"He's a terribly good ensemble conductor"

On March 1, 2020, director and playwright Mattias Andersson will take over as new director at Dramaten, the message Dramaten on Thursday.

During a press conference in conjunction with the announcement, Mattias Andersson highlighted his current workplace, the Backa Theater in Gothenburg, as an important springboard for his continued work.

- My whole way of working from Backa theater and my idea of ​​performing arts is an inclusive form. Where I want as many voices, as many depictions of reality and subjects as possible to feel welcome in the rooms we do, said Mattias Andersson.

The message that Andersson will be the new head of theater at Dramaten has aroused great joy in theater Sweden, but at Backa theater, where he worked as an artistic leader for 13 years, the message evokes mixed emotions.

- It came as a shock of course. Yesterday morning we came here to work and thought we would run, we only have two weeks left for the premiere.And so this came. He is the best actor of us all. He has kept quiet and you have no idea, says the actor and colleague Kjell Wilhelmsen to the Culture News.

How will Mattias Andersson make his mark on the Dramaten?

- I have no idea how he works in a very large theater, but in the play context, play selection and repertoire modes, I think he works really well. He has such a great listening outward and he knows what applies, so I think he will bring it with him.

How has he affected theater Sweden?

- He has had a huge impact on this with the documentary theaters. That people in the theater have had to listen to people outside the theater, people in the street, especially the little man. He has given them a voice in a very good way and conveyed their voices by dramatizing and processing their words.

How do you feel personally?

- Great grief. It is one of my best friends and we have known each other for 33 years. I also feel a great joy for him. I wish him all the best. He has succeeded with the fantastic, says Kjell Wilhelmsen.