Representatives of the Sweden Democrats have repeatedly criticized story times with drag queens in libraries and on Thursday they criticized Dramaten's drag queen efforts. A post on the party's Instagram account reads:

"Dramaten is owned by the state and, according to the government, will nurture and promote the Swedish language and the national cultural heritage in the area of the theatre. Why does Dramaten let grown men in dresses guide children? It is hardly compatible with their mission".

"Absurd"

Mattias Andersson, theatre director and artistic director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, is surprised by SD's criticism.

"I'm really surprised that two men in women's clothes would be the most provocative thing in our repertoire. I think it's absurd," he says.

"It's really remarkable. I do not think it is compatible with how one views the freedom of art in a democracy. My mission as artistic director of the National Theatre is that it should be a pluralistic repertoire.

Surprised at SD's preoccupation with the question

Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand (M) says that the government is clear that the principle of arm's length, i.e. that politicians can control the culture's budget but not over the artistic content, must be maintained.

"We stated this in the government declaration and it is also stated in the Tidö agreement," she says.

The government and SD have an ongoing dialogue and will also talk about SD's proposal on drag queens at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.

"What we say to each other, it has to stay in the cooperation. But I must say that I am a little surprised at the SD's preoccupation with this particular issue.

The Sweden Democrats write in an email to Kulturnyheterna that the party respects the principle of arm's length distance from culture: "Culture should be free. However, politicians must be able to have opinions on all tax-funded activities."

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In the clip, Mattias Andersson responds to SD's proposal about drag queens at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. Photo: Christine Olsson

In the clip, you hear Dramaten's director Mattias Andersson respond to SD's proposal.