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Riksteatern is the name of the popular "National Touring Theatre"/"National Theatre Company" in Sweden. It's the biggest theatre company on tour in Sweden and can, in one way, almost be described as Sweden's national stage on tour.
Riksteatern is financed and owned by 240 local economic associations throughout Sweden, and the goal is to promote and produce quality theatre for all of Sweden, outside the city regions.
Riksteatern was established in 1933 and has been on tour all over Sweden since. The Royal Dramatic Theatre and the Cullberg Ballet, for example, tours regularly with Riksteatern with many of their most popular productions.
Riksteatern (or "the Riksteater") established in 1933 by Arthur Engberg. "Not only the citizens of the capital city in Sweden should be granted the privilege of first-class theatre productions. The rest of the nation also has the right to claim this!" - with these words, after a long public debate, Riksteatern was given the proper state funding and support.
At first Riksteatern, in the 1930s, was supposed to be the touring section of Sweden's Royal Dramatic Theatre, to reach an audience in Sweden that couldn't get the chance to visit the national stage in Stockholm. However, in the 1940s Riksteatern was given their own ensemble, producing stage productions solely for Riksteatern and with the purpose to be given on-tour.
In 1966 Riksteatern was incorporated with Sweden's second influential touring theatre organisation Svenska Teatern and became "Svenska Riksteatern".
In 1967 Riksteatern started a section for producing theatre productions for children and youth, called Unga Riks ("Young Riksteatern") which has performed quality theatre for children for three decades, performing in schools all over Sweden at low cost on regular bases.
Since 1977 the theatre group Tyst Teater ("Silent Theatre") is also part of Riksteatern. It's a unique group that specialises in staging theatre productions for the deaf in the sign language and has become very popular and sought after internationally in recent years.
In 1999 "Riks Drama" was founded by Lars Norén, Sweden's leading contemporary playwright today, and also the section of "Riks Gästspel" for guest performances by Riksteatern abroad.
National Theatre is an idea based cultural organisation with over 40.000 dedicated members. Many Of These members are active in one of the National Theatre's local non-profit theatre association, working to make drama, dance and performing arts available to all people, all over Sweden.
National Theatre is owned by its members. As a member of a theatre company, you become part owner of one of the world's largest theatres and share in enabling more people to enjoy the dramatic arts. National Theatre, every year, Reaches an audience of over one million people.
More than 40.000 individual members and organisations belonging to a local theatre company own this Democratic Movement.
Hallundavägen 30,
14583 Norsborg,
Stockholms Län,
Sweden
Swedeninfo@riksteatern.se
Here are few videos reflect some of their work.