A Theatre Company at the Intersection of Art and Activism

Sir Grand Lear is a Danish-Norwegian performing arts company with a strong socio-political commitment. They create experiences in the space between art and popular activism, using theatre as a social meeting point and a catalyst for debate, reflection, and change.

Their works are ceremonial gatherings, where pressing societal issues are dramatically thrown into the air—ideally landing in the form of lively dialogue. The process is always an integral part of the work, and the audience is often actively involved.

Sir Grand Lear develops and produces performances that are popular, accessible, investigative, and experimental. The company creates works that speak to audiences who often don’t identify with the traditional theatre scene.

Their performances frequently take place outside conventional theatre venues—on outdoor or site-specific locations—confronting “reality” head-on and bringing art closer to the pulse of society. They create artistic ripples that contribute to small but significant transformations.

In Dialogue with Society

All of Sir Grand Lear’s projects originate from current social issues. They are created in collaboration with relevant professionals, organizations, and audience groups, who are often actively engaged in the performances themselves. The works address topics such as the mental health effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, consumerism, tax havens, and empathy fatigue—always treated with artistic experimentation, empathy, and the liberated approach fiction allows.

A central aim of the work is to facilitate new encounters between people—moments that have the potential to spark change, both individually and collectively.

Among the company’s most notable projects are the theatre series ANNE OG EMPATIKRISEN (Anne and the Empathy Crisis) and SÅDAN SÆTTER DU DINE PENGE I SKATTELY (How to Put Your Money in a Tax Haven). These long-term artistic research processes involved audience groups not typically engaged with theatre and explored socially relevant themes through both seriousness and humour.

Their post-COVID work HVORDAN HAR DU DET? (How Are You?) was used to open a debate with the Norwegian Minister of Health—an example of how Sir Grand Lear merges theatre with political dialogue.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations and Dream Projects

Sir Grand Lear values the most complex and unpredictable collaborations—especially those where interdisciplinary encounters lead to unforeseen results. They are eager to work with experts from entirely different fields, such as tax law or healthcare, to find new ways to communicate and engage through performance.

The company sees great potential in communities like THORAVEJ 29, where their skills can contribute even more directly to meaningful transformation.

Sir Grand Lear consists of scenographer and director Lea Burrows, creative producer Karen Hal Hermansen, and in Norway, scenographer and researcher Ingvild Grande. The company is sustained through a combination of project-based funding and commissioned scenographic or directorial work.