About Ibsenfestival

Through exciting performances, discussions, artist encounters, children’s events, and much more, The Ibsen Festival lets us look at Ibsen, humanity, and society in new and different ways.

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The Ibsen Festival is Norway’s leading theatre festival – an international celebration of Henrik Ibsen’s legacy and his continued relevance in our time. Every other year, the National Theatre in Oslo presents a vibrant programme of performances, discussions, artist encounters, children’s events, debates – and the awarding of the prestigious International Ibsen Award. The festival features both in-house productions and bold guest performances from leading companies around the world.

Since its founding in 1990, the festival has transformed how Ibsen is staged in his homeland. It has introduced new artistic directions, from psychological depth to postmodern interpretations, and helped position Oslo as a global meeting point for theatre. With more than 300 events across 15 editions, the Ibsen Festival has not only redefined Ibsen for new generations – it continues to shape contemporary theatre itself.

“The Ibsen Festival brought the world back into Norwegian theatre in a new and powerful way”.

– Frode Helland and Julie Holledge, rerearchers at The Center For Ibsen Studies

The International Ibsen Festival at 30 -A declaration of love

Watch the documentary that tells the story of how the Ibsen Festival was created, and what the festival has meant for Norwegian and international theatre

In 2020, the International Ibsen Festival turns 30. To mark the occasion, filmmaker Emilie Beck has created this documentary, which tells the story of how the International Ibsen Festival was created, and what the festival has meant for Norwegian and international theatre.

In addition, theatre directors and actors open up and share stories from backstage - why did Wenche Foss stand up and leave in the middle of a performance of John Gabriel Borkman?

  • Producer: Miriam Eeg

  • Director: Emilie Beck

  • Cutter: Linn heidi Slåttøy

  • Photographer: Adele Gyllenhammer og Simen Skari

  • Sound: Morten Kristoffersen og Christoffer Søreide

  • Production Manager: Maru Sánchez

  • Post-production: Hocus Focus

  • Grade and online: Mathias Theissen

  • Audio post-production: Erik Ljunggren  

Helene Naustdal Bergsholm, Thorbjørn Harr, Mariann Hole, Ellen Horn, Anne Krigsvoll, Mattis Herman Nyquist, Marian Saastad Ottesen, Bjørn Skagestad, Eirik Stubø, Fridtjov Såheim, Hanne Tømta, Trine Viggen and Stein Winge