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Title (2)	File type	Publiseringsdato	Download
Performance programme for Scene7s produksjon De lærde damer ("The educated ladies"; 1966)	pdf	May 23, 1966	Download
Review by Stian Sørlie in Morgenbladet of Musidra Teater’s production I denne harde tid ("In these hard times"; 1974)	pdf	March 13, 1974	Download

Scene 7

Scene 7 was an independent theatre group established in Oslo in 1966 as a subdivision of Club 7. It was one of the first independent theatre groups in Norway. Scene 7 was a small, open avant-garde theatre with strong connections to an international artistic environment. The theatre's artistic director was Sossen Krohg. The experimental theatre defined itself as an open theatre: open to new theatrical forms, new plays and new actors. For many years, Scene 7 was one of the principal contributors to the capital's avant-garde theatre and served as an important channel for international artistic influences.

Scene 7 was repeatedly criticised by theatre reviewers for its amateurism. And rightly enough, several of its actors were in fact amateurs – in this respect Scene 7 also functioned as a form of alternative theatre school.

Scene 7 was disbanded after 19 years and 3 months, when Club 7 was declared bankrupt on 1 April 1985.

Information

(Objekt ID 5045)

Object type	Organization
Organization type	Theatre company
Main focus	Theatre
Established	1966 (closed April 1, 1985)
Last changed	22.07.2026
Create date	16.05.2012

Contact information

Address

Oslo, Norway

Other information

Legal entity

Other

Scene 7's opening production was Molière's Les Femmes savantes (De Lærde Damer) in 1966, directed by Sossen Krohg. The theatre's greatest box-office success was its production of Gerd Brantenberg's Egalias døtre.

In 1972, Scene 7 began working with outreach theatre. Initially, performances were presented in prisons, youth clubs, senior centres and hospitals. After some time, however, the municipal Director of Cultural Affairs would only support public performances organised in collaboration with, publicly funded bodies, for example district councils and public libraries.

In 1973, Scene 7 was awarded NOK 100,000 (having applied for NOK 300,000) by the Cultural Committee of the Municipality of Oslo. This made it possible to employ additional actors, who had previously worked largely without pay.

In the autumn of 1973, Scene 7 organised “Aksjon manus ut av skrivebordsskuffen” ("Action: Manuscripts out of the Desk Drawer"), a playwriting competition in which selected submissions received staged readings by Scene 7. Fifteen manuscripts were submitted, and five of them were presented as readings during the course of the year.

In 1974, Scene 7 launched an extensive programme of children's theatre.

After 1974, relatively little changed at Scene 7. Although many productions continued to be staged, the theatre had found its artistic identity and largely ceased to explore new forms of expression. The politically activist theatre that emerged in Norway during the 1970s never gained a foothold at Scene 7. Nevertheless, the theatre addressed controversial social issues, including homosexuality, disability, wrongful convictions, abuse within the prison system and psychiatry.

Dissatisfaction among the actors increased throughout the 1970s. On 8 March 1979 they sent a letter to the board accusing the management and administration of Club 7 of an apparently lax and indifferent attitude towards the management of Scene 7. That same week, a general meeting was held, followed by a second letter to the board expressing strong dissatisfaction with the current conditions at the theatre, artistically, technically and administratively. The dissatisfaction continued until it was decided to establish an artistic advisory board, revise job descriptions and undertake a thorough review of the theatre's operations during the following year. None of these measures was implemented.

By the end of the 1970s, Club 7 was once again facing severe difficulties. Internal conflicts and increasing financial disorder characterised the organisation, while external competition intensified as more jazz clubs opened in Oslo. The board raised ticket prices and reduced activity. Everything was cut drastically except staffing and the operation of Scene 7, which was sacrosanct to Club’s founder and managing director, Attila Horvath. During this same period, Scene 7 premiered the most ambitious production in its history, Ola og Ali.

In the autumn of 1981, Club 7 nevertheless had to reduce the theatre's budget by 50 per cent. From 1983 onwards, it became increasingly difficult for Scene 7 to maintain its position within the club. Budgets were cut further, the group's vitality declined and audience numbers fell. The theatre increasingly relied on guest performances, while longer intervals separated its own productions. Even so, the group maintained its artistic profile, focusing on children's theatre, socially engaged theatre, new Norwegian drama and European absurdist playwrights. The theatre moved to the mezzanine level and redefined itself as a café theatre with small tables for the audience, although it missed the theatre space in the basement.

In November 1982, the theatre staged its last Norwegian play, Til døden skiller Eder ad. After this, it presented works by European absurdist playwrights, which received favourable reviews, but by then Scene 7 was nearing the end of its existence. Rommet (The Room) was its final production, and by June 1984 only Sossen Krohg and Attila Horvath remained associated with the theatre.

Scene 7 was dissolved when Club 7 was declared bankrupt on 1 April 1985.

Scene 7's venues

1966: The basement and theatre auditorium at Edderkoppen Revue Theatre, St. Olavs plass.

1966 – summer 1970: Restaurant Kongen, Frognerkilen.

July 1971–1985: The basement of D Block at Oslo Concert Hall (Oslo Konserthus) in Vika (now the Stenersen Museum). During the first three years at the Concert Hall, Scene 7's repertoire was strongly influenced by European absurdist playwrights, American Beat writers, emerging Norwegian playwrights and playwrights working outside the institutional theatre system.

1981–1985: The mezzanine level of D Block at Oslo Concert Hall.

KILDER:

Førland, Tor Egil: Club 7. Pax Forlag A/S Oslo 1998.

Jenssen, Hugo Lauritz: Sossen. Bohemdronningen, Kagge Forlag, 2015

Club 7: Presse 7, Nr. 2 februar 1973, 2. årgang (Club 7 sitt eget tidsskrift).

Club 7: Presse 7, Nr. 4 september 1973, 2. årgang (Club 7 sitt eget tidsskrift).

Venues (4)

Own productions (103)

Title	Premiere
Den ungarske hesten	– 1985
Rommet	– May 1984
Testarium	– October 1983
Deilig er jorden	– 1983
Egalias døtre	– 1983
Til døden skiller Eder ad	– Navember 1982
Værsågod neste	– March 1982
Gutten og gullfuglen	– 1982
Egalias døtre	– 1982
Galskap for to	– 1982
Cabaret Diskrim	– 1982
Elskede lille konen min	– 1981
Laken og Maken	– 1981
Kollontaj	– 1981
Det er bare Martha	– 1981
Ola og Ali	– September 1980
Knall eller fall (Hvorfor han og hun heller vil hoppe til køys enn å delta i den tredje verdenskrig)	– 1980
Onkel Ulrik	– December 5, 1979
Harlequins skriblerier	– July 28, 1979
Løven Snild kom til Norge	– 1979
Fisken i vannet	– 1979
The Knack	– 1978
Kjønnsrollemuseet	– 1978
Rikketi Dikketi Plopp! - eller livet må være noe mer	– 1978
Gutten som ikke fikk tegne (Den lille prinsen)	– 1978
Medea	– 1978
Clementz, du er alvorlig sinnssyk	– May 1977
Majakowskijs Blues	– 1977
Alibi	– 1976
Polly flyr videre	– 1976
Papegøyen Polly	– 1976
Trappen - et stykke om bevegelseshemming	– 1975
Heisen	– 1975
4 menn	– 1975
Skrekk og gru	– 1975
Achtung, gnädiges Fräulein	– 1975
Innberetning til et akademi	– 1975
Skinken Nøff og Grynta som ikke ville bli julebord	– December 1974
The Dance of Death	– September 24, 1974
Interregnum	– May 1974
Den sterkeste	– January 10, 1974
Handling uten ord II	– 1974
Et glass vann	– 1974
Morgen i appelsingult	– 1974
Dongeri	– 1974
Papegøyen Polly	– January 1974
4 på Kafé	– 1974
Riket er ditt	– June 1973
The Dutchman	– 1973
Elskeren	– 1973
Nansen og Johansens ferd mot Nordpolen	– 1973
Den forvandlede Brudgom	– 1973
§39 - Et spill om sikring	– 1973
The Knack	– 1973
Situasjonen	– 1973
Bjørnen	– 1973
Hansel and Gretel	– October 1972
Til helvete heller	– September 1972
7 mennesker	– 1972
Den hvite horen	– 1972
Alltid noe trist og deprimerende	– 1971
The Labyrinth	– 1971
Konfirmasjonen	– 1971
Streken	– 1971
Intermesso i evigheten	– 1971
Stål	– 1969
Nansen og Johansens ferd mot Nordpolen	– 1969
Den politiske kannestøper	– September 7, 1968
Elskeren	– 1968
Bødlene	– 1968
Døren I	– June 1967
Døren II	– May 1967
Hullet	– 1967
Maid to Marry	– 1967
Pornagen	– 1967
Nyttelære	– 1967
De lærde damer	– May 23, 1966
En maler og nok en maler	– May 11, 1966
Don Perlimplins kjærlighet til Belissa	– May 11, 1966
VM-kabaret	– February 1966
The Maids	–
Diary of a Madman	–
En times kjærlighet	–
Rivalinne i hvitt	–
Hva koster jernet?	–
The Bird	–
Den amerikanske drømmen	–
Natt	–
Fargefars fargehjul	–
Dårekisten	–
Fantomet fra Marseille	–
Sommerfuglen Nydelill og alle de andre	–
Skipper Langkikkert	–
Sonofferet	–
Skogrottene Lotta og Rottata som ville flytte til byen	–
Sjelekval	–
Frieriet	–
Privat-timen	–
Alkohol	–
Måker vet en hva er...	–
To fremmede går ut	–
Alltid er du nettopp gått	–
Sukkerbrød med kaviar	–

Co-productions (2)

Title	Premiere
Grottedyr	– 1966 – Teaterverkstedet
Nøkkelhullet	– 1966 – Teaterverkstedet

Performance dates

Title	Premiere
Den ungarske hesten	– 1985 – Scene 7
Rommet	– May 1984 – Scene 7
Maid to Marry	– October 1983 – Scene 7
Papegøyen Polly	– October 1983 – Scene 7
Testarium	– October 1983 – Scene 7
Deilig er jorden	– September 20, 1983 – Scene 7
Deilig er jorden	– 1983 – Scene 7
Egalias døtre	– 1983 – Scene 7
Til døden skiller Eder ad	– Navember 1982 – Scene 7
Lisburn Thomas dances alone	– October 12, 1982
Værsågod neste	– March 1982 – Scene 7
Gutten og gullfuglen	– 1982 – Scene 7
Egalias døtre	– 1982 – Scene 7
Galskap for to	– 1982 – Scene 7
Cabaret Diskrim	– 1982 – Scene 7
Elskede lille konen min	– 1981 – Scene 7
Laken og Maken	– 1981 – Scene 7
Kollontaj	– 1981 – Scene 7
Det er bare Martha	– 1981 – Scene 7
Ola og Ali	– September 1980 – Scene 7
Knall eller fall (Hvorfor han og hun heller vil hoppe til køys enn å delta i den tredje verdenskrig)	– 1980 – Scene 7
Fisken i vannet	– 1980 – Scene 7
Onkel Ulrik	– December 5, 1979 – Scene 7
Harlequins skriblerier	– August 1979 – Thesbiteatret (The Thesbi Theatre), Scene 7
Harlequins skriblerier	– July 28, 1979 – Thesbiteatret (The Thesbi Theatre), Scene 7
Fargefars fargehjul	– February 18, 1979 – Scene 7
Medea	– February 18, 1979 – Scene 7
Fargefars fargehjul	– February 17, 1979 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– February 16, 1979 – Scene 7
Medea	– February 15, 1979 – Scene 7
Medea	– February 13, 1979 – Scene 7
Løven Snild kom til Norge	– 1979 – Scene 7
Fisken i vannet	– 1979 – Scene 7
Privat-timen	– October 1978 – Scene 7
Gutten som ikke fikk tegne (Den lille prinsen)	– October 1978 – Scene 7
Medea	– October 1978 – Scene 7
Skipper Langkikkert	– February 19, 1978 – Scene 7
Clementz, du er alvorlig sinnssyk	– February 19, 1978 – Scene 7
Skipper Langkikkert	– February 18, 1978 – Scene 7
Clementz, du er alvorlig sinnssyk	– February 16, 1978 – Scene 7
Privat-timen	– February 14, 1978 – Scene 7
The Knack	– 1978 – Scene 7
Kjønnsrollemuseet	– 1978 – Scene 7
Rikketi Dikketi Plopp! - eller livet må være noe mer	– 1978 – Scene 7
Gutten som ikke fikk tegne (Den lille prinsen)	– 1978 – Scene 7
Medea	– 1978 – Scene 7
Clementz, du er alvorlig sinnssyk	– May 1977 – Scene 7
Skogrottene Lotta og Rottata som ville flytte til byen	– February 20, 1977 – Scene 7
Streken	– February 20, 1977 – Scene 7
Skogrottene Lotta og Rottata som ville flytte til byen	– February 19, 1977 – Scene 7
Sonofferet	– February 17, 1977 – Scene 7
Sonofferet	– February 15, 1977 – Scene 7
Majakowskijs Blues	– 1977 – Scene 7
Skogrottene Lotta og Rottata som ville flytte til byen	– February 15, 1976 – Scene 7
4 menn	– February 12, 1976 – Scene 7
Trappen - et stykke om bevegelseshemming	– February 10, 1976 – Scene 7
Alibi	– 1976 – Scene 7
Polly flyr videre	– 1976 – Scene 7
Papegøyen Polly	– 1976 – Scene 7
Great scraps and other mishaps	– August 5, 1975 – Mango Pies Theatre
Achtung, gnädiges Fräulein	– February 16, 1975 – Scene 7
Skinken Nøff og Grynta som ikke ville bli julebord	– February 15, 1975 – Scene 7
Achtung, gnädiges Fräulein	– February 14, 1975 – Scene 7
Dongeri	– February 13, 1975 – Scene 7
Achtung, gnädiges Fräulein	– February 11, 1975 – Scene 7
Trappen - et stykke om bevegelseshemming	– 1975 – Scene 7
Heisen	– 1975 – Scene 7
4 menn	– 1975 – Scene 7
Skrekk og gru	– 1975 – Scene 7
Achtung, gnädiges Fräulein	– 1975 – Scene 7
Innberetning til et akademi	– 1975 – Scene 7
Skinken Nøff og Grynta som ikke ville bli julebord	– December 1974 – Scene 7
The Dance of Death	– September 24, 1974 – Scene 7
Interregnum	– May 1974 – Scene 7
§39 - Et spill om sikring	– March 8, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– February 9, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– February 2, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 31, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 26, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 21, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 19, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 16, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 12, 1974 – Scene 7
Den sterkeste	– January 10, 1974 – Scene 7
Handling uten ord II	– 1974 – Scene 7
§39 - Et spill om sikring	– 1974 – Scene 7
Et glass vann	– 1974 – Scene 7
Morgen i appelsingult	– 1974 – Scene 7
Dongeri	– 1974 – Scene 7
Papegøyen Polly	– January 1974 – Scene 7
4 på Kafé	– 1974 – Scene 7
Elskeren	– September 30, 1973 – Scene 7
The Bird	– September 27, 1973 – Scene 7
The Knack	– September 24, 1973 – Scene 7
Riket er ditt	– June 1973 – Musidra, Scene 7
The Dutchman	– 1973 – Scene 7
Elskeren	– 1973 – Scene 7
Nansen og Johansens ferd mot Nordpolen	– 1973 – Scene 7
Den forvandlede Brudgom	– 1973 – Scene 7
§39 - Et spill om sikring	– 1973 – Scene 7
The Knack	– 1973 – Scene 7
Situasjonen	– 1973 – Scene 7
Bjørnen	– 1973 – Scene 7
Hansel and Gretel	– October 1972 – Scene 7
Til helvete heller	– September 1972 – Scene 7
7 mennesker	– 1972 – Scene 7
Den hvite horen	– 1972 – Scene 7
Alltid noe trist og deprimerende	– 1971 – Scene 7
The Labyrinth	– 1971 – Scene 7
Konfirmasjonen	– 1971 – Scene 7
Streken	– 1971 – Scene 7
Intermesso i evigheten	– 1971 – Scene 7
Stål	– 1969 – Scene 7
Nansen og Johansens ferd mot Nordpolen	– 1969 – Scene 7
Den politiske kannestøper	– September 7, 1968 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– April 22, 1968 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– April 21, 1968 – Scene 7
Elskeren	– 1968 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– 1968 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– 1968 – Scene 7
Bødlene	– 1968 – Scene 7
Døren I	– June 1967 – Scene 7
Døren II	– May 1967 – Scene 7
Hullet	– 1967 – Scene 7
Maid to Marry	– 1967 – Scene 7
Pornagen	– 1967 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– 1967 – Scene 7
Nyttelære	– 1967 – Scene 7
De lærde damer	– May 23, 1966 – Scene 7
En maler og nok en maler	– May 11, 1966 – Scene 7
Don Perlimplins kjærlighet til Belissa	– May 11, 1966 – Scene 7
VM-kabaret	– February 1966 – Scene 7
The Maids	– – Scene 7
Diary of a Madman	– – Scene 7
En times kjærlighet	– – Scene 7
Hva koster jernet?	– – Scene 7
Den amerikanske drømmen	– – Scene 7
Natt	– – Scene 7
Fargefars fargehjul	– – Scene 7
Dårekisten	– – Scene 7
Fantomet fra Marseille	– – Scene 7
Sommerfuglen Nydelill og alle de andre	– – Scene 7
Sommerfuglen Nydelill og alle de andre	– – Scene 7
Skipper Langkikkert	– – Scene 7
Sonofferet	– – Scene 7
Skogrottene Lotta og Rottata som ville flytte til byen	– – Scene 7
Sjelekval	– – Scene 7
Frieriet	– – Scene 7
Privat-timen	– – Scene 7
Alkohol	– – Scene 7
Måker vet en hva er...	– – Scene 7
To fremmede går ut	– – Scene 7
Alltid er du nettopp gått	– – Scene 7

Contributors (17)

Asbjørn P. Olsen	– Actor ( til 1985)
May-Brith Thowsen	– Actor
Halvor Schjelderup	– Actor
Berit Schjelderup	– Actor
Sessa Sidselrud de Seves	– Actor
Liv Borg Thorsen	– Actor
Jorunn Kjellsby	– Actor
Pål Nordrum	– Actor
Gunnar Enerkjær	– Actor
Jan Clementz	– Actor
Bernt Erik Larssen	– Actor
Guy Krohg	– Stage designer
Anka Næss	– Actor (fra 1977 til 1985)
Pernille Anker	– Artist (fra 1972 til 1975)
John Ellefsen	– Stagehand (fra 1968)
Sossen Krohg	– Theatre director (fra 1966 til 1985)
Attila Horvath	– Actor (fra 1966)

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