Gerda Ring
Encyclopedia
Gerda Ring was a Norwegian stage actor and stage producer. She was the daughter of writer Barbra Ring
, and married actor and theatre director Halfdan Christensen
in 1922. They were parents of the actors Bab Christensen
and Pelle Christensen
.
She had her stage début at Det Nye Teater in Copenhagen in 1911, in the play Kongens hjerte, written by Barbra Ring (Gerda's mother). She played at the National Theatre
from 1912 to 1961. Among her roles were "Hedvig" in Ibsen
's The Wild Duck
, and "Eleonora" in Strindberg
's Easter. Her first stage production was an adaption of Gunnar Heiberg
's play Gerts have in 1930.
During the Second World War
Ring played a leading role in the theatre conflict which emerged in 1941, being on the board of the Norwegian Actors' Equity Association
. One of the disagreements was whether the actors were obliged to participate in radio productions. After several actors, including Ring, refused to participate for Radioteatret
in May 1941, the Gestapo intervened, and the group had their working permissions revoked. This was 21 May, and already the same evening a strike was effective in Oslo, and from the next day also in Bergen and Trondheim. Several theatre leaders were eventually arrested, but the strike lasted until end of June, after long negotiations, which also included German threats of death by court-martial.
In 1942 Ring had to flee to Sweden, where she started the theatre group Fri Norsk Scene
, together with her husband Halfdan Christensen.
After the war Ring staged several productions, including plays by Tennessee Williams
, Jean Paul Sartre and Henrik Ibsen
. She received the Critics' Prize for her adaptation of Sartre's Dirty Hands
in 1950. In addition to her work at the National Theatre, she also produced for Radioteatret
, for Oslo Nye Teater
, Riksteatret
, Den Nationale Scene
and Rogaland Teater
, and for theatres in Denmark, Iceland and China.
Ring was appointed Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1956, and was also Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
.
When she died in 1999 she was 107 years old.
Barbra Ring
Barbra Ring was a Norwegian novelist, short story writer, children's writer, biographer, literary critic and theatre critic. She made her literary début in 1904 with the girl's novel Babbens Dagbog. Her children's books about "Peik" and other characters achieved great popularity. Her first novel...
, and married actor and theatre director Halfdan Christensen
Halfdan Christensen
Halfdan Christensen was a Norwegian stage actor and theatre director. He was married twice, first to actress Gyda Christensen, and later to actress Gerda Ring. He had his stage début at Den Nationale Scene in 1896...
in 1922. They were parents of the actors Bab Christensen
Bab Christensen
Barbra Karine "Bab" Christensen is a Norwegian actress.She was born in Kristiania as a daughter of Gerda Ring and Halfdan Christensen and younger sister of Pelle Christensen...
and Pelle Christensen
Pelle Christensen
Per "Pelle" Christensen was a Norwegian actor and translator.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Gerda Ring and Halfdan Christensen and brother of Bab Christensen. He made his stage debut in 1949 at the National Theatre...
.
She had her stage début at Det Nye Teater in Copenhagen in 1911, in the play Kongens hjerte, written by Barbra Ring (Gerda's mother). She played at the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
from 1912 to 1961. Among her roles were "Hedvig" in Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.-Plot:The first act opens with a dinner party hosted by Håkon Werle, a wealthy merchant and industrialist. The gathering is attended by his son, Gregers Werle, who has just returned to his father's home following a self-imposed...
, and "Eleonora" in Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
's Easter. Her first stage production was an adaption of Gunnar Heiberg
Gunnar Heiberg
Gunnar Edvard Rode Heiberg was a Norwegian poet, playwright, journalist and theatre critic.-Personal life:...
's play Gerts have in 1930.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Ring played a leading role in the theatre conflict which emerged in 1941, being on the board of the Norwegian Actors' Equity Association
Norwegian Actors' Equity Association
The Norwegian Actors' Equity Association is an association of Norwegian actors. Its main purpose is to improve actors' working conditions, and important issues during the early years were contractual conditions, pensions, and regulation of foreign ensembles...
. One of the disagreements was whether the actors were obliged to participate in radio productions. After several actors, including Ring, refused to participate for Radioteatret
Radioteatret
Radioteatret is a department of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation which produces audio plays for radio broadcasting. It was established in 1927.-Directors:...
in May 1941, the Gestapo intervened, and the group had their working permissions revoked. This was 21 May, and already the same evening a strike was effective in Oslo, and from the next day also in Bergen and Trondheim. Several theatre leaders were eventually arrested, but the strike lasted until end of June, after long negotiations, which also included German threats of death by court-martial.
In 1942 Ring had to flee to Sweden, where she started the theatre group Fri Norsk Scene
Fri Norsk Scene
Fri Norsk Scene was a theatre group consisting of Norwegian actors residing as refugees in Sweden during World War II. It was established in 1944, and was active until May 1945. The group was led by Halfdan Christensen. Among the theatre's productions were Ibsen's play The Master Builder ,...
, together with her husband Halfdan Christensen.
After the war Ring staged several productions, including plays by Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
, Jean Paul Sartre and Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
. She received the Critics' Prize for her adaptation of Sartre's Dirty Hands
Dirty hands
Dirty hands is a metaphor used in moral and political philosophy and everyday conversation to symbolize the sullying of one's moral standing by dealing with unsavory matters...
in 1950. In addition to her work at the National Theatre, she also produced for Radioteatret
Radioteatret
Radioteatret is a department of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation which produces audio plays for radio broadcasting. It was established in 1927.-Directors:...
, for Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
, Riksteatret
Riksteatret
Riksteatret is a Norwegian touring theatre. It was established by law in 1948. Its first performance was in Kirkenes in 1949, with Sigurd Christiansen's play En reise i natten. The theatre plays on about 200 different stages throughout the country. Its first theatre director was Fritz von der...
, Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
and Rogaland Teater
Rogaland Teater
Rogaland Teater is a theatre in Stavanger, Norway.-Background:The theatre building was built in 1883, on a parcel of Kannik prestegård. It was designed by architect Hartvig Sverdrup Eckhoff, and had initially almost 500 seats. The building housed Stavanger Faste Scene from 1914 to 1921, and...
, and for theatres in Denmark, Iceland and China.
Ring was appointed Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1956, and was also Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
.
When she died in 1999 she was 107 years old.