East Gothland Theatre

East Gothland Theatre
(East Gothland County Theatre Foundation)

Östgötateatern
Old Theatre in Norrköping
Formation	1981
Type	Performing arts
Purpose	Proclaim the sorrow of the ages - Proclaim the joy of the ages
Location	Norrköping, Sweden Linköping
Region served	Östergötland
Owner	Östergötland Regional Council and municipalities of Norrköping and Linköping
President	Lars Hagman
Chief Executive	Pia Kronqvist
Manager	Nils Poletti
Parent organization	Scenkonst Öst AB
Website	www.ostgotateatern.se

The East Gothland Theatre (Swedish Östgötateatern) is Sweden's largest regional theatre, with stages in Norrköping and Linköping, both dating from the early 20th century, as well as touring companies. The repertoire includes Swedish and foreign drama, new plays, musicals, and classical theatre.

Since 2010, the theatre has staged the European premiere of The Addams Family and the Scandinavian premieres of Come from Away and the musical Amélie.

History

The theatre in Linköping was opened in 1903, while the one in Norrköping, which is slightly larger, was opened in 1908 and is in the Art Nouveau style. On its front is the motto "Proclaim the sorrow of the ages - Proclaim the joy of the ages". Both are now called Stora teatern, or the Grand Theatre, and were designed by Axel Anderberg.[1]

The present-day combination has its origins in the Stadsteatern Norrköping-Linköping, established in 1947. The East Gothland County Theatre Foundation was established in 1981 and took over from it.[2]

Since 1 January 2016, the theatrical organization has been combined with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra into a public collective now called Scenkonst Öst AB. The owners are the Regional Council and the municipalities of Norrköping and Linköping.[3]

Notable productions

• Come from Away (musical), from 26 September 2020, in Norrköping[4]

Notable people

• Gun Jönsson (1929–2021), theatre director 1978–1980
• Bo Höglund (born 1948), member of the company
• Inger Nilsson (born 1959), property master[5]
• Lars-Erik Liedholm (1928–1996), theatre director[6]
• Richard Carlsohn (born 1965), member of the company

Notes

1. "Östgötateaterns teaterhus". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
2. "Ostgothateatern's archive: here you will find everything about our history". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
3. "Scenkonst Öst". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
4. Stolt, Annette. "BWW Previews: COME FROM AWAY at Östgötateatern". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
5. Kingdahl, Thomas (23 December 2013). "Inger Nilsson: "Inte fått vara i fred på 45 år"". Expressen. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
6. "Östgötateatern" (in Swedish). ostgotateatern.se. Retrieved 1 May 2019.