National Theatre (Oslo) facts for kids

The National Theatre in Oslo, Norway, is one of the biggest and most famous places for plays and performances in the country. It's often called Nationaltheatret in Norwegian. This beautiful building has been a key part of Norway's culture for over a hundred years.

Quick facts for kids National Theatre
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
National Theatre
Type	Cultural institution
Status	Protected by resolution
County	Oslo
Municipality	Oslo
Coordinates	59°54′52.1″N 10°44′3.74″E / 59.914472°N 10.7343722°E / 59.914472; 10.7343722
Year built	1899
ID	86156

History of the National Theatre

The National Theatre opened its doors for the first time on September 1, 1899. However, its story actually began much earlier. It grew out of the Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829.

Grand Opening Performances

The theatre had a very special opening. There were three official performances, one on each of the first three days of September.

• The first day featured plays by Ludvig Holberg, a famous Norwegian-Danish writer.
• On the second day, they showed An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen. He is one of Norway's most important playwrights.
• The third day's play was Sigurd Jorsalfar by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. He was another very famous Norwegian writer.

Early Years and Support

The National Theatre started as a private theatre. This means it was not run by the government. For many years, it faced money problems. But in 1929, the Norwegian government started to give it some support.

Many famous Norwegians have been in charge of the theatre. Vilhelm Krag, who became the artistic director in 1911, is often said to have led the theatre into its "golden age." This was a time when the theatre was very successful and popular.

A view of the back of the National Theatre building.

Famous Plays and Christmas Magic

The theatre is especially known for performing plays by Henrik Ibsen. Most of his works have been shown on its stages.

A very popular play for children is Journey to the Christmas Star. This Christmas play was written by the theatre's finance director, Sverre Brandt. It was first performed in 1924 and has been a beloved tradition ever since.

The Theatre Building

The main building of the National Theatre is in a central spot in Oslo. It is located between the Royal Palace, Oslo and the Parliament of Norway. You can easily get there by train or metro, as it is served by the National Theatre Station and National Theatre metro stations.

The building itself was designed by a talented architect named Henrik Bull. He completed the design in 1899.

Theatre Stages

The National Theatre actually has four different stages where plays are performed:

• The main stage (called Hovedscenen in Norwegian)
• The amphitheatre (called Amfiscenen)
• The Painting Parlour (called Malersalen)

These three stages are all inside the main building.

• The fourth stage is the Torshov Theatre (Torshovteatret). This stage is located in the Torshov area of Oslo.

See also