Scan Magazine
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Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss – Norway
Historical theatre in a World Heritage setting Each summer, in the World Heritage Site town of Røros, Norway, historic events unfold among the remnants of the mining industry that once ran the place. Based on the 1718-1719 invasion by 10,000 Swedish soldiers commanded by General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt, the historical musical Elden is an annual reminder of Røros’ and Scandinavia’s dramatic past. By Alyssa Nilsen
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Photos: Marthe A Vannebo
For centuries, there have been tensions and wars between the Scandinavian countries. One of the lesser-known battles took place in 1718-1719 at the end of The Great Northern War, when 10,000 Swedish soldiers, commanded by General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt on the orders of King Karl XII, headed towards Trondheim to take over Norway. Several hundred soldiers were sent to the town of Røros, south of Trondheim, to confiscate copper and other valuables. 62 |
Issue 141
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April 2022
When King Karl XII was shot by Fredsrikshald fortress, the Swedish soldiers had to withdraw to Sweden. The march across the mountains by the border was so rough that 3,000 soldiers did not make it across. This, along with the events that took place in Røros, lay the foundation for the historical musical Elden, written by Arnfinn Strømmevold and Bertil Reithaug. Taking place at the turn of the month between July and August, among the slag
heaps of Elden in Røros, the Elden musical theatre attracts 12,000 visitors annually. Visitors not only get to see Elden with its slag heaps up close; they can also visit the museums and the surrounding national park, as well as experience the town of Røros with its historical buildings and unique appearance and vibe. In the evenings at the amphitheatre, an award-winning team of producers, actors and actresses make sure the audience get an experience out of the ordinary. Spectacular setting for a dramatic performance One of Norway’s biggest and most spectacular outdoor theatres, Elden is the perfect setting for dramatic performance. The large and dark slag heaps against the bright summer-night sky make an im-
