A World Theatre.
International Theatre Company REYKJAVÍK ENSEMBLE was founded in the autumn of 2019 by theatre and opera director Pálína Jónsdóttir and her collaborator Ewa Marcinek, project manager and writer. The company is the first and the only independent world theatre in Iceland.
Its innovative and pioneering work creates an active professional theatre platform for multinational theatre artists, whose work is celebrated regardless of origin, gender or mother tongue.
The company develops and produces creative performances from original, modern and classic works that appeal to the diverse and multinational audience of Iceland. Reykjavík Ensemble's activities are based on the yearly selected repertoire and the annual program.
Honored with the title Reykjavik’s Art Group of 2020 by the City of Reykjavík and nominated to Gríman - The Icelandic Performing Arts Awards as Sproti ársins, Innovation Award of 2020. Polishing Iceland was selected one of the best theatre performances of 2020 by the theatre critics of Morgunblaðið newspaper.
Photo Páll Stefánsson
Pálína Jónsdóttir
Pálína is a theatre and opera director born in Iceland. She received her MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University in 2017 where she was granted scholarships and awarded a Student Fellowship in Directing for her outstanding achievement. Pálína is the founder and artistic director of Reykjavik Ensemble. She is the director of the company's productions
During their first year Reykjavík Ensemble developed and presented three theatre productions, all of which were based on research material in the field of cultural diversity.
The company has earned the respect and support of the international and local community and recognition for their work. The productions are praised by theatre critics and audiences for their appeal and message to Icelandic society, strong artistic and intellectual characteristics, presented with sensitivity and understanding of the complex situation of immigrants in Iceland.
By empowering artists and audiences regardless of origin, language and gender, the theatre company supports cultural diversity in Iceland. A key part of the project is to unite people from different cultures and backgrounds and create professional work in accordance with the artists education, experience and artistic creativity.