The National Theater

What The National Theater does

Riksteatern, formally The National Theater of Sweden, is a civil society organization (ideell förening) operating since 1933 as Sweden's designated national touring theater. It functions as a grassroots folk movement structured around 230 local theater associations (Riksteaterföreningar) with over 38,000 individual members across all Swedish counties. The organization's core product is the production and nationwide touring of performing arts — theater, contemporary dance (via subsidiary Cullberg), contemporary circus (Samtida Cirkus), concerts and festivals (Konsert och Festival), and sign-language theater (Riksteatern Crea). Distribution is dual-channel: national touring productions tour local venues through the association network, supplemented by direct sales via riksteatern.se and the Scenpass Sweden digital membership card.

The technology stack is fundamentally that of a producing and touring theater: production facilities and venues at the Hallunda, Stockholm headquarters, with seasonal programming of 15-20+ national touring productions. Key programmatic platforms include the Länk youth ensemble program (founded 2010, inspired by The National Theatre London's Connections, producing newly written plays for 15-20 year olds across 14 regional festivals and a national finale), the RUN youth network for members aged 15-30 (founded 2020), and the REACT international performing arts festival (launched 2024 across multiple Swedish cities). International connectivity extends through the Connections network spanning the UK, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Brazil, and India.

Riksteatern's revenue model combines four streams: (1) subscription/recurring membership fees at 160 SEK individual / 80 SEK family / 50 SEK youth annually; (2) transaction-based ticket sales, with pricing delegated to local organizing associations; (3) government and regional public funding supporting the cultural mission; and (4) revenue and cost-sharing through co-productions with international and Swedish regional theaters (e.g., Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, The Bush Theatre London, Unga Dramaten, Göteborgs Stadsteater). The organization employs 101-250 staff and is led by CEO Susanna Dahlberg, with Malin Axelsson serving as Artistic Director of Riksteatern Barn & Unga.

Name

The National Theater

Legal name

Riksteatern

Website

https://riksteatern.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Riksteatern is Sweden's national touring theater organized as a civil society movement with 230 local associations and 38,000+ members, producing nationwide tours of theater, dance, circus, concerts, and sign-language performances across all Swedish counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / National Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts productions
• National theater tours
• Youth theater programs
• Sign language theater
• Dance and circus performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from 38,000+ individual members, family members, and organizational members across 230 local theater associations.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from national touring productions, regional festivals, and local performances through the Scenpass Sweden network.
3. Government Funding: Public funding from Swedish government and regional bodies supporting the cultural mission of national theater accessibility.
4. Co-production Partnerships: Revenue and cost-sharing through co-productions with international theaters and Swedish regional theaters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Riksteatern is Sweden's national theater organization that produces and tours performing arts including theater, dance, contemporary circus, concerts, and sign language theater across Sweden through a network of 230 local theater associations and more than 38,000 members. It operates sub-brands such as Riksteatern Crea (sign language), Cullberg (contemporary dance), Länk (youth ensemble program), REACT (international festival), and RUN (youth network), and delivers national touring productions, school performances, and regional festivals.

Product overview

Riksteatern (The National Theater of Sweden) is a national theater organization structured as a grassroots movement with 230 local theater associations and over 38,000 members. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio of performing arts including theater, dance, contemporary circus, concerts, and sign language theater (Crea). Key programs include Länk (youth theater ensemble program), REACT (international theater festival), and RUN (young people's network). Performances are delivered through national touring productions and local presentations via member associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Riksteatern Crea: Performing arts in Swedish sign language, at the forefront of accessibility in theater.
• Länk
• RUN
• REACT
• Cullberg

Products and services

• Riksteatern National Touring Theater Productions National touring theater productions delivered across Sweden through a network of 230 local Riksteaterföreningar, serving the general theater-going public nationwide with diverse performing arts programming.
• Riksteatern Barn & Unga (Children and Youth Programming) Theater programming specifically designed for children and young audiences, including school performances (Skolföreställningar) with accompanying teacher preparation materials and youth-oriented productions such as 'De som aldrig dör' and 'Tassen på hjärtat'.
• Riksteatern Crea (Sign Language Theater) Sign-language theater performances and productions positioned at the forefront of accessibility in performing arts, serving deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
• Samtida Cirkus (Contemporary Circus) Contemporary circus productions and touring performances featuring acrobatics, aerial work, and circus arts, including productions such as 'Marianne och Jag'.
• Dans (Dance and Cullberg) Dance performances and touring productions showcasing contemporary dance and movement arts, including the Cullberg contemporary dance and choreography company.
• Konsert och Festival (Concert and Festival) Concert programming and festival events featuring international artists and musicians, including the Sommarfestivalerna 2026 summer festivals.
• Länk Youth Theater Ensemble Program A biennial program producing newly written plays for young theater ensembles aged 15-20, performed at 14 regional festivals and a national finale. Inspired by The National Theatre London's Connections program and part of the international Connections network.
• REACT International Theater Festival An international theater festival featuring international guest performances, created in collaboration with local theaters across Sweden in cities including Stockholm, Skellefteå, Norrköping, and Göteborg.
• Membership Program (Scenpass Sweden) Annual membership program offering the Scenpass Sweden digital membership card, discounted tickets nationwide, the 'Kulisser' digital newsletter (6 issues per year), and access to the 'Mina sidor' member portal. Individual membership 160 kr/year, family members 80 kr/year, under 26 years 50 kr/year.
• RUN (Riksteaterns Unga Nätverk) A network for young people aged 15-30 who are members or serve on local Riksteatern boards, providing networking and competence development opportunities within the theater organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Länk 2024 achieved 73 premieres and 14 regional festivals, engaging thousands of young people nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Connections India / NCPA MumbaisecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Started in 2022 by National Center for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, reaching private and public schools. 16 schools participated in 2024; goal to expand to 3 more cities by 2025.
• Nuori Näyttämö HelsinkisecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Finnish 'Young Stage' organization that produced a pilot Connections project in 2013 with festivals in 2015, commissioning four new plays and hosting national festival in Tampere.
• The National Theatre LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Originator of the Connections program (1994) which inspired Riksteatern's Länk program (2010). The international Connections network spans UK, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Norway, and Finland. Annual exchanges of plays and professional expertise.
• Culturgest LisbonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Organizes PANOS, a Connections project in Portugal since 2006. Festival in May featuring young ensembles presenting both Portuguese works and international Connections translations.
• Conexões BrazilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Brazilian Connections project 'Conexões Teatro Jovem' running 2006-2020 in São Paulo, creating opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds. New version under development.
• Det Norske Teatret OslocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Host of 'Den Unge Scenen', the Norwegian Connections project since 2004. Festivals every other year with 12 regional festivals featuring approximately 90 participating ensembles. Active exchange of plays and methodologies.
• ATR (Amatörteaterns Riksförbund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association for amateur theaters in Sweden with one of Sweden's largest script libraries. Negotiates performance rights and manages Länk play archives.
• Ung TeaterscencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization gathering children and youth associations focused on amateur theater and performing arts across Sweden. Key partner for youth engagement.
• The Bush Theatre LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Swedish premiere of 'Shifters' by Benedict Lombe, originally produced at The Bush Theatre in London 2023.
• Scenkonst SörmlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 'Yonder' dance production with Riksteatern.
• Unga DramatencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 'Tassen på hjärtat' and other youth productions, bringing young audiences to professional theater.
• Virpi Pahkinen Dance CompanysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 'Virpi Lunaire' celebrating Virpi Pahkinen's 40-year dance career.
• fix+foxy Theater CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreator and producer of 'DARK NOON', a co-production with Revolver/Østerbro Teater, part of REACT international festival.
• The Chorus of Women Foundation WarsawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of 'MOTHERS A SONG FOR WARTIME' in co-production with Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, part of REACT festival.
• Maxim Gorki Theater BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Marta Górnicka's 'MOTHERS A SONG FOR WARTIME', featuring 21 women in a choral performance about wartime experiences.
• VästerbottensteaterncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional festival partner for REACT in Skellefteå and Länk festivals, collaborating with Riksteatern Norrbotten.
• Östgötateatern NorrköpingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional festival partner for REACT in Norrköping.
• Göteborgs StadsteatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional festival partner hosting REACT performances and co-producing Länk festivals.
• Malmö StadsteatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional festival partner hosting Länk Malmö with focus on music and dance.
• Sterk Produktion ABsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for 'Funny and Fearless – Muslim Women Stand-Up' at REACT festival.
• Apocalyptic CircussecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest performer for 'Marianne och Jag' contemporary circus production.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The National Theatre (London): The UK's flagship producing theater and originator of the Connections program that inspired Riksteatern's Länk. Both operate as national producing theaters with touring missions, youth engagement programs, and international exchange networks.
• Göteborgs Stadsteater: Regional theater in Gothenburg and a co-production partner for both REACT and Länk festivals. Directly comparable as a Swedish publicly funded theater offering multi-genre programming and youth engagement.
• Det Norske Teatret: Norway's national theater for Nynorsk and Samisk stage art, hosting Den Unge Scenen (Norwegian Connections program). Direct peer operating an analogous national theater model with a youth ensemble program and touring productions.
• Unga Dramaten (Royal Dramatic Theatre): Sweden's Royal Dramatic Theatre's youth division and a core co-production partner for Riksteatern. Comparable as a Swedish national theater operator with a substantial youth programming focus and overlapping touring activity.
• Malmö Stadsteater: Regional stage theater in Sweden's third-largest city and a Riksteatern co-production partner. Comparable as a Swedish publicly funded producing theater operating season programming and Länk festivals.
• Västerbottensteatern: Regional theater in Skellefteå and partner for REACT and Länk festivals. Comparable as a Swedish regional theater with touring productions and youth programming delivered through Riksteatern's network.
• Östgötateatern: Regional theater in Norrköping and a festival partner for REACT. Comparable as a Swedish regional theater that delivers performing arts programming and participates in Riksteatern's national touring circuit.
• Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin: Berlin-based theater and co-production partner for MOTHERS A SONG FOR WARTIME. Comparable as an internationally acclaimed theater producing politically engaged contemporary works and participating in Riksteatern's REACT festival.

Emerging players

• Norrdans: Sweden's national dance company based in Härnösand, operating in the same Swedish national arts ecosystem as Riksteatern's dance subsidiary Cullberg. Comparable as a publicly funded dance company with touring productions and national reach.
• The Bush Theatre (London): London's leading new-writing theater and co-production partner for Shifters. Comparable as a producing theater focused on contemporary new writing that participates in Riksteatern's international exchange programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Riksteatern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Riksteatern
• Facebookfacebook.com/Riksteatern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riksteatern/?originalSubdomain=se
• Instagraminstagram.com/Riksteatern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The National Theater