Agnes Mowinckel was a Norwegian actress and theatre director.
38 Facts About Agnes Mowinckel
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Agnes Mowinckel took part in theatrical experiments, worked at small stages in Oslo, and founded her own theatre.
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Agnes Mowinckel's first stage production was an adaptation of Wedekind's play Spring Awakening at Intimteatret in 1922; subsequently she worked as stage director for Det Norske Teatret.
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Agnes Mowinckel had a masterful and spirited personality, and has been called the mare of Norwegian theatre.
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Agnes Mowinckel made her stage debut at the Bergen theatre Den Nationale Scene in 1899, and joined Sekondteatret in its first season, until she got married.
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Agnes Mowinckel participated in Danish films in the mid-1910s, appeared regularly at Centralteatret from 1916 to 1921, and had a three years assignment as actress for Det Nye Teater from 1928.
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Mowinckel was born in Bergen to a prominent family, with merchant Johan Ernst Mowinckel being a distinguished forebear.
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Agnes Mowinckel's parents were Edward Christian Mowinckel, a merchant, and his wife Cornelia Schultz Blydt; she grew up with eight siblings.
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Agnes Mowinckel's eldest brother Johan Ernst was a merchant and leading politician in Bergen, and served in the Norwegian Parliament for one period.
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In 1894, aged nineteen, Agnes Mowinckel travelled to Kristiana to take classes in drawing at Den kgl.
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Agnes Mowinckel visited her and her husband Sigvard Gundersen's home several days a week, and helped with the study of plays.
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Agnes Mowinckel made her stage debut at Den Nationale Scene on 2 January 1899, as "Anna Hielm" in Heiberg's play Kong Midas.
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Agnes Mowinckel was offered a position at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, but chose to join Ludovica Levy at her Sekondteater in Kristiania.
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In October 1899, Agnes Mowinckel married Hans Blehr, a shipbroker a few months her senior.
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In 1909, after ten years as a mother and housewife, Agnes Mowinckel separated from Blehr.
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Agnes Mowinckel was among the first staff at Trondhjems nationale Scene from 1911, and stayed in Trondheim for one season.
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Agnes Mowinckel played the character "Elida" at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen in 1912.
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Agnes Mowinckel was always carefully dressed, often with self-designed costumes and hats.
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In 1922 Agnes Mowinckel staged an adaptation of Wedekind's play Spring Awakening at Intimteatret.
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Agnes Mowinckel pointed at her artistic eye for the stage setting, and for the harmony between stage decorations, costumes, light and choreography.
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Agnes Mowinckel produced a total of 28 plays for Det Norske Teatret.
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Agnes Mowinckel produced Lagerlof's play Keisaren av Portugalia in April 1923, Lenormand's play Raudtind in October, and Skjoldborg's Mikkel Larsen-gutane in October 1923.
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In 1924 Agnes Mowinckel staged Crommelynck's play Den praktfulde hanrei at Det Frie Teater.
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Agnes Mowinckel's first production was a success, an adaptation of Vane's play Outward Bound, staged in September 1925.
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Agnes Mowinckel was allowed leave the same day, and released from her contract for the next season.
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Agnes Mowinckel played "Lady Inger" at Centralteatret for the Ibsen jubilee in 1928.
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Agnes Mowinckel played the male character "Thy" in Hamsun's Livets Spill at the opening performance at Det Nye Teater in February 1929, and directed and played in Ibsen's Et dukkehjem for Det Nye Teater in 1929.
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Agnes Mowinckel played the title character in Munk's play Diktatorinnen at Nationaltheatret in 1939.
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Agnes Mowinckel played the character "Merete Beyer" in Wiers-Jenssen's play Anne Pedersdotter at Nationaltheatret in February 1941.
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Agnes Mowinckel staged Kielland's comedy Tre Par for Nationaltheatret in April 1941.
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In 1945 Agnes Mowinckel helped Jens Bolling with preparations for Studioteatret's first production, an adaptation of Wilder's play The Long Christmas Dinner, but she did not want to be credited.
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In May 1947 Agnes Mowinckel staged Sartre's play The Respectful Prostitute for Studioteatret, with Merete Skavlan as a successful prostitute "Lizzie".
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Agnes Mowinckel played the character "Bernanda" in an adaptation of Lorca's La casa de Bernarda Alba in 1947, staged by Gerda Ring.
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Agnes Mowinckel staged Eliot's play Cocktail Party at Nationaltheatret in April 1951, and Shaw's play Caesar and Cleopatra in November 1951.
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Agnes Mowinckel directed the opening performance at Folketeatret in 1952, Heiberg's play Tante Ulrikke.
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Agnes Mowinckel staged the first production of Stenersen's Eva og Johannes at Nationaltheatret in November 1953.
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Several artists created portraits of Agnes Mowinckel that are on public display.
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Agnes Mowinckel received the artists' scholarship from 1945, and was an Honorary member of the Norwegian Actors' Equity Association from 1948.