Upcoming Concerts & Shows at the Rival Theatre

The Rival... Hotel & Theatre!

Not only do we have a great restaurant, café and several bars at the Rival Hotel ... we also have a theatre! Originally a cinema, it was built in 1937 and lovingly renovated in 2003. The hotel actually takes its name from the cinema. The theatre seats up to 700 persons (stalls & balcony). It has become quite a popular venue for entertainment in Stockholm. Generally, the shows tend to be for Swedish speaking audiences (theatre, stand-up comedy, etc.). However, this November & December we have several concerts which can be enjoyed whatever language you speak. Even if the lyrics are in Swedish, anyone can enjoy good music! Here you have the calendar:

• Nov. 16th- Sophie Zelmani. Acoustic rock & folk. Popular Swedish singer & songwriter who sings in English. Several of her songs have been used by Hollywood (Independence Day, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, etc.).
• Nov. 21st & 22nd- Thomas Andersson Wij. Pop/rock music. Another popular Swedish singer & songwriter... and good friend of the Rival. He has actually released an album called "Live på Rival (Live at the Rival)" in 2005.
• Nov. 24th- Tommy Körberg. Pop/musical/schlager. Perhaps one of Sweden's most beloved and well known performers. Known by non Swedish speakers for his career in musical theatre (Chess) and collaborations with Benny Andersson. 
• Nov. 27th- Owe Thörnqvist. Pop/rock/schlager. Sweden's #1 troubadour! Owe is on tour this year celebrating his 85th(!) birthday.
• Nov. 29th- Nashville Country Music Night. Country. Featuring Caroline Larsson and the Music City Band. Concert featuring some of the greatest country songs of all time... Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift and much more.
• Dec. 1st- World AIDS Day Concert. December 1st is World AIDS Day. This charity concert features some of Sweden's most popular artists like Shirley Clamp, Peter Jöback, Cirkus Cirkör and Diamond Dogs and raises money for the HIV organization Noaks Ark.
• Dec. 9th- Julen Är Här! (Christmas is Here!). Christmas concert with Peter Johansson, Matilda Grün and Jesper Sjöberg. Get into the holiday spirit...
• Dec. 12th & 13th- Sarah Dawn Finer. Soul & pop. One of Sweden's best voices and known for both her work on stage and at the Melodifestival. This is part of her "Vinterland" tour... featuring songs with a winter theme.
• Dec. 18th & 19th- P-Floyd. Rock. This is a popular Swedish Pink Floyd tribute band. Let them take you back in time with some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits.

Some great artists and a wide range of musical genre! More information, calendar and tickets can be found here. Advance tickets can't be purchased at the Rival. Instead they are sold online or you can also purchase them at Stockholm Visitor Center or other ticket outlet. If you are going to stay at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for any extra assistance. 

A few of the artists performing at the Rival...

Upcoming Concerts & Shows at the Rival Theatre

Posted by zlatin

The Rival... Hotel & Theatre!

Not only do we have a great restaurant, café and several bars at the Rival Hotel ... we also have a theatre! Originally a cinema, it was built in 1937 and lovingly renovated in 2003. The hotel actually takes its name from the cinema. The theatre seats up to 700 persons (stalls & balcony). It has become quite a popular venue for entertainment in Stockholm. Generally, the shows tend to be for Swedish speaking audiences (theatre, stand-up comedy, etc.). However, this November & December we have several concerts which can be enjoyed whatever language you speak. Even if the lyrics are in Swedish, anyone can enjoy good music! Here you have the calendar:

• Nov. 16th- Sophie Zelmani. Acoustic rock & folk. Popular Swedish singer & songwriter who sings in English. Several of her songs have been used by Hollywood (Independence Day, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, etc.).
• Nov. 21st & 22nd- Thomas Andersson Wij. Pop/rock music. Another popular Swedish singer & songwriter... and good friend of the Rival. He has actually released an album called "Live på Rival (Live at the Rival)" in 2005.
• Nov. 24th- Tommy Körberg. Pop/musical/schlager. Perhaps one of Sweden's most beloved and well known performers. Known by non Swedish speakers for his career in musical theatre (Chess) and collaborations with Benny Andersson. 
• Nov. 27th- Owe Thörnqvist. Pop/rock/schlager. Sweden's #1 troubadour! Owe is on tour this year celebrating his 85th(!) birthday.
• Nov. 29th- Nashville Country Music Night. Country. Featuring Caroline Larsson and the Music City Band. Concert featuring some of the greatest country songs of all time... Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift and much more.
• Dec. 1st- World AIDS Day Concert. December 1st is World AIDS Day. This charity concert features some of Sweden's most popular artists like Shirley Clamp, Peter Jöback, Cirkus Cirkör and Diamond Dogs and raises money for the HIV organization Noaks Ark.
• Dec. 9th- Julen Är Här! (Christmas is Here!). Christmas concert with Peter Johansson, Matilda Grün and Jesper Sjöberg. Get into the holiday spirit...
• Dec. 12th & 13th- Sarah Dawn Finer. Soul & pop. One of Sweden's best voices and known for both her work on stage and at the Melodifestival. This is part of her "Vinterland" tour... featuring songs with a winter theme.
• Dec. 18th & 19th- P-Floyd. Rock. This is a popular Swedish Pink Floyd tribute band. Let them take you back in time with some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits.

Some great artists and a wide range of musical genre! More information, calendar and tickets can be found here. Advance tickets can't be purchased at the Rival. Instead they are sold online or you can also purchase them at Stockholm Visitor Center or other ticket outlet. If you are going to stay at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for any extra assistance. 

A few of the artists performing at the Rival...

English Language Theatre This Summer!

One of the more problematic questions I get is when non-Swedish speaking visitors ask about shows and theatre. With the exception of opera, the vast majority of shows in Stockholm are in Swedish. A second problem arises because nearly all theatres and show venues close during the summer months (when said visitors are in the city asking about theatre). However... this summer the Stockholm English Speaking Theatre (SEST) changes all of that! They will be celebrating William Shakespeare's 450th birthday with with an outdoor production of "Much Ado About Nothing". In English! Shakespeare in the Park, if you will.

Beautiful location for Shakespeare at Rosendals Wärdshus!

One of the Bard's most beloved comedies, the original "Much Ado About Nothing" takes place in the 16th century Sicily. SEST has put a twist on it and their version takes place in Sicily in the 1960's. The era of La Dolce Vita! They will be performing at three outdoor venues this July and August. July 11th & 12th at Parkteatern (Park Theatre) on Djurgården, July 17th, 18th & 19th in Drottningholm Palace's Garden and then 7 performances between July 21st and August 2nd in the beautiful lawn adjacent to Rosendal's Wärdshus on Djurgården. You might remember that I recently visited Rosendal. When our Concierge union (SHPF) had a summer kick-off a couple of weeks ago, SEST gave us a mini performance. Looked fun! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy Shakespeare in the outdoors. You can also buy food & drink at Rosendals Wärdshus to have your own impromtu picnic. Visit SEST's website for ticket information and dates.

English Language Theatre This Summer!

Posted by zlatin

One of the more problematic questions I get is when non-Swedish speaking visitors ask about shows and theatre. With the exception of opera, the vast majority of shows in Stockholm are in Swedish. A second problem arises because nearly all theatres and show venues close during the summer months (when said visitors are in the city asking about theatre). However... this summer the Stockholm English Speaking Theatre (SEST) changes all of that! They will be celebrating William Shakespeare's 450th birthday with with an outdoor production of "Much Ado About Nothing". In English! Shakespeare in the Park, if you will.

Beautiful location for Shakespeare at Rosendals Wärdshus!

One of the Bard's most beloved comedies, the original "Much Ado About Nothing" takes place in the 16th century Sicily. SEST has put a twist on it and their version takes place in Sicily in the 1960's. The era of La Dolce Vita! They will be performing at three outdoor venues this July and August. July 11th & 12th at Parkteatern (Park Theatre) on Djurgården, July 17th, 18th & 19th in Drottningholm Palace's Garden and then 7 performances between July 21st and August 2nd in the beautiful lawn adjacent to Rosendal's Wärdshus on Djurgården. You might remember that I recently visited Rosendal. When our Concierge union (SHPF) had a summer kick-off a couple of weeks ago, SEST gave us a mini performance. Looked fun! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy Shakespeare in the outdoors. You can also buy food & drink at Rosendals Wärdshus to have your own impromtu picnic. Visit SEST's website for ticket information and dates.

Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm- 2014

(EDIT: Click here for this year's information) This Saturday, April 26th, is the fifth annual Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm. It has become quite popular! So, what exactly is a Culture Night? Well, it basically is an evening devoted to all things cultural... and FREE! Different cultural institutions in Stockholm are open during the evening (6pm to midnight), including museums, art galleries, libraries, churches, palaces, clubs, theatres, cinemas and more. To break it down in numbers, this festival will have almost 400 events taking place at over 1000 different locations throughout the city! And, as I mentioned earlier, admission is free... so this is a great opportunity to get cultural without damaging your wallet.

The After Party last year! Photo by Robert Höglund/Kulturnatt

There is a lot to choose from... art & museum exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, performances, viewings and parties. Something for every taste! You can find a list of venues, with a map, to download in English on their website (click here), just scroll down to "information". More detailed information in Swedish along with the full program with actual events can be found by clicking here.

The official After Party (live music, DJ's, dancing), with free admission of course, will take place at the iconic Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)... where the Nobel dinner/party takes place every year. It starts at 10:30pm and goes on to 3am. Last year they had over 7000 people at the party. The City Hall is located on Kungsholmen. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can explain in more detail about the different events. Otherwise, stop by the Stockholm Visitor Center or Visit Djurgården for more detailed information about what is happening!

Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm- 2014

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: Click here for this year's information) This Saturday, April 26th, is the fifth annual Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm. It has become quite popular! So, what exactly is a Culture Night? Well, it basically is an evening devoted to all things cultural... and FREE! Different cultural institutions in Stockholm are open during the evening (6pm to midnight), including museums, art galleries, libraries, churches, palaces, clubs, theatres, cinemas and more. To break it down in numbers, this festival will have almost 400 events taking place at over 1000 different locations throughout the city! And, as I mentioned earlier, admission is free... so this is a great opportunity to get cultural without damaging your wallet.

The After Party last year! Photo by Robert Höglund/Kulturnatt

There is a lot to choose from... art & museum exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, performances, viewings and parties. Something for every taste! You can find a list of venues, with a map, to download in English on their website (click here), just scroll down to "information". More detailed information in Swedish along with the full program with actual events can be found by clicking here.

The official After Party (live music, DJ's, dancing), with free admission of course, will take place at the iconic Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)... where the Nobel dinner/party takes place every year. It starts at 10:30pm and goes on to 3am. Last year they had over 7000 people at the party. The City Hall is located on Kungsholmen. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can explain in more detail about the different events. Otherwise, stop by the Stockholm Visitor Center or Visit Djurgården for more detailed information about what is happening!

Dickens "A Christmas Carol" (Theatre in English!)

Photo by Johan Lygrell

Foreign visitors often ask me about theatre and shows in Stockholm and they are generally disappointed (and often surprised) when I explain that the vast majority of theatre in Stockholm is in Swedish. Since 95% of potential theatre goers are Swedish, it is only logical that theatre is in the local language. The exceptions to this rule are shows where language isn't a problem (opera, dance, etc;) as well as a select few that are performed in their original language (say, Shakespeare).

Photo by Johan Lygrell

Happily, another exception is the traditional performance of "A Christmas Carol", based on the classic novella by Charles Dickens, at the Maxim Theatre in Stockholm. I say "traditional" because this has become a bit of an annual event in Stockholm. The story of the greedy miser Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come is well known around the world and is a holiday family favourite... whether you prefer the novella, play, musical or film! This theatre production at the Maxim also contains several classic Christmas carols like "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Photo by Johan Lygrell

"A Christmas Carol" will be performed daily at the Maxim Theatre from the 10th through the 23rd of December with double performances on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of December. The cast is made up of British actors and singers as well as several child actors. The Maxim Theatre is located off of Karlaplan in the Östermalm district. It is very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel on Södermalm... take the subway (red line) in the direction of Ropsten. The fifth stop is Karlaplan! Tickets can be purchased at the box office (which is open on Wednesdays between noon and 6pm as well as 2 hours before each performance), at the Stockholm Tourist Center or online at ticnet.se. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for further assistance!

Dickens "A Christmas Carol" (Theatre in English!)

Posted by zlatin

Photo by Johan Lygrell

Foreign visitors often ask me about theatre and shows in Stockholm and they are generally disappointed (and often surprised) when I explain that the vast majority of theatre in Stockholm is in Swedish. Since 95% of potential theatre goers are Swedish, it is only logical that theatre is in the local language. The exceptions to this rule are shows where language isn't a problem (opera, dance, etc;) as well as a select few that are performed in their original language (say, Shakespeare).

Photo by Johan Lygrell

Happily, another exception is the traditional performance of "A Christmas Carol", based on the classic novella by Charles Dickens, at the Maxim Theatre in Stockholm. I say "traditional" because this has become a bit of an annual event in Stockholm. The story of the greedy miser Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come is well known around the world and is a holiday family favourite... whether you prefer the novella, play, musical or film! This theatre production at the Maxim also contains several classic Christmas carols like "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Photo by Johan Lygrell

"A Christmas Carol" will be performed daily at the Maxim Theatre from the 10th through the 23rd of December with double performances on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of December. The cast is made up of British actors and singers as well as several child actors. The Maxim Theatre is located off of Karlaplan in the Östermalm district. It is very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel on Södermalm... take the subway (red line) in the direction of Ropsten. The fifth stop is Karlaplan! Tickets can be purchased at the box office (which is open on Wednesdays between noon and 6pm as well as 2 hours before each performance), at the Stockholm Tourist Center or online at ticnet.se. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for further assistance!

English Language Theatre in Stockholm

Every once and awhile, I have non-Swedish guests that inquire about going to a theatre to see a play. They seem genuinely surprised when I explain that plays and musicals are generally in Swedish (with the exception of operas) and not English. This is, of course, because the vast majority of theatre goers in Stockholm are Swedes and it is also not possible to fill a theatre with non Swedes every evening for the typical run of a show.

However... every now and then a play is put on in English. A good example of this is the Maxim Theatre which puts on a production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" every December. But you don't have to wait until December to see a play in English here in Stockholm. The Stockholm English Speaking Theatre Company (SEST) regularly puts on short run productions in smaller theatres. Next up is "The God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza which will run between the 15th and 25th of February at Teater Brunnsgatan Fyra. Otherwise keep your eyes on their website (linked above) for future productions... like perhaps a Shakespeare in the park this summer?

English Language Theatre in Stockholm

Posted by zlatin

Every once and awhile, I have non-Swedish guests that inquire about going to a theatre to see a play. They seem genuinely surprised when I explain that plays and musicals are generally in Swedish (with the exception of operas) and not English. This is, of course, because the vast majority of theatre goers in Stockholm are Swedes and it is also not possible to fill a theatre with non Swedes every evening for the typical run of a show.

However... every now and then a play is put on in English. A good example of this is the Maxim Theatre which puts on a production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" every December. But you don't have to wait until December to see a play in English here in Stockholm. The Stockholm English Speaking Theatre Company (SEST) regularly puts on short run productions in smaller theatres. Next up is "The God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza which will run between the 15th and 25th of February at Teater Brunnsgatan Fyra. Otherwise keep your eyes on their website (linked above) for future productions... like perhaps a Shakespeare in the park this summer?