Staffan Götestam

Per Staffan Götestam (born 20 May 1952) is a Swedish actor, director, theatre chief, playwright and founder of Junibacken. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayal of Jonathan in 1977 '' The Brothers Lionheart''. In the 1980s, he turned his focus to producing and directing. He has directed many plays, among them ''Nils Karlsson Pyssling'', '' Madicken'' and ''Tjorven på Saltkråkan'', and many musicals, among them '' Rent'', ''Beauty and the Beast'' and ''the Wizard of Oz''. In 2000, Götestam received a Swedish Golden Mask theatre award. Götestam also wrote the song " Mio My Mio" for the 1987 film '' Mio in the Land of Faraway''.

Early life

Staffan Götestam was born in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 20 May 1952. He was educated at ''Skara skolscen'' and ''Statens scenskola'', Stockholm. He went to theater school in 1973 and started playing amateur theatre with the ''Örebro Student Theatre''.

Career

Acting

After his theater training, Götestam got a role in the musical ''Godspell'' (1974), which was performed in the Jarlateatern in Stockholm.

In 1977, he became known for his portrayal of Jonathan in the film '' The Brothers Lionheart''. While working on this film, Götestam met Astrid Lindgren, with whom he would collaborate often in the future.

In the late 1970s, Götestam began working, mainly behind the scenes, as a director, screenwriter or producer.

Directing

In the beginning of the 1980s, he started working with Olle Kinch, the theatre chief of Folkan. It was around this time, that he turned full time to producing and directing. He directed many plays, among them ''Nils Karlsson Pyssling'', '' Madicken'' and ''Tjorven på Saltkråkan'', and many musicals, among them '' Rent'', ''Beauty and the Beast'' and ''the Wizard of Oz''.

Götestam also wrote the music of the song " Mio My Mio" for the 1987 film '' Mio in the Land of Faraway''.

In 2000, Götestam received a Guldmasken (Golden mask), a top Swedish theatre award.

Along with his daughter Josefine Götestam, he produced radio plays on well-known children's fairy tales such as ''Cinderella'' and ''The Little Mermaid''. In 2019, Götestam directed the play ''Happy Ending'', for which he also wrote the screenplay.

Collaboration with Astrid Lindgren

Götestam met Astrid Lindgren while working on the 1977 film '' The Brothers Lionheart'' which led to a number of future collaborations''.'' For example, he adapted some of her works into theater plays and directed them. He also directed Astrid Lindgren's short films Gull-Pian and Nils Karlsson Pyssling.

In 1996, Götestam founded the Swedish museum ''Junibacken''. The museum is dedicated to Astrid Lindgren's children's literature. The museum also deals with other famous figures such as '' Pettson and Findus''. Götestam was still working at the museum in 2020.

Personal life

Götestam is married and has four children. He lives at Östermalm. He and his daughter, Josefine Götestam, have worked together on radio plays for children. Götestam's sister is Birgitta Götestam.

Discography

Albums

*1975 - '' Trollgas Adventskalender''

Selected filmography

*1990 - ''Nils Karlsson Pyssling'' (screenwriter, music writer and director)
*1989 - ''Gull-Pian'' (director)
*1986 - '' Bödeln och skökan''
*1977 - '' 91:an och generalernas fnatt''
*1977 - '' The Brothers Lionheart''

References

External links

Official website
*
Staffan Götestam at Svensk Film Databas

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotestam, Staffan
Living people
1952 births
People from Örnsköldsvik
Swedish male actors
20th-century Swedish dramatists and playwrights
Swedish theatre directors
Swedish male dramatists and playwrights
21st-century Swedish dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Swedish male writers
21st-century Swedish male writers