Estonian Theatre Agency visited Norwegian colleagues together with Estonian dramaturgs and directors

From February 5th to 9th, 2026 the Estonian Theatre Agency, together with representatives of the Estonian Directors’ and Dramaturgs’ Union, visited the Norwegian capital Oslo to get acquainted with the local theatre scene and people. Andra Teede, Kertu Moppel, Kristiina Jalasto-Kallas, Paavo Piik, Mehis Pihla, Hendrik Toompere Jr, Karl Koppelmaa, Kirsten Simmo, and Liisi Aibel took part in the trip.

Our host was the Norwegian drama development centre Dramatikkens hus, which has been working closely with the Estonian Theatre Agency for several years. The trip was part of a longer-term plan to establish close cooperation between Estonian and Norwegian theatre-makers, which could bear fruit in the future. We are delighted that this time we were able to do so with a very diverse group of Estonian theatre practitioners and show our Norwegian colleagues the diversity of our theater landscape. This confirmed that when looking for suitable partners for cooperation and creative work, it is always worth turning to Estonia.

In Oslo, we visited Norway’s largest theater, Det Norske Teatret, where we were welcomed by Roar Myrvang, the theatre’s foreign projects producer; Black Box Teater, Norway’s main international performing arts center, whose operating principles were introduced by managing director Helga Hyldmo Ranes & chief producer Guro Vrålstad; Vega Scenet, dedicated to new dramaturgy and community work, where we were hosted by artistic director Hege Aga Edelsteen; and Kloden, a theatre for young audiences, where we met with the theatre’s passionate leader, artistic director Ådne Sekkelsten.

We spent two days at Dramatikkens hus, which has probably the world’s best residency program for dramaturgy – we asked a lot of questions and made as many notes as we could. At Dramatikkens hus, we were welcomed by artistic director Camara Lundestad Joof, executive director Christina Friis, and Dramatikkens hus resident playwrights Marius Leknes Snekkevåg, Malmfrid Hovsveen Hallum, and Siri Broch Johansen.

The trip was made possible by support from Nordic Culture Point and the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Performing Arts Endowment.

In the photo: representatives of the Estonian Theatre Agency & the Estonian Directors’ and Dramaturgs’ Union.