The National Theatre of Iceland

Þjóðleikhúsið - Thjódleikhúsid

The National Theatre of Iceland has been a leading institution on the Icelandic theatre scene ever since it opened formally on 20 April 1950.

Today the theatre has four separate venues: the Main Stage (Stóra sviðið, 500 seats), the Black Box (Kassinn, 140 seats), the Small Stage for Children (Kúlan, 80 seats) and The Theatre Cellar (Leikhúskjallarinn, (100-120 seats).

The NTI performs around thirty productions each season (new productions, re-premieres and guest performances), comprising a varied repertoire of new Icelandic works, new foreign works, Icelandic and foreign classics, musicals, dance pieces and children’s productions. The theatre produces around 10 new productions each year, and also collaborates with independent theatre and dance groups.

The theatre serves an important role in the development of new Icelandic plays, and aims to develop youngsters’ appreciation of the theatre through productions especially intended for children and youth.

The NTI often tours its productions around Iceland and in recent years many productions have also toured abroad, most recently Gerpla at The Bergen International Festival (2010), Shimmer the Silver Fish at international children festivals in Sweden and Russia (2010 and 2011), The Sea Museum at the Centre Dramatique National d’Orléans and the Théâtre de Gennevilliers in France (2009 and 2010), Peer Gynt at the Ibsen Festival in Oslo (2006), Barbican Centre in London (2007) and Bozar in Brussels (2008), The Green House in the Faroe Islands (2006) and Kitchen by Measure at the Royal Danish Theatre (2006).

The artistic director of The National Theatre is Ms. Tinna Gunnlaugsdóttir.

Artistic Directors of The National Theatre from 1950: