On this page you will find short information on the most relevant theatres in Denmark as regards international collaboration.
(Theatres not profiled in Genres & Artists)
The Royal Danish Theatre ( Det Kongelige Teater )
The Royal Danish Theatre is the national theatre of Denmark and houses the Royal Danish Opera, the Royal Danish Ballet, The Royal Danish Orchestra as well as the Theatre itself. The Royal Danish Theatre has teo stages in the central building of Kongens Nytorv, and two in the new opera house on the Copenhagen harbourfront. In 2007 a new theatre building will open on the harbourfront, opposite the Opera. D Michael Christiansen Head of the Theatre Department: Mikkel Harder Munck-Hansen Head of the Royal Ballet: Frank Andersen Head of Opera: Kasper Bech Holten A Postboks 2185, 1017 København K T Tlf. 33 69 69 33 E Wwww.kgl-teater.dk
Albertslund Music Theatre( Albertslund Musikteater ) Renamed after a major refurbishement and extension in 1996, this large cultural centre from the 70’s was refurbished and extended in 1996. Since the 80’s The Albertslund Music Theatre has been the leading receiving theatre for larger scale productions in the region of non commercial theatre, dance and music and the progressive arts policy of Albertslund Municipality has supported this role. It has provided a stage for all KIT’s international festivals and also hosts independent Danish and international productions.
Seats: 900 D Torben Holm Larsen A Bibliotekstorvet 1-3, DK-2650 Albertslund T +45 43 64 02 44 E
Baltoppen
Baltoppen is a 15-year old cultural center in the suburb of Ballerup 15 kilometres west of Copenhagen. Its focus is local – i.e. touring theatre productions and musicals are presented regularly, but in recent years, the profile of the theatre has intensified, thanks to increased public funding. Under the banner “Dance on the Edge of Copenhagen,” Baltoppen has become one of the region’s only venues for contemporary dance, hosting both Danish and international guest performances.
Seats: 500 D Jan Kiwi A Baltorpvej 20, DK-2750 Ballerup T +45 4477 3060 E
Betty Nansen Teatret The Betty Nansen Theatre in Copenhagen is often touted as the country’s alternate national theatre. It was established in 1869 and still has the traditional proscenium stage. The theatre receives funding as a part of Københavns Teater.
As well as a base for stage director Peter Langdal, the BNT has distinguished itself by staging productions associated with widely renowned playwrights of the day- from Denmark and abroad. For example, the Danish director Katrine Wiedemann has worked at the theatre several times and BN staged the Danish versions of Michael Frayn’s “Copenhagen” (1999) and “Democracy” (2004). In 2002, it won international recognition for its collaboration with Robert Wilson/Tom Waits on “Woyzeck”, which later toured Europe and the US.
In 1992, the nearby annex Edison, opened. Located in an abandoned power station, it has its own profile. Edison’s focus has been integration projects, including C:NTACT, which offers workshops and productions primarily aimed at young audiences with both Danish and foreign backgrounds. D Peter Langdal (Artistic), Henrik Hartmann (Adm.) A Frederiksberg Allé 57, DK - 1820 Frederiksberg C A Edison Teatret, Edisonsvej 10, DK - 1856 Frederiksberg C T +45 3321 0755 E Wwww.bettynansen.dk
CaféTeatret
CaféTeatret is the leading fringe theatre for contemporary drama in Copenhagen. Since 1972, it has produced original work and hosted outside productions on its two small stages and café.
CT has continuously worked with an artistic openness to new trends. It has often been the first theatre to present new international plays – for example, by Sarah Kane, Mark Ravenhill, David Harrower and Falk Richter. Likewise, it has staged contemporary Danish drama by, for example, Christian Lollike and Gerz Feigenberg. Moreover, its cabaret stage, Kafcaféen, has hosted late night shows, regular readings and discussion evenings. Throughout the years, Café Teatret has participated in a number of international collaborations. D Søren Glad, Erling Larsen, Niels Skjoldager & Lisa Thorslunde A Skindergade 3, DK-1159 Copenhagen K T +45 3313 5813 E Wwww.cafeteatret.dk
Camp-X
Camp-X is a new international contemporary theater in Copenhagen.
Every second year Camp-X will appoint an artistic curator, which means they will keep presenting new artistic dreams for the audience. "Camp X believes in making a difference for both the audience and the Danish theater in general.
And we believe in exchange. Exchange between theater and reality, between stage and audience, and between people."
Camp X is a brand new theater under construction. A lot will be discovered, examined, discussed and tested.
D Mette Hvid Davidsen A Frederiksberg Allé 102, DK-1820 Frederiksberg T+45 33 23 31 00 E Wwww.campx.dk
DanceScenen
Dansescenen is Denmark’s first and still leading stage for contemporary dance. The theatre opened in 1993 in a former barracks in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen.
The theatre is an open venue for independent dance productions. Approximately 130 performances a year are presented at Dansescenen, including 20 national and international guest productions, festivals and the theatre’s own productions – including a well-run guest choreographer program.
As part of its work in profiling and promoting contemporary dance, special efforts have been made in recent years to reach a younger audience: for example, the theatre plays host to The Junior Company (Juniorkompagniet) for young people between 14 and 18. Here, professional Danish and international choreographers create new work which are presented as part of Dansescenen’s season.
Seats: 250 D Louise Seibæk A Øster Fælled Torv 34, DK-2100 Copenhagen T +45 3543 8300 E Wwww.dansescenen.dk
Entré Scenen
Entré Scenen, established in 1991 by the City of Aarhus, is the leading stage for modern, experimental performance/dance/drama in Aarhus and has a network connecting it with both the professional as well as the grass roots theatre. In addition to a repertoire of approximately 25 productions and projects annually Entré Scenen also hosts the Laboratory project with Danish and international directors, performers and playwrights developing new dramatic tools and methods. Furthermore the theatre participates in the EU-supported Junge Hunde-festival for young European dance and performance, in collaboration with Kanonhallen in Copenhagen and Dansstationen in Malmö, Sweden. D Jesper de Neergaard A Grønnegade 93 D, DK-8000 Århus C T +45 8619 0079 E Wwww.entrescenen.dk
Gasværket
Gasværket, formerly Østre Gasværk Theatre, in Copenhagen is known as one of the world’s most beautiful theatre spaces. It is located in a refurbished gasholder building from 1883 in Copenhagen. This circular building has a diameter of 45 metres, finishing in a dome that very much resembles the Pantheon in Rome.
Since 1979, the space has been used for theatrical performances, including Peter Brook’s Carmen and Mahabharata in the 1980s, as well as Merce Cunningham and The Royal Shakespeare Company. In the 1990s, the theatre shifted to mounting its own productions, including the hugely popular musicals "Les Misérables" and "Miss Saigon". D Jon Stephensen A Nyborggade 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø T +45 3927 7022 E Wwww.gasvaerket.dk
Kaleidoskop
Kaleidoskop in Copenhagen is one of Denmark’s most visionary small scale theatres. Originally located in an empty cinema, Kaleidoskop produces its own work as well as hosting independent productions. Established in 1994 with the aim of becoming a centre for modern, experimental theatre. Since then, it has participated in untraditional forms of collaboration to promote new Danish drama – for example, ventures with Jokum Rohde and Katrine Wiedemann and experimental musical drama. Of particular note is the award-winning production of Arnold Schønberg’s Pierrot Lunaire (2000) with its powerful and visual stage interpretation by theatre head/director/scenographer Martin Tulinius (among others The Mermaid –a coproduction with Swedish Cirkör).
Kaleidoskop now has two stages at its disposal: the original K1 in Nørrebro and, since the beginning of 2006 the larger K2, which was originally established in a renovated barracks in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen under the name of Kanonhallen.
Seats: K1: 132; K2: 500 D Martin Tulinius A Øster Fælled Torv 37, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø T +45 3539 0100 E Wwww.kaleidoskop.dk
Kulturhus Aarhus
The culture house in Aarhus was established in 1995 by the City of Aarhus as a centre of production, presentation and management, based in converted buildings and with access to several stages including Ridehuset. At present some 36 projects and initiatives are based in or are linked to the centre. Kulturhuset supports the production of diverse arts practice and also acts as a link and co-ordinator between the main independent projects in the city and the cultural institutions of the city. Kulturhus also initiates programmes itself within the performing arts and is the organiser of events such as Art Crash, Kulturama, Images of the Middle East/Aarhus. D Pia Buchardt A Vester Allé 3 , DK-8000 Århus T +45 89402390 E Wwww.kulturhusaarhus.dk
Odin Teatret Odin Teatret in Holstebro is Scandinavia’s leading anthropological theatre, founded by Eugenio Barba in 1964 and has a world wide reputation. The theatre has, quite uniquely, linked research and theatre together in the The Nordic Theatre Laboratory (Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium). The theatre is located in Holstebro in western Jutland and disposes of 3 halls.
The theatre regularly invites international experimental companies to Hoslterbro on an on-going basis and also organises international workshops and festivals, including the Transit Festival and the annual festival Holstebro Festuge.
Seats: 70 seats D Eugenio Barba A Særkærparken 144, Post Box 1283, DK-7500 Holstebro T +45 9742 4777 E Wwww.odinteatret.dk
Plan B
Plan B in Copenhagen is a young, confrontational theatre with a distinctive artistic profile. In 2002, the theatre moved to Huset in the centre of Copenhagen, which has for decades been associated with the youth culture. Plan B creates its own original productions and also hosts outside dance and theatre performances by independent Danish companies such as Mammutteatret, Cantabile 2 and Meridiano Teatret. The theatre also presents concerts, DJs, performance art, poetry slam, and magic shows. The theatre’s original productions primarily experiment with new forms of expression and idioms of stagecraft – in the coming season, for example, new Danish drama by Nicolas Bro and two world premieres by Dejan Dukovski and Sergi Belbel, respectively.
Seats: 150 D Mads Wille, Jens August Wille and Simon Boberg A Huset, Magstræde 14, 4., DK-1466 KBH K T +45 3391 1177 / +45 2616 1663 E Wwww.plan-b-teater.dk
Plex Music Theatre
The former The Other Opera (Den Anden Opera) was renamed Plex Music Theatre in season 2006. The Other Opera was founded in the early 90’s as an alternative to the Royal Opera. Operating from a converted chapel in the centre of the city, the new theatre extends its remit to cover all forms of audio art, installations, electronica, as well as contemporary music theatre and performance. Plex produces work itself and commissions new work from Danish composers and artists as well as hosting small scale international guest performances. The relaunching of the theatre includes a new gallery. D Sanne Bjerg A Kronprinsensgade 7, DK – 1114 København K T +45 3332 5556 E Wwww.plex-musikteater.dk
Svalegangen
Svalegangen in Aarhus has a 33-year old tradition as an ambitious fringe theatre.
Svalegangen has selected its repertoire to fit somewhere between the city’s major institutional theatre, Aarhus Teater, and the many experimental groups in the city. Svalegangen produces its own work with emphasis on contemporary Danish and international (Anglo-American) drama. However, it is also available for visiting productions. In addition, the theatre participates in an exchange program with other small scale theatres around the country.
Seats: 200 D Niels Andersen A Rosenkrantzgade 21, DK-8000 Århus C T +45 86 19 19 44 E Wwww.svalegangen.dk
Teaterhuset Centrally located in Odense, this complex of four theatres is the home of 5 companies as well as providing open stages for touring productions. The five companies are the childrens’ theatre Skægspire, Den Fynske Opera, Momentum, Odense International Musikteater and the dance company Ingrid Kristensen & Co. A Filosofgangen 19, DK-5000 Odense C T +45 6311 7800 E
Teatret ved Sorte Hest Teatret ved Sorte Hest (Black Horse Theatre) - one of Copenhagen’s most artistically ambitious small theatres – has been located for 28 years in an abandoned coach house in the Vesterbro quarter of Copenhagen. Despite its conscious old-fashioned atmosphere, Teatret ved Sorte Hest mounts five productions a year, focusing primarily on new Danish and international drama, though with room for classical retrospectives – e.g. Sartre and performances in French.
The theatre has introduced new names to Danish theatre – for example, the French dramatist Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt and Swedish writer Jonas Gardell.
Seats: 70 D Maria Stenz A Vesterbrogade 150, DK-1620 Copenhagen V T +45 3331 0606 E Wwww.teatretvedsortehest.dk
The Danish Arts Agency / Centre for Performing Arts H.C. Andersens Blvd. 2 DK-1553 København V Tel: +45 3374 4500
