Political Adviser Aina Holst, Ministry of Cultural Affairs

The importance of a national theatre

Seminar in Edinburgh, the Norwegian National Theatres guest performance, 4. August 2000

Dear friends of the art of theatre,

I am very pleased to be here as a representative of the Norwegian Ministry of Culture. I am grateful that we are given the possibility to present the Norwegian National Theatre and one of their Ibsen-productions, and I hope that you all enjoyed yesterday’s performance.

The National Theatre, as it stands today, was celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 1999. In the year 1898 an impressive building was erected right in the centre of our capital, Oslo, close to the University, the Norwegian Parliament and the Royal Castle.

The National Theatre plays a vital role in Norwegian culture and has the leading position in the field of theatre, together with the New Norwegian Theatre (Det Norske Teatret) which is using the second Norwegian language, named new-Norwegian.

The National Theatre is organized as a joint stock company with the Norwegian State as the only shareholder. The theatre gets all its subsidies from the state through the Ministry of Culture. In 2000 the contribution amounts to 102 million Norwegian crowns, equivalent to about 9 million pounds. The number of employees amounts to 218, including 52 artists and other persons closely connected to the production of theatre. The number of theatre productions each year exceeds thirty, and the number of performances is around 700.

The National Theatre is performing on three stages, two in the old theatre building itself, and one on a stage situated in the eastern part of the town, presenting smaller productions often of a certain experimental type. This stage, called Torshovteatret has a more independent position that the mother-institution. Actors from The National Theatre may apply for a period at the Torshov theatre, and the actors, usually 5 to 7, form a group which is given the freedom to choose their own theatre profile. The Torshov theatre is the only theatre in the eastern part of Oslo, and it has grown very popular, also among younger people. For the actors of The National Theatre it represents a possibility to try out other aspects of their talents and to present new dramatic art.

The main scene of the National Theatre and also its smaller amphi scene, hold an important standing among the public and also among actors themselves. The main ambition for most actors will be to get employment at The National Theatre, and to be part of the assembly. An employment at The National Theatre usually means a life long engagement. - As the actors at The National Theatre are considered to be the best in the country, they are, however, often engaged in Norwegian TV- and film productions. It can be in the interest of The National Theatre to grant them leave of absence, as it gives publicity to the theatre itself, and in addition opens the possibility of using free lancers or actors from other theatres, representing new caracters and faces in certain parts of the theatre production.

The actors who have been connected to the National Theatre through the years since the early start of the theatre, have got a great reputation in Norway, and in a way they have served as examples for the coming generations of actors, and a sort of school, something to reach for !

The National Theatre has an outstanding position in Norway, and most people visiting Oslo would, at a certain stage, want to visit our most famous theatre, to see the beautiful building with its traditional golden and red main scene interior from the late 1800, and be present at one of the often spectacular productions. The public counts close to 200 000 visitors each year.

It is difficult to imagine theatre in Norway without a National Theatre, and we believe that every country would want a special theatre which can form the front, secure high quality theatre productions and also serve as an example to be followed for minor theatres and for actors to come.