The Norwegian Actors' Equity Association ( no, Norsk Skuespillerforbund) is an association of Norwegian actors. Its main purpose is to improve actors' working conditions and to protect the artistic, judicial and financial interests of actors in Norway. The association was established in 1898, after an initiative from actor Sigurd Asmundsen at a birthday party in 1897, followed by a preparatory meeting in April 1898, and a constituent meeting 27 October 1898. The first chairman was

Sigvard Gundersen Sigvard Emil Gundersen (8 November 1842 – 29 November 1904) was a Norwegian actor. He was married to actress Laura Gundersen. He made his stage début at Christiania Theater in 1862, and worked for this theatre most of his career, until 189 ...

, with Johanne Dybwad as vice chairman, and Christian Sandal as first secretary. Important issues during the early years were contractual conditions, pensions, and regulation of foreign ensembles. The association's first Honorary member was actor and later theatrical director

Bjørn Bjørnson Bjørn Bjørnson (15 November 1859 – 14 May 1942) was a Norwegian stage actor and theatre director. Biography He was born in Christiania, the son of author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and his wife Karoline Bjørnson. In 1876, he was admitte ...

, nominated in May 1900. The Association currently has 1250 members, of whom approximately 155 are permanently employed and 150 temporarily employed in institutional theatres. NAEA publishe
Skuespillerkatalogen
– the Actors' Catalogue. As the leading national casting resource, it is used by most Norwegian TV, Film, Radio and Theatre companies.

List of leaders

* 1898–1899

* 1899–1901 Olav Voss * 1901–1903

Ludvig Müller Ludvig Müller (29 February 1868 – 1 October 1922) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. Although he started in his hometown Bergen as a local businessman in 1884 having his own business in operation from 1892, Ludvig made his stage debut ...

* 1903–1904 Ludvig Bergh * 1904–1905

Halfdan Christensen Halfdan Christensen (12 December 1873 – 17 September 1950) was a Norwegian stage actor and theatre director. Biography Christensen was born at Porsgrunn in Telemark, Norway. His family moved to Kristiania (now Oslo) where he attended Aar ...

* 1905–1907 Theodor Blich * 1907–1913 Ludvig Müller * 1913–1915 Harald Stormoen * 1915–1918 Thomas Thomassen * 1918–1920

Egil Eide Egil Næss Eide (24 August 1868 – 13 December 1946) was a Norwegian silent film actor and director. He appeared in eighteen films between 1913 and 1935, and worked at the National Theatre between 1899 and 1939. Career He was born in Hau ...

* 1920–1921 Thorleif Klausen * 1921–1924 Harald Stormoen * 1924–1925 Thomas Thomassen * 1925–1928 Harald Stormoen * 1928–1932

Einar Sissener Einar Sissener (21 September 1897 – 4 March 1968) was a Norwegian stage actor, film actor, stage producer, film producer and theatre director. Personal life Einar Rasmus Krag Schnitler Sissener was born in Kristiania as the son of dispe ...

* 1932–1940

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 ( ...

* 1940–1941 David Knudsen * 1941–

Harald Schwenzen Harald Schwenzen (18 May 1895 – 16 April 1954) was a Norwegian actor and director. Born in Glücksberg, Germany, he relocated to Norway where he made his stage debut at Nationaltheatret in 1918, and played for this theatre for many years. S ...

* 1942–1945 Einar Sissener (acting) * 1945– Harald Schwenzen * 1945–

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 ...

* 1945–1946 Øyvind Øyen (acting) * 1946–1950

Jens Gunderssen Jens Gunderssen (19 May 1912 – 11 December 1969) was a Norwegian singer, songwriter, actor, stage producer and theatre director. Early and personal life Gunderssen was born in Drammen, as son of Karl Gunderssen and Ågot Uhl. His father wa ...

* 1951–1961 Ella Hval * 1962-1964

Gunnar Olram Gunnar Carl Andreas Olram (19 December 1908 – 12 January 2001) was a Norwegian actor and stage instructor. He was born in Halden. He made his stage debut at Centralteatret in 1930. From 1931 to 1934 he worked at Oscarsteatern, and from 1934 ...

* 1965–1967 Ella Hval * 1967–1969 Bjarne Andersen * 1970–1974

Knut Mørch Hansson Knut Mørch Hansson (16 April 1920 – 3 December 1994) was a Norwegian actor. Biography Hansson was born in Alexandria on 16 April 1920, a son of judge Michael Hansson and Emilie Christensen. He was a brother of diplomat Arthur Mørch Hansson ...

* 1974-1976

Finn Kvalem Finn Kvalem (April 12, 1934 – February 26, 1990) was a Norwegian actor, stage director, and translator. Kvalem had his debut at the Norwegian Theater in 1955, where he was engaged from 1956 to 1969. After that, he was at the National Theater ...

* 1977–1980

Karen Randers-Pehrson Karen Randers-Pehrson (16 August 1932 − 4 February 2019) was a Norwegian actress and stage director. She was born in Oslo. She was assigned with the theatres Riksteatret, Trøndelag Teater and Den Nationale Scene. She chaired the Norwegian Actor ...

* 1980-1995 Ragnhild Nygaard * 1995-2000 Bernhard Ramstad * 2000–2011 Agnete G. Haaland * 2011–2015 Hauk Heyerdahl * 2015– Knut Alfsen

References

Theatre in Norway Organisations based in Oslo Trade unions established in 1898 {{Norway-org-stub