On this page, you will find information about the premieres of Ibsen's dramas, including both national premieres and their first-ever performances.
All but three of Ibsens 28 dramas had their world premières in Ibsens own lifetime.
The first ten world premières were in Norway. But in 1876-77 Ibsens breakthrough as a world dramatist became a fact, and several works had their world premieres outside of Norway.
Click on the headings below for more information and for links to details about the productions in our IbsenStage database.
World premieres
Below, you will find a chronological overview of the world premieres of all of Ibsen's plays.
The Burial Mound (1850) - world premiere September 26 1850 at Christiania Theater
St. Johns Night (1852) - world premiere January 2 1853 at Det norske Theater (Bergen)
Lady Inger (1854) - world premiere January 2 1855 at Det norske Theater (Bergen)
The Feast at Solhaug (1855) - world premiere January 2 1856 at Det norske Theater (Bergen)
Olaf Liljekrans (1856) - world premiere January 2 1857 at Det norske Theater (Bergen)
The Vikings at Helgeland (1857) - world premiere November 24 1858 at Kristiania Norske Theater
The Pretenders (1863) - world premiere January 17 1864 at Christiania Theater
The League of Youth (1868-69) - world premiere October 18 1869 at Christiania Theater
Loves Comedy (1862) - world premiere November 24 1873 ved Christiania Theater
Peer Gynt (1867) - world premiere February 24 1876 ved Christiania Theater
The Pillars of Society (1875-77) - world premiere November 14 1877 by Aug. Rasmussens theatre company at Odense Teater
A Dolls House (1879) - world premiere December 21 1879 at Det Kongelige Teater (Copenhagen)
Catiline (1849) - world premiere December 3 1881 at Nya Teatern (Stockholm)
Ghosts (1881) - world premiere May 20 1882 at Aurora Turner Hall (Chicago)
An Enemy of the People (1882) - world premiere January 13 1883 at Christiania Theater
The Wild Duck (1884) - world premiere January 9 1885 ved Den nationale Scene (Bergen)
Brand (1865) - world premiere March 24 1885 at Nya Teatern (Stockholm)
Rosmersholm (1886) - world premiere January 17 1887 at Den nationale Scene (Bergen)
The Lady from the Sea (1888) - world premiere February 12 1889 at Christiania Theater, Hoftheater (Weimar)
Hedda Gabler (1890) - world premiere January 13 1891 ved Residenz-Theater (München)
The Master Builder (1892) - world premiere January 19 1893 at Lessing Theater (Berlin)
Little Eyolf (1894) - world premiere January 12 1895 at Deutsches Theater (Berlin)
Emperor and Galilean (1871-73) - world premiere December 5 1896 at Leipzig Stadttheater (adaptation)
John Gabriel Borkman (1896) - world premiere January 10 1897 at Suomalainen Teaatteri (Helsinki), Svenska Teatern (Helsinki)
When We Dead Awaken (1899) - Wenn wir Todten erwachen, world premiere January 26 1900 at Königliches Hoftheater (Stuttgart)
Norma (1851) - world premiere November 5 1994 at Studentersamfundets Interne Teater (Trondheim)
The Mountain Bird (1859) - world premiere April 18 2009 at Grusomhetens Teater (Oslo)
Svanhild (1860) - world premiere March 14 2014 at Grusomhetens Teater (Oslo)
National first performances
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the USA, and England are nations with strong and significant Ibsen traditions. The world premieres of several of Ibsen's plays took place in these countries.
Out of 26 dramas, 14 had their world premieres in Norway, two in Denmark, two in Sweden, one in the USA, six in Germany, and two in Finland.
First Norwegian performances
Of Ibsens 27 world premières, 15 were in Norway. The leading stages of the Norwegian theatre throughout history, the Christiania Theater, the Nationale Scene and Nationaltheatret, have let Ibsen put his stamp on their repertoires and contributed to Norways having strong Ibsen traditions.
Below you will find a survey of all Norwegian first performances of Ibsens plays, arranged in chronological order. In our database IbsenStage, you will find more data about each individual production.
(W) = world première
- The Burial Mound - Christiania Theater, September 26 1850 (W)
- St. Johns Night - Det norske Theater i Bergen, January 2 1853 (W)
- Lady Inger - Det norske Theater i Bergen, January 2 1855 (W)
- The Feast at Solhaug - Det norske Theater i Bergen, January 2 1856 (W)
- Olaf Liljekrans - Det norske Theater i Bergen, January 2 1857 (W)
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Kristiania Norske Theater, November 24 1858 (W)
- The Pretenders - Christiania Theater, January 17 1864 (W)
- Brand - Act IV was performed on 14 May 1867 at the Student Associations Theatre in Kristiania by actors from Christiania Theater led by Laura Gundersen. The first complete production of the play was by August Lindbergs touring company at the Eldorado Theater in Kristiania on 21 October 1895 (production with Swedish dialogue).
First complete production of the play in Norwegian: Nationaltheatret in Kristiania, 14 September 1904 - The League of Youth - Christiania Theater, October 18 1869 (W)
- Loves Comedy - Christiania Theater, November 24 1873 (W)
- Peer Gynt - Christiania Theater, February 24 1876 (W)
- Pillars of Society - Den Nationale Scene i Bergen, November 30 1877
- A Dolls House - Christiania Theater, January 20 1880
- An Enemy of the People - Christiania Theater, January 13 1883
- Ghosts - August Lindbergs touring company at Møllergadens Theater in Kristiania, 17 October 1883 (production with Swedish dialogue).
First production of the play in Norwegian: Den Nationale Scene, Bergen, December 3 1890 - The Wild Duck - Den Nationale Scene i Bergen, January 9 1885 (W)
- Rosmersholm - Den Nationale Scene i Bergen, January 17 1887 (W)
- The Lady from the Sea - Christiania Theater, February 12 1889 (W)
- Hedda Gabler - Christiania Theater, February 26 1891
- The Master Builder - William Petersens company in Trondheim, 20 January 1893 (production with Danish dialogue).
First production of the play in Norwegian: Christiania Theater, 8 March 1893 - Little Eyolf - Christiania Theater, January 15 1895
- John Gabriel Borkman - August Lindbergs touring company at Drammens Theater, January 19 1897 (Swedish-Norwegian cast).
The first production with only Norwegian actors: Christiania Theater, 25 January 1897 - When We Dead Awaken - Nationaltheatret i Kristiania, February 6 1900
- Emperor and Galilean - Nationaltheatret i Kristiania, March 20 1903 (kun første del)
- Catiline - Det Nye Teater i Oslo, August 24 1935
- Norma - Studentersamfundets Interne Teater i Trondheim, November 5 1994 (W)
- The Mountain Bird - Grusomhetens Teater i Oslo, April 18 2009 (W)
- Svanhild - Grusomhetens Teater i Oslo, March 14 2014 (W)
First Swedish performances
When the Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern in Stockholm staged the première of "The Feast at Solhaug" on 4 November 1857, this was the first time Ibsen had been performed in a theatre outside Norway.
Below you will find a survey of all Swedish first performances of Ibsens plays, arranged in chronological order. In our database IbsenStage you will find more data about each individual production.
- The Feast at Solhaug - Gästabudet på Solhoug, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, November 4 1857
- The League of Youth - De ungas förbund, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, Desember 11 1869
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Kämparne på Helgeland, Nya Teatern i Stockholm, November 3 1875
- Lady Inger - Fru Inger till Östråt, Turné I. F. Schmitt - Uller, Ladugårdslandsteatern i Stockholm, January 31 1877
- Pillars of Society - Samhällets pelare, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, December 13 1877
- The Pretenders - Kungsämnena, Nya teatern i Stockholm, January 19 1879
- A Dolls House - Ett dockhem, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, January 8 1880
- Catiline - Catiline, Nya teatern i Stockholm, December 3 1881 (world première)
- An Enemy of the People - En folkfiende, Stora Teatern i Göteborg, February 27 1883
- Ghosts - Gengångare, August Lindbergs turnéer på Helsingborg Stadsteater, August 22 1883 (European première of the play)
- The Wild Duck - Vildanden, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, January 30 1885
- Brand - Brand, Nya teatern i Stockholm, March 24 1885 (world première)
- Rosmersholm - Stora Teatern i Göteborg, March 18 1887
- The Lady from the Sea - Frun från havet, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, March 22 1889
- Loves Comedy - Kärlekens komedi, August Lindbergs selskap, Mindre Teatern i Göteborg, November 7 1889
- Hedda Gabler - Svenska Teatern i Stockholm, February 19 1891
- Peer Gynt - Stora Teatern i Göteborg (August Lindberg i tittelrollen), February 2 1892
- The Master Builder - Byggmästare Solness, Stora Teatern i Göteborg, March 23 1893
- Little Eyolf - Lille Eyolf. Albert Ranfts teaterselskap, Stora Teatern i Göteborg, January 30 1895
- John Gabriel Borkmann - Vasateatern i Stockholm, January 25 1897
- When We Dead Awaken - När vi döda vakna, Svenska Teatern i Stockholm, February 14 1900
- The Burial Mound, Norma, St. Johns Night, Olaf Liljekrans and Emperor and Galilean have never been staged in Sweden.
First Danish performances
Ibsen had all his dramas from and including Brand (1866) published by Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag in Copenhagen. From then on he was almost more oriented towards the Danish market than the Norwegian. His plays did not need to be translated to be put on in Danish theatres, and Ibsen had a good knowledge of and good contacts in the Danish theatre world.
Below you will find a survey of all Danish first performances of Ibsen`s plays, arranged in chronological order. In IbsenStage you will find more data about each individual production.
- The Feast at Solhaug - Gildet på Solhaug, Casinoteatret, December 6 1861
- The League of Youth - De unges forbund, Det Kongelige Teater, February 16 1870
- The Pretenders - Kongs-emnerne, Det Kongelige Teater, January 11 1871
- Lady Inger - Fru Inger til Østråt, Århus Teater, February 4 1874
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Hærmændene på Helgeland, Det Kongelige Teater, February 19 1875
- Pillars of Society - Samfundets støtter, Aug. Rasmussens teaterselskab på Odense Teater, November 14 1877 (world première)
- A Doll`s House - Et dukkehjem, Det Kongelige Teater, December 21 1879 (verdenspremiere)
- An Enemy of the People - En folkefjende, Det Kongelige Teater, March 4 1883
- Ghosts - Gengangere, August Lindberg`s touring company at Folketeatret, August 28 1883 (production with Swedish dialogue). First production in Danish: Daniel Züberlein`s touring company in Odense, September 30 1883
- The Wild Duck - Vildanden, Julius Petersen`s touring company in Aalborg, January 21 1885
- Brand - Cetti & Carl Wulff`s touring company in Frederikshavn 1885 (exact date not known)
- Peer Gynt - Dagmarteatret, January 15 1886
- Rosmersholm - August Lindberg`s touring company in Aalborg, April 17 1887 (Swedish, Norwegian and Danish cast). The first production with only Danish actors: Dagmarteatret, November 28 1887
- The Lady from the Sea - Fruen fra havet, Det Kongelige Teater, February 17 1889
- Hedda Gabler - Det Kongelige Teater, February 25 1891
- The Master Builder - Bygmester Solness, Det Kongelige Teater, March 8 1893
- Little Eyolf - Lille Eyolf, Det Kongelige Teater, March 13 1895
- John Gabriel Borkman - Det Kongelige Teater, January 31 1897
- Love`s Comedy - Kjærlighedens komedie, Dagmarteatret, May 21 1898
- When We Dead Awaken - Når vi døde vågner, Det Kongelige Teater, January 28 1900
- Catiline - Catilina, Gammel Hellerup Gymnasium, February 17 1928
- Emperor and Galilean - Kejser og Galilæer, Radioteatret, December 25 1964
- The Burial Mound, Norma, St. John`s Night and Olaf Liljekrans have never been staged in Denmark.
First Finnish performances
Uniquely enough John Gabriel Borkman had its world première in Helsinki at two different theatres on the same day, January 10 1897, namely the Suomalainen Teaatteri and the Svenska Teatern.
The same two theatres fraternally alternated in being the first to put on new Ibsen plays in Finland from 1878 and onwards and are the dominant stages in the Finnish Ibsen tradition.
Below you will find a survey of the Finnish premières of Ibsen`s plays, arranged chronologically. In our database IbsenStage you will find more data about each individual production. In those cases in which the first performance was in Swedish, the first performance in Finnish has been listed in addition.
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Kämparne på Helgeland, Nya Teatern i Helsingfors (later Svenska Teatern (Note: Svenska Teatern in Helsingfors was called Nya Teatern until 1887)), February 27 1878. First production in Finnish: «Helgelannin sankarit», Suomalainen Teaatteri, February 18 1888
- Pillars of Society - Samhällets stöd, Nya Teatern (later: Svenska Teatern), April 26 1878.
First production in Finnish: «Yhteiskunnan pylväät», Suomalainen Teaatteri, January 16 1884 - A Doll`s House - Nora, Suomalainen Teaatteri, February 25 1880
- Lady Inger - Fru Inger till Östråt, Nya Teatern (Later: Svenska Teatern), December 9 1880.
First production in Finnish: not known - The Pretenders Kuninkaan-alut, - Suomalainen Teaatteri, March 14 1882
- An Enemy of the People- En folkfiende, Nya Teatern (Later: Svenska Teatern), February 5 1883.
First production in Finnish: «Kansan vihaaja», Suomalainen Teaatteri, September 25 1889 - Ghosts - Gengångare, Nya Teatern (Later: Svenska Teatern), November 2 1883.
First production in Finnish: «Kummittelijoita», Helsingin Työväen Teatteri, February 1 1903 - The Wild Duck - Vilanden, Nya Teatern (Later: Svenska Teatern), January 16 1885.
First production in Finnish: «Villisorsa», Suomalainen Teaatteri, December 9 1892 - The League of Youth Nuorten liitto, - Suomalainen Teaatteri, September 30 1885
- Rosmersholm - Vyborg (Suomalainen Teaatteri), September 29 1887
- Love`s Comedy - Kärlekens komedi, Svenska Teatern, January 28 1889.
First production in Finnish: not known. - The Lady from the Sea Meren tytär - Suomalainen Teaatteri, February 22 1889
- Hedda Gabler - Suomalainen Teaatteri, February 4 1891
- The Master Builder - Byggmästar Solness, Åbo Svenska Teater, January 25 1893.
First production in Finnish: «Rakennusmestari Solness», Näyttämö Kaarle Halme, May 1915/16 (exact opening date not known) - Little Eyolf - Lille Eyolf, Svenska Teatern, January 21 1895.
First production in Finnish: «Pikku Eyolf», Suomalainen Teaatteri, March 3 1895 - Per Gynt - Åbo Svenska Teater, January 16 1895.
First production in Finnish: «Peer Gynt», Suomen Kansallisteatteri, January 26 1916 - John Gabriel Borkman - World première at two different theatres on the same day: Suomalainen Teaatteri, January 10 1897 and Svenska Teatern, January 10 1897
- The Feast at Solhaug - Päiväkummun pidot, - Suomalainen Teaatteri, April 20 1898
- Brand - Suomalainen Teaatteri, February 1 1899
- When We Dead Awaken - När vi döda vakna, Svenska Teatern, January 29 1900.
First production in Finnish: not known. - Emperor and Galilean, Olaf Liljekrans, St. John`s Night, Norma, The Burial Mound and Catiline have never been staged in Finland as far as we have been able to ascertain.
First performances in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Next to USA Germany is clearly the country in the world that has put on Ibsen most. It was also there that he had his first successes outside Scandinavia. Ibsens breakthrough in Germany in the mid 1870s laid the foundation for his breakthrough on a world scale.
Below you will find a survey of the German premières of Ibsens plays, arranged in chronological order. (NB: the first performances in German that took place in Austria and Switzerland have been included). In our database IbsenStage you will find more data about each individual production.
(W) = world première
- The Pretenders - Die Kronprätendenten, Herzogliches Hoftheater in Meiningen, January 30 1876
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Nordische Heerfahrt, Königliches Hof- und National-Theater München, April 10 1876
- Pillars of Society - Pillars of Society, Belle-Alliance-Theater i Berlin, January 25 1878
- Lady Inger - Frau Inger auf Östrot, Nationaltheater i Berlin, December 13 1878
- A Dolls House - With the alternative ending: Nora, Stadttheater Flensburg, February 6 1880. With the original ending: Nora, Königliches Residenz-Theater München, March 3 1880
- Ghosts - Gespenster, Stadttheater Augsburg (private performance), April 14 1886
- An Enemy of the People - Ein Volksfeind, Ostende-Theater i Berlin, March 5 1887
- Rosmersholm - Stadttheater Augsburg, April 6 1887
- The Wild Duck - Die Wildente, Residenztheater i Berlin, March 4 1888
- The Lady from the Sea - Die Frau vom Meere, Hoftheater i Weimar, February 12 1889 (V)
- Hedda Gabler - Königliches Residenz-Theater München, January 31 1891 (V)
- The League of Youth - Bund der Jugend, Freie Volksbühne på Belle-Allince Theater i Berlin, October 11 1891
- The Feast at Solhaug - Das Fest auf Solhaug, Carltheater i Wien, November 21 1891
- The Master Builder - Baumeister Solness, Lessing-Theater i Berlin, January 19 1893 (V)
- Little Eyolf - Klein Eyolf, Deutsches Theater i Berlin, January 12 1895 (V)
- Loves Comedy - Komödie der Liebe, Belle-Alliance Theater i Berlin, October 18 1896
- Emperor and Galilean - Kaiser und Galiläer, Kaimscher Konzertsaal (studentoppsetning), February 27 1896. Leipzig Stadttheater (adaptation), December 5 1896 (W)
- John Gabriel Borkman - Stadttheater i Frankfurt am Main, January 16 1897
- Brand - Schillertheater i Berlin, March 19 1898
- When We Dead Awaken - Wenn wir Todten erwachen, Hoftheater i Stuttgart, 26. januar 1900 (V)
- The Burial Mound - Das Hünengrab, Deutsches Volkstheater i Wien, February 24 1900
- Peer Gynt - Deutsches Volkstheater i Wien, May 9/10 1902
- Catiline - Catilina, Stadttheater Zürich, October 12 1906
- Norma and St. Johns Night have never been staged in German.
First performances in UK and USA
Ibsen did not achieve his breakthrough in the Anglo-American part of the world until the end of the 1880s. He had been introduced earlier, both on the book market and the stage, but without any really great success. But once he made his breakthrough in the English-speaking world, his fame had been secured: he was now a world-famous author.
Below you will find a survey of the English premières of Ibsen's plays, arranged chronologically. Some first performances took place in the USA; in these cases the first performance in Great Britain has also been listed. (NB: two of the first performances in the USA were in Danish; however, the first production in English has also been listed there.) In our database IbsenStage you will find more data about each individual production.
- Pillars of Society - «Quicksands» (adapted by W. H. Vernon), Gaiety Theatre, London, December 15 1880. First production with the title «The Pillars of Society»: Opera Comique Theatre, London, July 17 1889.
- A Doll's House - «The Child Wife» (adapted by William M. Lawrence), Grand Opera House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, June 2 1882. First production with the title «A Doll's House»: Macauley's Theatre, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, December 7 1883. First production in England: «Breaking a Butterfly» (adapted by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman), Prince's Theatre, London, March 3 1884.
- Ghosts - Aurora Turner Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA, May 20 1882 (world première, Danish-Norwegian cast). First production in English: «Ghosts», Royalty Theatre, London, March 13 1891.
- Rosmersholm - Vaudeville Theatre, London, February 23 1891
- Hedda Gabler - Vaudeville Theatre, London, April 20 1891
- The Lady from the Sea - Terry`s Theatre, London, May 11 1891
- The Master Builder - Trafalgar Square Theatre, London, February 20 1893
- Brand - Opera Comique Theatre, London, June 2 1893 (only Act IV). First complete production: «Brand», Court Theatre, London, November 11 1912.
- An Enemy of the People - Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, June 14 1893.
- The Wild Duck - Independent Theatre Company på Royalty Theatre, London, May 5 1894.
- Little Eyolf - Columbia Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, April 23 1895. First production in England: «Little Eyolf», Avenue Theatre, London, November 23 1896.
- John Gabriel Borkman - The New Century Theatre på Royal Strand Theatre, London, May 3 1897.
- When We Dead Awaken - Scandia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA, February 11 1900 (Danish production). First production in English: «When We Dead Awaken», Imperial Theatre, London, January 25 1903.
- The League of Youth - Vaudeville Theatre, London, February 25 1900
- The Vikings at Helgeland - Imperial Theatre, London, April 15 1903
- Love's Comedy - The New Stage Club, Cripplegate Institute, London, November 28 1905
- Lady Inger - Stage Society, Scala Theatre, London, January 29 1906.
- Peer Gynt - Richard Mansfield Repertory, Grand Opera House, Chicago, Illinois, USA, October 29 1906. First production in Great Britain: Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Skottland, February 14 1908.
- The Hero's Mound - Ibsen Club, Clavier Hall, London, May 30 1910
- Olaf Liljekrans - Ibsen Club, Rehearsal Theatre, London, June 18 1911.
- The Pretenders - Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, February 13 1913
- St. John's Night - Pax Robertson salon, Chelsea Theatre, London, May 1 1921
- Catiline - Croydon Repertory Theatre, Croydon, Surrey, England, January 27 1936.
- Emperor and Galilean - BBC Radio, May 17 1953
- The Feast at Solhaug - Barons Court Theatre, London, April 8 2015.
- Norma and The Feast at Solhaug have never been staged in English.