Nøtterøy Kulturhus

Experience a magical sunrise concert like no other, on the edge of Norway

TEXT: INGRID OPSTAD | PHOTOS © Nøtterøy Kulturhus

Nøtterøy Kulturhus wants to move the audience by creating great, unique cultural experiences in Norway. With everything from a magical sunrise concert outdoors in idyllic settings and international contemporary-style circus performances to the more traditional productions on the programme, the regional culture house presents entertainment in different genres, where quality and innovation are always the focus.

This summer, Nøtterøy Kulturhus invites guests along to once again enjoy a magical sunrise concert on the edge of Norway. Located on the southern tip of Tjøme, the World’s End is a fantastic recreation area with beautiful surrounding landscapes and a view of the fjord – the perfect setting to welcome the sunrise with captivating music by one of Norway’s most beautiful voices, Ingebjørg Bratland, while being at what feels like the edge of the world.

Here, by the archipelago, with the great, blue ocean right by your side, Ingebjørg Bratland will be joined by string instruments to create an extraordinary happening for the early risers. “The sunrise concert starts bright and early, at four in the morning, and I can guarantee a magical atmosphere while the sun starts to show its face about ten minutes into the concert – a unique experience and an unmissable event, which is hard to describe,” says the director at Nøtterøy Kulturhus, Einar M. Schistad.

“Last year’s concert with Eva Weel Skram was the first time we arranged it, and it ended up a big success and a beautiful morning we will never forget. Now we have the pleasure of once again inviting guests to a new, spectacular happening,” he says. With 2,600 tickets sold last time, quite a few of the audience members made a night of it, sleeping under the stars in sleeping bags. “We have already sold 800 tickets this year, so we are expecting it to be yet another spectacular event. I don’t think there is any better way to wake up,” says Schistad, explaining that the artist was chosen very consciously, in order for that magic mood to be guaranteed. The strings help to reinforce this feeling and create a relaxing and tranquil setting for a wonderful morning by the fjord.

Quality and innovation in focus

With the aim to be a culture house that offers something for everyone, Nøtterøy Kulturhus provides great diversity in the programme, ranging from famous artists to unknown performers and unique productions covering all the different performing arts. But the focus is, and always has been, on quality and innovation.

“When Nøtterøy Kulturhus was built in 1994, the idea was to create a place for local cultural life. This is still a part of what we do, but we have developed into what I believe is one of the leading cultural centres in Norway, by working both nationally and internationally,” Schistad says proudly. By inviting other cultural centres from around the country to participate – including Drammens Teater, Bølgen Kulturhus in Larvik, Ibsenhuset in Skien, Arendal Kulturhus, Kilden in Kristiansand, Stavanger Konserthus, and Festiviteten in Haugesund – Nøtterøy Kulturhus has actively taken a leading role in finding the performances and making planning tours to the cities involved.

Celebrating 25 years on the culture scene

Working with a very dedicated and skilled staff with a lot of idealism and passion, which is visible in everything they do, Schistad is thrilled about the upcoming season. “We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, and we have a fun-packed programme, which we think the audience will enjoy – especially the four very different and exciting productions as the highlights,” he explains.

For the last six or seven years, Nøtterøy Kulturhus has paid particular attention to international productions in the field of the contemporary style of circus and physical theatre. These modern and exciting visual performances are more physical and include acrobatics to different degrees as well as elements of dance with little or no dialogue. Schistad travels around Europe on an ongoing quest to discover new, original experiences to bring home to his audience in Vestfold.

The culture house has arranged everything from concerts, theatre, dance performances and new circus to stand-up shows and talks since its inception, and it continues to entertain people and put a smile on their faces. “We want to be a place where you feel welcome as a good old friend every time you visit,” Schistad concludes.

The magical sunrise concert:

Place: The World’s End is located at the southern tip of Tjøme, outside Tønsberg in Færder National park. The road to the World’s End goes through Nøtterøy and Tjøme.

Time: The early hours of Sunday 7 July.

Concert start: 4am, the gates open at 2am.

2019 programme highlights:

7 July: Magical sunrise concert with Ingebjørg Bratland, at the World’s End
3 August: Madrugada, concert at the World’s End
10 September: Cirkus Cirkör, Epifonima, acrobatic/contemporary circus (Sweden)
21 September: Imagine – The John Lennon Songbook, concert (England)
1 October: A Life in Three Acts, a meeting with Liv Ullmann – Premiere
25 October: Emilie Nicolas, concert
27 October: The Road is Just a Surface, Anja Garbarek and Jo Strømgren Kompani, concert/dance/theatre
8 November: Analog – Finale, contemporary circus (Germany)
15 November: Victoria Chaplin Thierrée – Bells & Spells, contemporary circus (France)
21 December: Bugge Wesseltoft – It’s Snowing On My Piano, concert

How to get to Nøtterøy Kulturhus:

Airports: Torp Sandefjord Lufthavn or Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen.
Train: Arrive at Tønsberg station. Five minutes by car or bus 02 Hvasser/Tenvik to Borgheim stop.

How to get to the World’s End:

Airports: Torp Sandefjord Lufthavn or Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen.
Train: Arrive at Tønsberg station. 35 minutes by car.
There will be a special bus service for the sunrise concert. Contact Nøtterøy Kulturhus for information.

notteroy.kulturhus.no

Facebook: NotteroyKulturhus

Instagram: @nkulturhus

Twitter: @nkulturhus