Bjarte Hjelmeland
Bjarte Hjelmeland (born 1970) is a Norwegian actor, director and singer.
From January 2008 to January 2012 he was the head of The National Stage in Bergen.
Information
(Objekt ID 16291)| Object type | Person |
| Born | February 24, 1970 |
| Functions | Director, Actor, Musician, Theatre director |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Gender | Male |
Bjarte Hjelmeland graduated from The National Academy of Theatre in 1991.
The first years he worked for The National Theatre, while having assignments at other Norwegian theatres. For instance he visited Rogaland Theatre in 1994 in Angels in America by Tony Kushner.
From 1996 to 1998 he was part of the company at The Torshov Theatre, where he had great success with Bernard-Marie Koltès' monologue Night Just Before the Forest, performed aboard one of the trams in the city. He played the title role in Tracy Letts' Killer Joe (Torshov, 1997) and Herrmann Wurm in People Annihilation (Torshov 1996).
Later he had the roles of Mack the Knife in The Threepenny Opera (The National Theatre, 1998 and 2000) and the man in Jo Fosse's Someone is Going to Come (The National Theatre, 2001). He was Che against Mia Gundersen's Evita in Rogaland Theatre's version of the musical in 2003, and he had one of the leading parts in the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2007) at Chateau Neuf. In 2003 he interpreted the title role in Bertolt Brecht's Baal at The National Stage.
He played Peer in Bentein Baardson's outdoors production of Peer Gynt in front of the Sphinx and pyramids outside of Cairo in October 2006 (also broadcast by TV).
Bjarte Hjelmeland won The Honorary Award of Per Aabel in 1995, the radio theatre award Blå Fugl (literally: Blue Bird) for his interpretation of the title role in Henrik Ibsen's Brand (2000), Hotel Continental's actor award 2004 for his role of Jeppe in Jeppe of the Hill, and the grant of Aase Bye for 2004.
He was nominated for The Hedda Award 2002 in the particularly excellent performance category for the role of Fabian Feste in Twelfth Night at The National Theatre, and the role of Steinar in the musical Antons villfaring* (Anton's Deviation) at The Norwegian Theatre. In 2004 he was nominated again, in the particularly excellent performance category, for the role of Jeppe in Jeppe of the Hill, The National Theatre.
Bjarte Hjelmeland was nominated for The Hedda Award 2015 in the best leading actor category for the role of Argan in The Imaginary Invalid, Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) 2014.
He won the Norwegian comedy award Komiprisen 2011 for his interpretation of Albin in La Cage aux Folles, The National Stage (2010).
While playing the role of Jeppe at The National Theatre he also acted in 42 different roles in the play Fully Committed in the nightclub Smuget in Oslo, directed by Toralv Maurstad.
Besides acting, he is the lead singer of his own country band.
He has directed several productions, including Art (The National Stage 2008) and All about My Mother (The National Stage 2011).
Bjarte Hjelmeland also has taken part in several movies, and he had one of the recurring roles in the TV series Western Wind.
Sources:
Store Norske Leksikon on Bjarte Hjelmeland, www.snl.no, 26.10.2012, http://snl.no/Bjarte_Hjelmeland
Sceneweb on The Hedda Award 2004, www.sceneweb.no, 24.10.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23869/Heddaprisen_2004-2004
Sceneweb on The Hedda Award 2002, www.sceneweb.no, 06.11.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23900/The_Hedda_Award_2002-2002
The National Theatre on Bjarte Hjelmeland, www.nationaltheatret.no, 26.10.2012, http://fdb.nationaltheatret.no/S%C3%B8k/tabid/57/ctl/ViewPerson/mid/374/personId/4f0595c1-b3fc-4ecb-96c2-a2ee40107b0d/Default.aspx
The Hedda Award, heddaprisen.no, 20.05.2015, http://www.heddaprisen.no/pub/heddaprisen/main/?aid=1306
*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.
The National Academy of Theatre (graduated in 1991).
- Bjarte Hjelmeland - Administrative head
- Bjarte Hjelmeland - Artistic director
- Christiania Teater - Theatre director (from 2022 to )
- The National Stage - Theatre director (from 2008 to 2011)
| Title | Publiseringsdato | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Trist og Fint* (Sad and nice) | 1998, Script, Cabaret | – Author |
- Komiprisen 2016 - Årets mannlige scenekomiker
- The Hedda Award 2015 - Best leading actor
- Komiprisen 2013 - Beste mannlige artist, revy og komedie scene
- Komiprisen 2006 - Beste mannlige artist, revy og komedie
- Komiprisen 2005 - Beste mannlige artist, revy og komedie
- The Hedda Award 2004 - Particularly excellent performance
- Komiprisen 2004 - Beste mannlige artist, revy og komedie
- The Hedda Award 2002 - Particularly excellent performance