Open call – Nordic guest performances
OPEN CALL! Two Nordic guest performances sought for the 2026 Storytelling Festival!
English below
The 2026 Storytelling Festival will take place on October 12–18 in Skellefteå. This year's theme is Motvalls.
We are now looking for two Nordic guest performances for our festival program and welcome proposals for different types of storytelling performances that are related to the theme. The performances should be 50–90 minutes long and performed in Swedish, Finland-Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish. The deadline for applications is March 15.
Theme Motvalls contains stories about people who "go against the grain," who are contrary, a little different, and who refuse to follow the norm or live up to others' expectations. Stories that rub us the wrong way, surprise us, perhaps make us laugh or cause us to pause and reflect.
Motvalls can be about the friction that arises when different people's desires, values, and dreams collide, when the world is moving in one direction and the individual in another. It can be about the imperfect, the provocative, and the painful. Sometimes the countercurrent is low-key, almost invisible, but still has great power.
Motvals is not about doing the opposite for the sake of it, but about making conscious choices. Often, it is precisely going against the grain that opens doors to change, new worlds, and unexpected perspectives.
Going against the grain can also be a way of telling a story, breaking with traditional forms, mixing genres, turning your gaze in new directions, or giving voice to the untold. It can be humorous, uncomfortable, and absurd.
How to apply:
Email a description of the performance along with pictures and video material, as well as information about technical requirements, performance length, and fee (price).
All submissions must include some form of video documentation. For productions that have already premiered, we would like to see a complete recorded version. If the production is still in development, you may attach a film from a similar work by the same storyteller or working group, or alternatively a newly recorded excerpt. A short video recording on a phone may be sufficient, provided that it gives a clear picture of the storytelling style and other important aesthetic elements.
All program proposals will be reviewed by the Storytelling Festival's program group. The selection will be based on artistic quality, variety, practical feasibility, and relevance to this year's theme. Budgetary and organizational factors will also be taken into account. Interdisciplinary projects are encouraged, but submissions in which oral storytelling does not constitute a clear and central element will not be given priority.
Please send your program proposal by email to: malin.aberg@vasterbottensteatern.se
About Västerbottensteatern
Västerbottensteatern is a regional theater based in Skellefteå. The theater produces 8–10 new productions per year and performs approximately 400–500 shows annually in Skellefteå, Umeå, and on tour throughout the region. The theater cherishes and draws inspiration from Västerbotten's rich and vibrant storytelling tradition. Västerbottensteatern's single largest storytelling activity is the annual Storytelling Festival in Skellefteå, which is organized in collaboration with a number of local actors with events throughout the municipality of Skellefteå over the course of a week.
OPEN CALL! We are looking for two Nordic guest performances for the Storytelling Festival 2026.
The Storytelling Festival 2026 will take place from October12th-18th in Skellefteå, Sweden.
This year’s theme is Against the Grain (Against the grain). We are now looking for two Nordic guest performances for our festival program and welcome proposals for different types of storytelling performances connected to the theme. The performances should be 50–90 minutes long and performed in Swedish, Finland-Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish. The deadline for submissions is March 15. Please see the criteria and terms below for more information.
The theme Against the grain encompasses stories about people who "go against the flow," who are contrary, a little different, and who refuse to follow the norm or live up to others' expectations. Stories that challenge a bit, surprise, perhaps make us laugh, or make us pause and think.
Against the grain can be about the friction that arises when different people's wills, values, and dreams collide, when the world moves in one direction and the individual in another. It can be about the imperfect, the provocative, and the vulnerable. Sometimes going against the grain is subtle, almost invisible, yet carries great power.
Against the grain is not about doing the opposite for the sake of it, but about making a conscious choice. Often, it is precisely the going against the grain that opens doors to change, new worlds, and unexpected perspectives.
Against the grain can also be a way of storytelling, breaking traditional forms, mixing genres, turning the gaze in new directions, or giving voice to the untold. It can be humorous, uncomfortable, and absurd.
How to apply:
Email a description of the performance along with images and video material, as well as information about technical requirements, performance length, and fee (price). All submissions must include some form of video documentation. For productions that have already premiered, we would like to receive a complete recorded version.
If the production is still in development, it is acceptable to attach a video from a similar work by the same storyteller or workgroup, or a newly recorded excerpt. A short video recording on a phone may be sufficient, if it gives a clear picture of the narration style and other important aesthetic elements.
Program proposals will be reviewed by the Storytelling Festival’s program committee. Selection is based on artistic quality, variety, practical feasibility, and relevance to this year’s theme. Budgetary and organizational factors are also considered. Interdisciplinary projects are encouraged, but proposals where oral storytelling is not a clear and central part will not be given priority.
Please submit your program proposal by email to: malin.aberg@vasterbottensteatern.se
About Västerbotten Theatre
Västerbotten Theatre is a regional theatre based in Skellefteå. The theatre produces 8–10 new productions each year and performs approximately 400–500 shows annually in Skellefteå, Umeå, and on tour in the region. The theatre values and draws inspiration from Västerbotten’s rich and living tradition of storytelling. The single largest activity for Västerbotten Theatre in storytelling is the annual Storytelling Festival in Skellefteå, which is organized in collaboration with numerous local actors, featuring events throughout the Skellefteå municipality for one week.
