Sweden

Sweden – a pocket guide 227
The National Touring Theatre, Riksteatern, serves all of
Sweden. They have a number of plays in production and
tour nation-wide. This allows even those who do not live
in large cities to go to the theatre. For many people living
in the country, Riksteatern is their local theatre.
As in other countries, Sweden’s national theatres are
situated in the capital city. They are the Royal Swedish
Opera, Kungliga Operan, and the Royal Dramatic Theatre,
Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, often simply called Dramaten.
Occasionally, they make guest appearances elsewhere in the
country.
In addition to the national theatres, county theatres and
the touring theatre, there are private theatres, privatteatrar,
primarily in the major cities, and independent theatre
troupes, fria teatergrupper. The private theatres specialise
primarily in comedy and light musicals, while the independent
troupes present a varied repertoire. Children’s
plays are often put on by independent troupes. Many such
troupes are state-subsidised.
Film
You can see cinematic films, biograffilm, in most municipalities.
Films are not always shown at cinemas; sometimes
they are shown at assembly halls of various types, such as
community centres, club premises and the like. Although
many films are made in Sweden, foreign films, especially
American, account for most cinematic fare. Many people
usually watch films on television or video.
People in many countries are familiar with the Swedish
director Ingmar Bergman. He is the man behind many of
Sweden’s best-known films, and was the leading figure in
Swedish cinema for decades. Swedish film is much more
than just Bergman, however. Roy Andersson, Reza Bagher,
Susanne Bier and Lukas Moodyson are just a few of the
Culture
and leisure