Icelandic National Theater

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Coordinates: 64 ° 8 '50 "  N , 21 ° 55' 53.9"  W.

The National Theater from Ingólfsstræti with the old building of the National Library (Landsbókasafnið), Reykjavík
National Theater

The Icelandic National Theater ( isl. Þjóðleikhúsið , IPA : [ ˈθjou̯ːðlɛi̯kˌhuːsɪð ], transcription: Thjodleikhusid) is located in the Icelandic capital Reykjavík .

The theater, designed by Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson , opened on April 20, 1950. It is Iceland's leading theater institution and has between 10 and 14 premieres a year. Around 300 to 400 performances take place annually, attracting 80,000 to 100,000 visitors. Ari Matthíasson has been the artistic director of the institution since 2015 .

Special events

On the occasion of the Match of the Century , the 1972 World Chess Championship, between Boris Spasski and Bobby Fischer , a ceremony took place in the National Theater , in which Bobby Fischer did not take part. This non-appearance triggered a crisis that almost led to the World Cup being canceled.

Individual evidence

  1. Thjodleikhusid.is - website of the theater
  2. ^ Rudolf Teschner: Fischer against Spasski. The complete games of the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik. ISBN 3-442-03312-8 , p. 17 f. - The competitions of the world championship took place in the exhibition hall Laugardalshöllin .