norwegian Act ...

References

External links

Den Nationale Scene
{{Coord, 60.393, N, 5.320, E, display=title, source:dewiki Theatres in Bergen 1850 establishments in Norway

History

Directors of the Theatre

See also

References

Further reading

External links