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Verdensteatret_

@verdensteatret_

3 months ago

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Lucida will be Verdensteatret's final work. By the end of 2026, the company established by Lisbeth Bodd in 1986 will be dissolved. Throughout much of its existence, Verdensteatret has fought hard for its right to exist.

In recent years we have felt like a plaything tossed around in a system without a clear arts policy strategy. We have had to secure funding from one year to the next, and have not had the necessary resources to work long-term on booking and network-building. We feel that funding for the Norwegian performing arts field is no longer set up to keep an artists' collective like Verdensteatret afloat.

Verdensteatret was founded by Lisbeth Bodd in 1986. Lisbeth led Verdensteatret together with her partner Asle Nilsen, right up until her death in September 2014. Over the past twelve years, the artists working there at any given time have made up the company's artistic council, and the collective way of thinking has become even more central.

While Verdensteatret has gained artistic recognition both nationally and internationally, securing the necessary funding has been difficult. Back in 1996, Verdensteatret was rejected from the Arts Council Norway, with the justification citing weak artistic development. At the time, Lisbeth and Asle managed to mobilize the performing arts community, gathered signatures and letters of support, and secured a new review of the application by the Arts Council, which resulted in fresh funding. The productions that followed were genre-defining works of art, such as Oktobertrilogien, Regla, Tsalal, and Konsert for Grønland.

From 2007 to 2019, Verdensteatret received basic funding from the Arts Council, which enabled long-term planning and the execution of ambitious projects in Norway and internationally. During this period, Verdensteatret established itself as one of Norway's most internationally recognized performing arts companies. Verdensteatret has received, among other honors, the Bessie Award, the Hedda Honorary Award, the Hedda Award, the Critics' Prize (Kritikerprisen), and the Telenor Culture Prize for its artistic work. Despite the fact that the company has agreements with venues for new productions in 2027/2028, the rejection from the Arts Council in June 2026 is the final nail in the coffin for Verdensteatret.

Artists in Verdensteatret 1986 - 2026: Ales Ree, Alesandra Boguslawski, Alexander Bruck, Ali Djabbary, Andrej Nebb, Anne Gjems, Anne Lise Stenseth, Anne-Stine Bankrød Nilsen, Annike Flo, Antti Bjørn, Arne Husjord, Arvydas Dapsys, Asle Nilsen, Audun Strype, Benjamin Nelson, Bergmund Skaslien, Bibecke Blydt Hansen, Bjørn Kolbjørnsen, Bo Christer Wahlstrøm, Casper Evensen, Camilla Buttingsrud, Cecilie Lindeman Steen, Cecilie Løveid, Ceslovas Iskauskas, Christian Blom, Christina Peios, Claude Mazigh, Corinne Campos, Eirik Blekesaune, Elisabeth Gmeiner, Elise Macmillan, Ellen Røed, Erik Balke, Erik Meling, Erik Øksnes, Erling Borgen, Espen Sommer Eide, Eugene Janpolsky, Finn Iunker, Frode Bjørnstad, Gabija Jaraminaité, Gjertrud Jynge, Gomi Khawar Sadeq, Gurå Mathiesen, Hai Nyguyen Dinh, Halldis Olafsdottir, Hans Skogen, HC Gilje, Helge Fromeide, Helle Christensen, Håkon Hegnar, Håkon Lindbäck, Inge Dalmann, Inger Johanne Byhring, Ingunn Bjørnsgaard, Jan Grønli, Janne Kruse, Jannicke Lie, Jean Vincent Kerebel, Jenny Berger Myhre, Karstein Sollie, Ken Theodorsen, Kenneth K. Langås, Knut Martin Jensen, Kristine Sandøy, Lars Øyno, Laurent Ravot, Lena Jacobson, Linn Nystadnes, Lisbeth Bodd, Lophopora Williamsis, Magnus Bugge, Manolo Canteria, Mara Oldenburg, Maria Mediaas, Maria Vagle, Marius Kjos, Martin Døving, Martin Lundberg, Martin Taxt, Morten Cranner, Morten Pettersen, Niklas Adam, Nina Bergström, Nils Christian Boberg, Nina Woxholt, Odd Johan Fritzøe, Ole Skjerk, Per Flink Basse, Petter Steen, Piotr Nowak, Piotr Pajchel, Preben Faye Schjøll, Reinert Mithassel, Robert Skjærstad, Roger Wahl, Runa Fønne, Rune Madsen, Rune Mikal Vindal, Rune Rebne, Sigitas Rackys, Siri Karlsen, Svein Ove Kirkhorn, Sverre Wilberg, Thorolf Thuestad, Tine Hamerich, Torgrim Torve, Trine Falch, Trond Lossius, Ulf Knudsen, Vanessa Baird, Wolfgang Weiser, Worm Winter, Øyvind B. Lyse, Øyvind Wahl

Thanks to our audience. Thanks to all our supporters. Thanks to our partners and co-producers. It is with a heavy heart we've come to this conclusion. Sincerely from Asle, Ali, Annike, Espen, Janne, Martin and Torgrim

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Posted On: August 6th 2026, 08:00 am

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Press release: Lucida will be Verdensteatret's final work😢 By the end of 2026, the company established by Lisbeth Bodd in 1986 will be dissolved. Throughout much of its existence, Verdensteatret has fought hard for its right to exist. In recent years we have felt like a plaything tossed around in a system without a clear arts policy strategy. We have had to secure funding from one year to the next, and have not had the necessary resources to work long-term on booking and network-building. We feel that funding for the Norwegian performing arts field is no longer set up to keep an artists' collective like Verdensteatret afloat. Thanks to our audience. Thanks to all our supporters. Thanks to our partners and co-producers. It is with a heavy heart we've come to this conclusion. Sincerely from Asle, Ali, Annike, Espen, Janne, Martin and Torgrim

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