Theatre · Capital region, Reykjavík
The National Theatre of Iceland
The National Theatre of Iceland on Hverfisgata was drawn by Guðjón Samúelsson, the state architect from 1920 to 1950. The first spade went into the ground in 1929 and the shell was cast over the next two years, but the house was not finished until 1950: it opened on the first day of summer, 20 April, with Indriði Einarsson's play Nýársnóttin. Its grey render, crushed obsidian, quartz and Iceland spar, was Guðjón's own invention and was later used on houses across the country. The main auditorium seats 500. Its revolving stage is still in use and turns on a ring made from the iron of the old bridge over the Ölfusá, rebuilt in 1944, and in 1989 and 1990 its two balconies became one. The exterior, the foyers and the main auditorium have been protected since 2004, and since 2025 the Icelandic Opera has been part of the National Theatre.
Location
- Address
- Hverfisgata 19101 Reykjavík
- Website
- leikhusid.is ↗
Visiting
- Access
- Parking for disabled visitors is marked to the right of the main entrance on Hverfisgata, and from there a ramp leads down to a lift on the east side of the building, which opens half an hour before every performance. The lift reaches every floor of the auditorium. Wheelchair places in the main auditorium are at either end of the sixth row on the first floor and are free; book them with the box office on 551 1200. Toilets are on the second floor, on the east side.
What is on
