Teater Vestland
Teater Vestland is a regional theatre, owned by the county of Vestland and the municipality of Sunnfjord. Prior to the reform transforming the structure of Norwegian counties and municipalities, it was owned by the county of Sogn og Fjordane and the municipality of Førde.
The theatre was established as Sogn og Fjordane Teater (Norwegian: Sogn og Fjordane Teater, often shortened SoFT) in 1977, and its largest funding body is the national government. The name was changed January 1, 2020, after the counties of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland merged to become the new county Vestland. At the same time, the touring area was changed to the whole of the new county.
Information
(Objekt ID 2660)| Object type | Organization |
| Also known as | Sogn og Fjordane Teater, Sogn and Fjordane Theatre, SoFT |
| Organization type | District institution |
| Main focus | Theatre |
| Established | January 1, 1977 |
| post(at)softeater.no | |
| Website | Sogn og Fjordane Teater, TEATER VESTLAND |
Contact information
| Address | PB 324, 6802 Førde, Norway |
| post(at)softeater.no | |
| Telefon |
57721850 |
Other information
| Legal entity | Limited liability company/AS or ASA |
| Member of | Association of Norwegian Theatres and Orchestras |
Teater Vestland has its headquarters in Førde in Sunnfjord. The theatre tours the county of Vestland, and particularly prioritises new Norwegian drama, plays with stories from the region and politically engaging plays.
The theatre uses texts in New Norwegian and Western Norwegian dialects as its starting point and stage language.
From 1977 to 1980 the theatre was led by a collective, consisting of all employees. Since then Anne Gullestad (1980–88), Noralv Teigen (1989-1990), Emte Stag (1991-1999) and Mette Brantzeg (2000-2003), Terje Lyngstad (2004-2015), Bodil Kvamme (2016-2020) and Cecilie Grydeland Lundsholt (2021- ) have led the theatre.
The theatre received the Hedda Award 2010 in the special artistic achievement category for its emphasis on new Norwegian drama with a regional perspective.
The Hedda Jury gave the following reason:
"The theatre, a meeting place between people, blossomed first in the cities and came relatively late to rural Norway. But eventually theatres were established all over the country, theatres that each in their way have succeeded in establishing a distinct character of their own. In particular it is exciting that one of our smallest theatres ambitiously, consequently has worked developing new Norwegian drama with a regional perspective, new drama reaching local and national audiences, and also ranges widely in genre – from church spectacles to madcap farce via political documentary, historical drama and experimental satire.
The award for special artistic achievement goes to Sogn og Fjordane Theatre, and artistic director/CEO Terje Lyngstad, who with 21 worldwide premieres during seven years have continued former artistic director/CEO Mette Brantzeg's grand vision, in a daring way."
Sogn og Fjordane Theatre also won The Hedda Award 2006 in the special artistic achievement category for the production Saman skal vi leve.
The Hedda Jury gave the following reason:
"The special artistic achievement award provides the jury with an opportunity to honour efforts not covered by the other nine categories. For instance the award has gone to puppet designer Lisbeth Narud, playwright Jesper Halle and - last year - the entire staff of Rogaland Theatre. This year's award goes to a theatre which, in using an actual event, shaking the region, has created a contemporary, provoking production engaging way beyond the county borders.
The special artistic achievement award goes to Sogn og Fjordane Theatre (SoFT) for research-based teamwork and production of Saman skal vi leve* (We are to live together)."
SOURCES:
Sceneweb on The Hedda Award, 15.10.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23836/The_Hedda_Award_2006-2006
Teater Vestland, www.teatervestland.no, 30.11.2020, https://teatervestland.no/om-teater-vestland
| Title | Premiere |
|---|---|
| Toppar VG-lista | – February 19, 2021 – The Norwegian Theatre |
| Angel | – September 3, 2018 – Det Vestnorske Teateret |
| The Dolphin | – September 9, 2011 – Sandsund/Lie ANS |
| Simon's Story | – Navember 14, 2008 – The National Stage |
| Simon's Story | – Navember 1, 2008 – The National Stage |
| Helt på tuppa! | – 2007 – Teater Grimsborken |
| UNTERWEGS! | – 2004 – Dworakova prod unit |
| Cecilie Grydeland Lundsholt | – Theatre director (fra January 1, 2021) |
| Margunn Grytten Selvik | – Theatre director (fra March 1, 2016 til October 23, 2016) |
| Bodil Kvamme | – Theatre director (fra 2016 til 2020) |
| Terje Lyngstad | – Theatre director (fra 2004 til 2015) |
| Mette Brantzeg | – Theatre director (fra 2000 til 2003) |
| Emte Stag | – Theatre director (fra 1991 til 1999) |
| Noralv Teigen | – Theatre director (fra 1988 til 1990) |
| Anne Gullestad | – Theatre director (fra 1980 til 1987) |