Jens Bolling
Encyclopedia
Jens Bolling was a Norwegian actor
and theatre director. He was among the founders of Studioteatret
, and a well-known interpreter of Norwegian fairy-tales.
, as the son of saw mill manager Sigvard Bolling and Borghild Elnan. He grew up at the farm Brekke in the valley Maridalen
north of Oslo
. His mother died early, and his grandmother took her place. She was an eminent narrator of legends and fairytales. Also story telling among the farm workers and mill workers had influence on Bolling's later acting career. He had his first performance experience when he was seven years old, in a former hen house, playing Ludvig Holberg
's Jeppe.
He was married three times; first to actress Liv Strømsted
from 1945 to 1952. He was then married to actress Ingrid Bothner, and later to actress Marit Bolling.
in Oslo from 1936 to 1945. During the German occupation of Norway the situation at the theatres was characterized by nazification from the authorities, and boycott from the public. Bolling was forced to play the lead role in Halvorsen's propaganda play Før stormen, after two other actors had fled to Sweden in order to avoid playing the role. Shortly before, in October 1942, Henry Gleditsch
, theatre director at Trøndelag Teater
in Trondheim had been shot by the German occupants, and from then the actors at Nationaltheatret initiated a silent sabotage, resulting in all sorts of difficulties for the management.
In 1941 Bolling was elected chairman of the organisation Unge Skuespilleres Forening. This organisation started underground meetings, often at Bolling's home, where they secretly studied the Stanislavski's system. The result of these undercover meetings was the founding of the theatre Studioteatret
in 1945.
Bolling played for Studioteatret from 1945 to 1949, and served as theatre director at Rogaland Teater
from 1949 to 1951. Among his roles at Rogaland Teater was the lead role in Henrik Ibsen
's Peer Gynt
, and "Helmer" in A Doll's House
. He worked for Den Nationale Scene
from 1954 to 1956. He was regarded as an eminent interpreter of Norwegian fairy tales, as a reciter in radio and later television. He issued the book Teater i krig in 1983.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and theatre director. He was among the founders of Studioteatret
Studioteatret
Studioteatret is a former Norwegian theatre. It opened in 1945, shortly after the liberation, with Claes Gill as its first theatre director. Studioteatret is regarded as one of the earliest post-war artistic expressions in Norway, and most of its members later played important roles in Norwegian...
, and a well-known interpreter of Norwegian fairy-tales.
Early and personal life
Bolling was born in LevangerLevanger
Levanger is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherred region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Levanger...
, as the son of saw mill manager Sigvard Bolling and Borghild Elnan. He grew up at the farm Brekke in the valley Maridalen
Maridalen
Maridalen is a valley situated just north of Oslo, Norway, just above the suburb of Kjelsås. Most of the valley is made up of a lake known as Maridalsvannet, that serves as the primary source of drinking water for 90% of Oslo's population. The valley is a popular recreational area with many hiking...
north of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. His mother died early, and his grandmother took her place. She was an eminent narrator of legends and fairytales. Also story telling among the farm workers and mill workers had influence on Bolling's later acting career. He had his first performance experience when he was seven years old, in a former hen house, playing Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
's Jeppe.
He was married three times; first to actress Liv Strømsted
Liv Dommersnes
Liv Dommersnes is a Norwegian actress and reciter of poetry. She was a member of group that founded Studioteatret in 1945.-Early and personal life:...
from 1945 to 1952. He was then married to actress Ingrid Bothner, and later to actress Marit Bolling.
Career
Bolling was employed at the National TheatreNationaltheatret
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...
in Oslo from 1936 to 1945. During the German occupation of Norway the situation at the theatres was characterized by nazification from the authorities, and boycott from the public. Bolling was forced to play the lead role in Halvorsen's propaganda play Før stormen, after two other actors had fled to Sweden in order to avoid playing the role. Shortly before, in October 1942, Henry Gleditsch
Henry Gleditsch
Henry Cochrane Williamsen Gleditsch was a Norwegian actor and theatre director.He was born in Kristiania. In his young days he participated in skiing for SFK Lyn....
, theatre director at Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater is a large theater in the city of Trondheim, in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway.-Background:Trøndelag Teater stages large-scale dance and musical performances. Originally built in 1816, the theater is the oldest stage in Scandinavia in continuous use...
in Trondheim had been shot by the German occupants, and from then the actors at Nationaltheatret initiated a silent sabotage, resulting in all sorts of difficulties for the management.
In 1941 Bolling was elected chairman of the organisation Unge Skuespilleres Forening. This organisation started underground meetings, often at Bolling's home, where they secretly studied the Stanislavski's system. The result of these undercover meetings was the founding of the theatre Studioteatret
Studioteatret
Studioteatret is a former Norwegian theatre. It opened in 1945, shortly after the liberation, with Claes Gill as its first theatre director. Studioteatret is regarded as one of the earliest post-war artistic expressions in Norway, and most of its members later played important roles in Norwegian...
in 1945.
Bolling played for Studioteatret from 1945 to 1949, and served as theatre director at 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...
from 1949 to 1951. Among his roles at Rogaland Teater was the lead role in 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...
's Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt is a five-act play in verse by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen, loosely based on the fairy tale Per Gynt. It is the most widely performed Norwegian play. According to Klaus Van Den Berg, the "cinematic script blends poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones"...
, and "Helmer" in A Doll's House
A Doll's House
A Doll's House is a three-act play in prose by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premièred at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having been published earlier that month....
. He worked for 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:...
from 1954 to 1956. He was regarded as an eminent interpreter of Norwegian fairy tales, as a reciter in radio and later television. He issued the book Teater i krig in 1983.