Crazy Lemontree: The National Theater

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The National Theater's main entrance, to the east.
The statues of Henrik Ibsen to the left, and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson to the right.

The National Theater in Oslo is one of the most well-known landmarks in the city. It is also one of Norway’s largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts. However, when the champions of theater first applied for this plot in 1880, the university claimed that a theater did not belong together with the parliament, the university and the king’s castle. But then Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910), the two famous play writers of the time, gained international prestige, and then started fighting for the theater; the university lost its case.

The theatre is situated in Studenterlunden. To the north you find Karl Johans gate, Stortingsgata to the south, Universitetsgata to the east and Johanne Dybwas Plass to the west.

Henrik Bull won the architectural competition I 1891, and the theater opened on the 1^st of September 1899. Now the building is dire need of repairs, but it seems like the politicians don’t want to make their minds up, due to the costs. They have so far estimated the repairs to over $ 200 000 (US).

North side of the theater.

The theater has three stages. The main stage, Hovedscenen, in new rococo style, was originally built with 1268 seats. This was reduced to 741 seats, when the theater was remodeled and a new stage, Amfiscenen, was built and opened in 1963. This is on the theater’s fourth floor, and has just above 200 seats. This stage has been rebuilt several times, last in 1999. The newest and smallest stage, Malerscenen, has 60 seats. It was named, as the name indicates, from the original room where it was built, the painter’s room, where they used to paint the scenery.

The first director of the theater, was Bjørn Bjørnson, son of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Today the theater has its second female director, Hanne Tømta, number 22 in line.

The theater is often considered the home for Ibsen's plays, and most of his works have been performed here.