National Swedish Touring Theatre

The National Swedish Touring Theatre[1] (Swedish: Riksteatern) is the largest touring theatre company in Sweden. It serves as Sweden's national stage on tour. The company is owned and funded by 240 local economic associations spread throughout the country. Their main goal is to promote and produce high-quality theatre for all of Sweden, with a focus on areas outside of the major cities.

Playbill for the production of Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw, Riksteatern, 1960
A 1959 Riksteatern playbill for a production of My Fair Lady

The National Swedish Touring Theatre was established in 1933 and has been touring throughout Sweden ever since. Some of Sweden's most renowned theatre companies, such as the Royal Dramatic Theatre (the national stage) and the Cullberg Ballet, frequently collaborate with the National Swedish Touring Theatre, showcasing many of their most popular productions.

History

The National Swedish Touring Theatre was established in 1933 by Arthur Engberg with the goal of brining top-quality theatrical productions to audiences outside of Stockholm. Engberg's belief that all citizens of Sweden deserved access to high-quality theatre prompted a national debate, ultimately leading to the theatre's establishment with state funding and support.

Initially, in the 1930s, the National Swedish Touring Theatre functioned as the touring branch of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Sweden, allowing them to bring productions to audiences who were unable to attend the national stage in Stockholm. However, in the 1940s, the touring theatre was granted its own ensemble and began producting stage shows exclusively for the National Swedisch Touring Theatre, with the intention of touring throughout the country.

In 1966 the National Swedish Touring Theatre underwent corporatisation with Sweden's second influential touring theatre organisation, Svenska Teatern, to form Svenska Riksteatern. The following year, in 1967, the National Swedish Touring Theatre established a division entitled Unga Riks ("Young Riksteatern"), to produce theatre productions specifically for children and youth. For three decards, Unga Riks dedicated itself to providing quality theatre for children, regularly performing in schools throughout Sweden at an affordable cost.

Since 1977 the theatre group Riksteatern Crea, previously known as Tyst Teater ("Silent Theatre"), has also been a prominent part of the National Swedish Touring Theatre. The unique group specialises in staging theatrical works for the deaf community using sign language, and has gained international recognition and widespread acclaim in recent years.

In 1999, Lars Norén, one of Sweden's preeminent contemporary playwrights, founded Riks Drama as a division of the National Swedish Touring Theatre. Additionally, the section of Riks Gästspel was established, which showcases guest performances by the National Swedish Touring Theatre abroad.[2]

A standard National Swedish Touring Theatre playbill cover from the 1940s and 50s

References
  1. Gullberg, Ingvar E. (1977). Svensk-engelsk fackordbok för näringsliv, förvaltning, undervisning och forskning [A Swedish-English dictionary of technical terms used in business, industry, administration, education and research] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1631. ISBN 91-1-775052-0. SELIBR 8345587.
  2. "Historia | Riksteatern". 2011-08-08. Archived from the original on 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2023-05-24.

Further reading
  • Riksteaterns historia med citat Archived August 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  • Riksteaterns historia Archived August 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  • Englund, Claes (2003). Världens största teater: Riksteatern 1958-1976. Norsborg, Sweden: Entré. ISBN 9185472476.
  • Knispel, Paul & Nystedt, Anna (1992). Unga riks. Norsborg, Sweden: Unga riksteatern.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Norell, Åsa (2001). Riksteatern: folkbildning på turné: bakgrunden, tillkomsten och de första sju åren. Örebro, Sweden: Univ.
  • Riksteatern 50 år: en kavalkad i text och bild. Solna, Sweden: Entré/Riksteatern. 1983. ISBN 9185472085.
  • Riksteatern 75 år. Norsborg, Sweden: Riksteatern. 2008. ISBN 9789163330612.
  • Teater i Sverige utanför huvudstaden. Stockholm, Sweden: Svensk litteratur. 1948. pp. 277–308.
  • Ullberg, Hans (1991). På väg mot en riksteater: en teaterpolitisk tillbakablick 1911-1939. Norsborg, Sweden: Entré/Riksteatern. ISBN 918547231X.
  • Ullberg, Hans (1994). Riksteater i krig och fred: några drag ur teaterns utveckling i Sverige 1940-1958. Norsborg, Sweden: Entré/Riksteatern. ISBN 9185472360.
  • 1943 års riksteaterutrednings betänkande och förslag angående Riksteaterns omorganisation m. m. Statens offentliga utredningar, 0375-250X; 1944:42. Stockholm, Sweden. 1944.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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