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Norwegian Theatre
Det Norske Teatret
Street address: Kristian IVs gate 8, N-0164 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: 47 2247 3800
Fax: 47 2247 6528
E-mail:
Website: http:/
Proprietor: Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs
Contact: Vidar Sandem Theatre Director
Telephone: 47 2247 3886
Fax: 47 2247 5304
E-mail:
Contact: Bjørn Aga Technical Manager
Telephone: 47 2247 3858
Fax: 47 2247 3866
E-mail:
 The Norwegian Theatre is both a producing company and a performing arts venue. The current building, opened in 1985, is Norway’s largest theatre building. It is a multidisciplinary arts centre which stages various activities in addition to the dramatic and musical productions which are its main-stay. The organisation has 230 employees and is the only performing arts venue, other than the Norwegian National Opera, to have permanent positions for dancers. The theatre performs to an annual audience of 200,000, a figure which does not include attendances at other activities such as temporary exhibitions, poetry readings, parties and receptions.
The theatre company dates back to 1910 when the famous Norwegian actress Hulda Garborg founded an independent theatre company dedicated to the New-Norwegian language. The object clause for DNT (the Norwegian Theatre) from 1913 states that 'one shall perform plays in the New Norwegian language in the cities and in the country'. To situate a New Norwegian language theatre in the capital, the very centre of officialdom’s culture and the Danish-Norwegian language tradition, was of course a daring but vitally important undertaking. And anything less than the unassuming name ‘The Norwegian Theatre’ would not suffice.
During the first decade the repertoire closely followed a national pattern. Norwegian rural life – both the environment and the psyche – was given a presence and a voice on stage. Over this period the ensemble developed two distinctive styles: a rural-realistic style and a grotesque-fantastic farcical style to anecdotes and fairy tales. This combination gave a breadth of expression and a distinctive profile that did not exist in any other Norwegian theatre. The theatre took on progressively more demanding artistic challenges. From 1920 onwards the Norwegian Theatre was a leading avant garde stage, with exciting expressionistic productions.
In the sixties and seventies the Norwegian Theatre consolidated its position both artistically and economically. Classic texts from Shakespeare, Ibsen and Brecht appeared in new and exciting productions, but what makes this period so prominent is that the Norwegian Theatre was developing into the leading music-theatre in the Nordic countries. International successes like West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Man from La Mancha made the theatre well renowned, and several musicals based on Norwegian works, such as Falkberget’s Bør Børson, became colossal hits. The musicals gave the theatre a large, new audience, and strengthened the ensemble.
Concurrently Scene 2, the intimate space, developed as a venue for audiences and practitioners interested in modern, experimental European and Scandinavian drama. It was also a stage for unknown classics, literary programs and children’s theatre. The Norwegian Theatre has continued to build on these traditions; to be open to new Norwegian drama and new interpretations of Norwegian classics, and at the same time has followed developments in international drama and musical plays. The theatre is well-known for its programmes for children and young adults.
Hovedscenen
Seating: 757 seats in main rake plus 260 removable seats installed on stage for thrust and arena stage presentations; place for 3 wheel chairs (5 standard seats lost through use); proscenium opening: variable, 14-22m W x 6-9m H; performing area: 14-22m W x 26m D x 23m H to grid; main stage area incorporates 8 traps plus 13.6m diameter revolving stage and two rear stage lifts 14m x 2.5m and 14m x 3m respectively, flat stage floor, get-in via 4m W x 8m H rear stage door; 14m W x 0.8m D in front of proscenium; orchestra pit: 5 hydraulic lifts located behind proscenium form adjustable orchestra pit 10, 14 or 20m W x 3m D, maximum drop 3m; side stage SL: 18m W x 23m D x 8m H; side stage SR: 16m W x 19m D x 8m H; wing spaces: 4m W SR and 4m W SL with 14m W proscenium configuration only; suspension equipment: 56 standard motorised lines, max load 400kg each; 7 motorised lighting lines, max load 400 kg each; 4 motorised special equipment lines, max load 400kg each; 40 movable point hoists, max load 100kg each; 8 side battens, max load 800 kg each; 2 cyclorama battens, max load 400kg each; movable gangway; 1 lighting bridge over proscenium, 4 lighting bridges over auditorium, 4 box rooms; soft hangings: house curtain by artist Jan Groth; black legs and borders, various projections screens; lighting: Strand 530 computer control, 558 x 2kw, 96 x 5 kw, 38 x 10 kw dimmers, extensive rig; sound: Studer Vista 7 96 channel mixing console, Meyer Sound active speakers, RSD Audiobox and Merging Pyramix sound effects systems; stage equipment: 1 grand piano, various upright pianos; various smoke machines, 1 wind machine; 6 Pani projectors BP6 HMI and 5 Pani projectors BP1,2 HMI; backstage: 40 dressing rooms accommodating 100 personal total, wardrobe, greenroom; climate control: air-conditioned
Scene 2
Seating: 195 seats on movable units; 25 additional seats possible; place for 2 wheel chairs; performing area: flexible within total auditorium dimensions 16m W x 23m D x 6.5m H but with normal seating configurations 10m W x 14m D x 6.5m H to grid; get-in via 4m x 4m door; suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting; movable gangway; point hoists; soft hangings: black legs and borders; lighting: Strand 530 computer control, 224 x 2kw, 18 x 5kw dimmers, extensive rig; sound: Meyer Sound based speaker system, RSD Audiobox and Merging Pyramix sound effect systems; stage equipment: shared with main auditorium; backstage: facilities shared with main auditorium
Prøvescalen
Seating: 120 seats on movable units, place for 1 wheel chair; performing area: flexible within total auditorium dimensions 16m W x 23m D x 5m-11m H, but with normal seating configuration 10m W x 14m D x 11m H, get-in via 4m x 8m door; suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting; 16 counterweight lines flying to 11m; soft hangings: black legs and borders; lighting: Strand 520 computer control, 192 x 3kw, 6 x 5kw dimmers, basic rig; sound: simple sound system with additional sound equipment available on request; stage equipment: shared with main auditorium; backstage: facilities shared with main auditorium
Other facilities
Rehearsal Room: 15.6 m x 16.5m; Music Studio: 13.5m x 11.5m; Dance Studio: 13m x 7m; Prøvesalen can also used as rehearsal room; Workshops: blacksmith, carpenter, painter, upholsterer; mask department, costume department, props department
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