The National Theatre of Iceland (NTI) (Icelandic: Þjóðleikhúsið, pronounced [ˈθjouðˌleikˌhuːsɪθ]) in Reykjavík, is the national theatre of Iceland.
The theater, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, was formally opened on 20 April 1950. Since 2020, the artistic director of The National Theatre is Magnús Geir Þórðarsson.
Productions
The NTI(National Tuberculosis Institute ) performs around thirty productions each season (new productions, re-premieres, co-productions and guest performances), comprising a varied repertoire of new Icelandic works, new foreign works, Icelandic and foreign classics, musicals, dance pieces, puppet theatre and children's productions. The theatre produces around twenty new productions each year and also collaborates with independent theatre and dance groups. [citation needed]
Touring Productions
The NTI often tours its productions around Iceland, and many productions have also toured abroad, among them Tragedy at the Worlds Stages, Kennedy Center, Gerpla at The Bergen International Festival, Shimmer the Silver Fish at international children festivals in Sweden and Russia, The Sea Museum at the Centre Dramatique National d’Orléans and Peer Gynt at the Ibsen Festival in Oslo, Barbican Centre in London and Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels. [citation needed]
Ensemble and production
The NTI is an ensemble theatre with around 35 actors employed on a permanent basis and also works with actors with temporary assignments. The theatre runs its own production departments that manufacture sets, costumes and wigs, as well as productive sound and lighting departments. A normal rehearsal period is eight weeks, the last four weeks on stage. The theatre works closely with schools on all education levels.
The NTI is situated in downtown Reykjavík. Today the theatre performs in five separate venues: the Main Stage (Stóra sviðið, 500 seats), the Black Box (Kassinn, 130 seats), the Small Stage for Children (Kúlan, 80 seats), the experimental space the Attic (Loftið, 70 seats) and The Theatre Cellar Cabaret Club (Leikhúskjallarinn, 100-120 seats).[citation needed]