Ibsen's Relevance Today Seminar

Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1906) is considered one of the greatest names in world literature and after Shakespeare, is the world's most frequently performed dramatist. He was a central figure in the modern breakthrough in the moral and intellectual life of Europe, and is considered the father of modern drama. His plays are still highly topical and continue to be staged in all parts of the world in traditional and nontraditional formats.

This one-day, multi-disciplinary seminar celebrating the dramatist’s oeuvre and supporting the International Ibsen Award will explore and elaborate on what the expression "within the spirit of Ibsen" means today. The seminar will be introduced by the International Ibsen Award jury and its leader Liv Ullmann. Panelists will include Ibsen scholars, actresses who played both Nora and Hedda Gabler, and writers commenting on Ibsen's importance for screen writers. An artistic program based on the letters of Ibsen will also be a part of the seminar.

The International Ibsen Award was established by the Cultural Ministry of Norway and is given each year to a person or an institution within the fields of art or culture who has shown extraordinary achievement in the spirit of the world renowned playwright. In 2009, the award was given to Ariane Mnouchkine, the founder and artistic director of Le Théâtre du Soleil, which recently achieved great critical success in New York for their production Les Éphémères.