A strong foundation for the country’s oldest Egnsteater
Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium – Odin Teatret is the country’s oldest Egnsteater and has its roots firmly planted in Holstebro. It will stay the same in the future, even though there is a generational change of leadership occurring. The process of securing a Egnsteater in Holstebro, based on the values the theatre is renowned for, both locally and internationally, has been an ongoing process for a long time. Employing Per Kap Bech Jensen as the theatre leader in January 2021 was one of the first major changes.
It has been a long process, mainly because the board of directors, together with the theatre’s founder Eugenio Barba, wished for a smooth transition that would ensure a collaboration between new artists and Odin Teatret’s ensemble, based on those traditions but at the same time developing their own artistic expressions.
“We have as board of directors done what we can to help Eugenio Barba, supporting several activities that he has started. Our responsibility is to ensure that we continue having a good and strong Egnsteater in Holstebro, which builds on the strong foundation that Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret’s ensemble have created over many years”, says the chairman of the board Louise Ejgod Hansen.
The next change in the process will be that Eugenio Barba, at the start of the new year, will no longer be employed by Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium.
“It’s a very big step, but we as board of directors are confident with the development of the theatre. Eugenio Barba has a remarkable position in National/International theatre’s history and has had an enormous impact on Holstebro’s cultural development, that has led the town to a cultural municipality with a unique performing arts environment”, says Louise Ejgod Hansen. "We will always appreciate that".
