Grenland Friteater is one of the oldest independent theatres in Norway, based in the small industrial town

Porsgrunn is a city and municipality in Telemark in the county of Vestfold og Telemark in Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Porsgrunn. The municipality of Porsgrunn w ...

. Every year in June, Grenland Friteater organises the Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival.

Startup and members

Grenland Friteater was founded in 1976 by Trond Hannemyr, Lars Steinar Sørbø, Lars Vik and Tor Arne Ursin. Lars Steinar Sørbø was the first Norwegian actor from an independent theatre to become part of a national theatre, ''Den Nationale Scene'' in

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 ...

. Trond Hannemyr, Lars Vik and Tor Arne Ursin are still a part of Grenland Friteater. In the early 80s, the theatre was reinforced by actors Geddy Aniksdal and Anne Erichsen, and producer Hans Petter Eliassen. From the early 90s, Grenland Friteater has also cooperated with a lot of young talents. Today there are 9 core members, and several freelancers working on the different projects.

Evolution

In the last few years, the theatre has done some bigger projects, many of them outdoors. Some of these are "Smuglere", "Harde Tak" and "Peer Gynt" (Peer Gynt was done in cooperation with

Teater Ibsen Teater Ibsen (from 1975 to 1991 Telemark Teater) is a theatre in Skien in Vestfold og Telemark, Norway. The theatre was established in 1975 as Telemark Teater, and changed its name to Teater Ibsen in 1991. The theatre serves as regional theatre fo ...

). The theatre has also done productions for children - one is "En rosenkål for mye" by

Gro Dahle Gro Dahle (born 15 May 1962) is a Norwegian poet and writer. Early life Dahle was born in Oslo, and is the daughter of businessman Øystein Dahle. She grew up in Tønsberg, Aruba and New Jersey. She began studying psychology and English litera ...

. In the early 90s, the theatre started to arrange the theatre festival "en Sommernattsdrøm", which was later renamed Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival. Having toured a lot, the theatre invited the best performers they knew to Porsgrunn. The festival contains New Circus, comedies and outdoor plays in world class, and it has become part of the city's identity.

External links

Grenland FriteaterPorsgrunn International Theatre Festival
{{Coord, 59.1373, 9.6430, type:landmark_region:NO, display=title Theatres in Norway Buildings and structures in Porsgrunn