Every summer, as dusk settles over Røros, the dark ridges of the slag heaps come alive. These monumental mounds – consisting of cast-off stone from centuries of copper extraction – become a stage of light, shadow and music. Here, in one of Norway’s most atmospheric landscapes, Elden unfolds: a sweeping historical play, a community endeavour and one of the country’s most distinctive outdoor theatre traditions.

Norway’s spel culture has produced many large-scale productions rooted in local history, but Elden stands in a league of its own. “Since the premiere in 1994, Elden has grown into the biggest historical theatre of its kind in the country, drawing more than 12,000 visitors each summer and engaging around 400 volunteers,” says manager Jo Inge Nes.

The story is set in the winter of 1718—1719, during the last years of the Great Northern War. Swedish King Karl XII sent General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt and 10,000 soldiers toward Trondheim in an attempt to conquer Norway. The campaign was gruelling from the outset, marked by hunger, disease and harsh weather. When the king was killed during the siege of Halden, Armfeldt’s troops were ordered home. Their return journey across the mountains east of Røros became a disaster: a violent storm struck the plateau, and nearly 3,000 soldiers froze to death. This tragedy, the Carolean Death March, remains one of the darkest episodes in Scandinavian military history, and serves as the backdrop of Elden. “But the production is not a simple war drama. It follows both soldiers and civilians, weaving a human narrative of love, duty and loss.”

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

The young Kalle reluctantly marches into service, leaving behind his beloved Ellen; seasoned fighters like Håkan Modig and Pär Åke face the brutal realities of winter warfare; and in Røros, townspeople such as Maren, Kristine, Bergverksdirektør Bergmann and Captain Mentzonius struggle to protect their community as rumours of Swedish troops draw nearer.

“We’re telling the story of one of the worst things that has happened in Swedish war history, but also about Røros, its people and the community here. While the history itself is one of terrible war and conflict, we also want to tell a story of peace.”

This year’s 10 performances will take place mid-summer, spanning 22 July to 1 August.

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

A theatre shaped by landscape and community

Elden is as much about the town and its people as it is about history. Performed on the slag heaps of Røros, the production draws on the town’s mining heritage and UNESCO World Heritage status, making the location itself an essential part of the story. Volunteers help with everything from costumes to logistics, ensuring the production is a truly shared experience. The involvement of children and young people also makes it one of the largest youth theatre initiatives in the Nordic region.

“Almost ten percent of the entirety of Røros participates, meaning that Elden isn’t just performed here, but that it also belongs to and is a part of the community,” says Nes. “The production relies on an extraordinary mixture of professional artists and local volunteers. It’s a cultural institution as much as a performance, rooted in the belief that storytelling strengthens the place it comes from.”

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

While the play is performed primarily in Norwegian, plenty of preparations have been made to make it accessible to international visitors, including information about the history ahead of the play. “It works almost like opera,” Nes explains. “Even if you don’t understand every word, you understand the emotion.”

Visitors can deepen the experience at Restaurant Slagg, Elden’s on-site dining venue housed in a lavvo. Here, a five-course dinner showcases the region’s local producers – reindeer from Stensaasen, trout from Femundfisk, dairy from Rørosmeieriet, and baked goods from Kalsa and Galåvolden. Sometimes members of the cast appear to share background stories from the war or from Røros’ mining past. With fires burning and the mountain air cooling around you, it feels like slipping into the world the performance evokes.

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

Røros: Norway’s copper town and cultural heart

Perched 600 metres above sea level in Trøndelag, Røros is a town in which history and nature meet in striking harmony. Founded in the 17th century as a copper mining settlement, it grew into a vibrant community, and today, its wooden buildings, narrow streets, and mining heritage have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

Beyond Elden, Røros itself offers a wealth of cultural and natural experiences. The Røros Museum network, including Olavsgruva, Smelthytta, and Sleggveien, immerses visitors in the history of mining and local life. Bergstaden’s streets are lined with shops and artisans, offering crafts, textiles, and speciality foods. For those drawn to the outdoors, Femundsmarka National Park and surrounding trails offer ample hiking, cycling, and canoeing opportunities, making the region an ideal mix of history, culture, and wilderness.

Whether you are exploring Røros through the lens of Elden and its history, or if you would like a more laid-back, no-plans type of stay, there is plenty to do for everyone.

Travel into the past with Elden Røros

Web: www.elden-roros.no
Facebook: Elden
Instagram: @eldenroros

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