National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY

Built at the end of the 1890s in Neo-Renaissance and Baroque styles and located in the heart of Oslo, the National Theatre has had an important role in the development of modern Norwegian and European cultural identity. It is not only the most important place in Norway for the performance of classic theatre, but also the leading exponent of the work of Norway’s eminent dramatist, Henrik Ibsen. The biannual Ibsen Festival attracts spectators and theatre companies from Europe and the rest of the world.

National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY
However, having been publicly funded for a long time, and, since 1990, by the Ministry of Culture itself, the funding has not been sufficient to address the much-needed maintenance and upgrading of the National Theatre throughout its 125 years of history. The whole building needs urgent rehabilitation and renewal, including all its technical infrastructure. Its façade and statues have to be cleaned and repaired, the roof must be renewed, and all the decorations in the public areas need to be restored. A number of costly and time-consuming measures also have to be taken to upgrade the main stage.

In addition, the theatre is located in an area of Oslo with a complex geology, requiring a refoundation of the building, so far postponed by the Ministry of Culture due to the high costs involved. Recently, short-term measures have been taken to avoid external building details and decorations to loosen and fall into the street, and stones falling from the ceilings. In several parts of the façades, construction and decorative elements have been covered by tarpaulins since 2010.

National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY
Upon request of the Ministry of Culture, the Norwegian Government’s Building Commissioner, Property Manager and Developer (Statsbygg) released a feasibility study in June 2024. Three alternatives were presented, all having as a precondition that the theatre would be in full, regular operation throughout the works. Consequently, a temporary main stage and two permanent secondary stages must be built/rebuilt and commissioned before the upgrading of the theatre itself can start.

In all options, the rehabilitation of the building could start in 2038 ending in 2042 or 2046 depending on the alternative retained. But whatever option is chosen, the cost of the rehabilitation could amount several hundred million euros, if all the needed works are to be implemented.

National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY
Considering the high cost of these works, the fact that the government is in a minority and that new Parliamentary elections will take place in September 2025, the nominator fears that the heavy cost involved will postpone again any decision, despite the urgency of the safeguarding measures to be taken.

The Oslo Society (Oslo Byes Vel) nominated the National Theatre to 7 Most Endangered Programme 2025 with the support of the National Trust of Norway (Fortidsminneforeningen) and the Norwegian Federation of Cultural Heritage Organisations (Kulturvernforbundet).

The Advisory Panel of the 7 Most Endangered Programme affirmed: “Restoring this landmark building and equipping it with facilities for its vocation as the capital’s principal theatre and with adequate safety measures are now extremely urgent. Given the financial resources at the Norwegian Government’s disposal, shortage of funds should not be the justification for further delay. The possible geological issues relating to the theatre’s foundations should be capable of solution in a country like Norway. The restoration of the National Theatre in Oslo would be an ideal way of commemorating the bicentenary of Ibsen’s birth in 2028”.