Ibsen, Bjørnson and the art of acting

Authors

  • Keld Hyldig Theatre Studies, University of Bergen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/13.3374

Keywords:

Romantic theatre, Danish theatre, Norwegian theatre, Johanne Luise Heiberg, Dr. Ryge, Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

Abstract

In this article Henrik Ibsen’s and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson’s contribution to the development of acting in Norwegian theatre are discussed within the background of Danish romantic acting. In the 1850s and -60s both were active as theatre critics, directors and dramatists. Both had a view on theatre and acting marked by a mixture of romantic and realistic ideas, and both urged for the development of Norwegian acting in continuation of Danish and European traditions. It was, however, Bjørnson, who to begin with, came to be most influential with regard to what direction the acting style, among the Norwegian actors, developed. Through his inspiration and efforts a specific national coloured way of acting developed and came to dominate Norwegian theatre at least until the beginning of the 20th century. The influence from Ibsen – and the development of a Norwegian Ibsen tradition – has first of all come from his contemporary plays. A specific Ibsenian (i.e. psychological realistic) acting style developed gradually from the 1880s and onwards, through the actors’ work with the characters in Ibsen’s contemporary plays.

Author Biography

Keld Hyldig, Theatre Studies, University of Bergen

Keld Hyldig is Associate Professor in Theatre Studies at the University of Bergen. He teaches among others, Norwegian and European theatre history, dramaturgy and aesthetics of theatre. Hyldig received his PhD in 2000 from the University of Bergen for the thesis entitled “Realisme, symbol og psykologi: Norsk Ibsen-tradition belyst gennem udvalgte forestillinger på Nationaltheatret 1899-1940”. He has published several articles and essays about the Ibsen tradition within Norwegian theatre and other topics within the field of theatre studies.  E-mail: keld.hyldig@lle.uib.no

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Published

2015-02-23

How to Cite

Hyldig, Keld. 2015. “Ibsen, Bjørnson and the art of acting”. Nordlit, no. 34 (February):287–302. https://doi.org/10.7557/13.3374.