Reykjavík City Theatre

The Reykjavík City Theatre (Icelandic: Borgarleikhúsið) is a theatre in Reykjavík.

History

In 1989, after 90 years of performing in a small wooden building in the city centre, the company inaugurated a new theatre building[1] adjacent to the Kringlan mall. It opened with a double bill of plays by Kjartan Ragnarsson based on works by Halldór Laxness.[2]

Characteristics

The large new building (11,000 square metres in total), has four adaptable stages. The main stage seats 560 people, a black box theatre holds 240, a theatre-in-the-round 220, and a café-theatre has room for 120 at full capacity.[3]

The RCT employs up to 200 people at any given time.[4] The company also contracts international talents for a selection of projects. All elements of production take place within the theatre itself, which has its own lighting and sound departments, set and props workshops, costume and make-up departments as well as a technical stage crew. The artistic director is Magnus Geir Thordarson and the manager is Thorsteinn S. Asmundsson.

The company season runs from September through June each year. The RCT stages 9 to 13 new productions annually, in addition to hosting a variety of collaborations with other theatre companies. Its audience tallies range from 150,000 – 220,000 per annum, making it the most popular theatre in Iceland. The RCT is subsidised by the City of Reykjavík.

Productions

The company draws on international and domestic works. The RCT promotes a wide range of outside events varying from philosophical debates to rock concerts.

The RCT also promotes productions by independent theatre groups. Each year the theatre also hosts international guest performances while exporting progressive Icelandic theatre to festivals and theatres on the international scene. The RCT has collaborated with international companies such as the Barbican Centre in London and Het Muziek Theater in Amsterdam.[4]

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References
  1. "Sagan: Borgarleikhúsið" (in Icelandic). Leikminjasafn Íslands. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. LG (20 October 1989). "Vatnið er tákn Ólafs Kárasonar". Þjóðviljinn: Nýtt Helgarblað (in Icelandic).
  3. "Reykjavik City Theatre | Visit Reykjavík". www.visitreykjavik.is. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  4. "About the theatre". www.borgarleikhus.is. Retrieved 2017-05-08.

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