A History of Scandinavian Theatre

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, Sep 28, 1996 - Drama - 384 pages
The theatrical heritage from which both Ibsen and Strindberg sprang is rich in tradition and achievement. This study of the history and development of theatre in Scandinavia examines dominant styles and trends in various periods, from the earliest performances in the Middle Ages to the provocative productions and experiments of the present day. The closely interrelated theatrical cultures of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have flourished for far longer than many outside observers realize. Moreover, as this book also demonstrates, the manifest vitality of theatrical activity in the three Nordic countries has depended on a vigorous interaction (not a one-way traffic) with European theatre at large. By the second half of the nineteenth century, as Ibsen and Strindberg began their rise to international prominence, Scandinavian theatre came to occupy a more dominant position in the wider European framework. In our own day, more forcefully than ever before, major Scandinavian stage directors and designers have continued to influence the shape and outlook of contemporary theatre as a whole. This book, the only work of its kind in English, provides a balanced and authoritative account of the theatrical history of all three Scandinavian countries. It is generously illustrated and comprehensively documented, with an extensive bibliography.
 

Contents

Early stages
3
Theatre at court
29
Playhouses of the eighteenth century
50
The Gustavian age
76
The romantic theatre and its aftermath
96
Ibsens Norway
131
Naturalism and the director
162
The Strindberg challenge
193
The modernist revolt
224
IO Tradition and experiment since 1945
269
The plurality of postmodern theatre
318
Notes
343
Select bibliography
357
Index
368
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