If not now, when?Hvis ikke nu, hvornår så?

Renæssance places the story of the older woman centre stage. Here, ten female actors aged 67 and above take over the stage at Nørrebro Teater in an honest, powerful, and unrestrained exploration of their lives as they are lived today. What does it mean to be a woman at that age in a society that celebrates youth and renewal?

Renæssance is a performance about holding on to one’s worth and strength, and about insisting on occupying a meaningful place in society. With this production, Nørrebro Teater seeks to narrow the gap between the narratives that media and fiction present about older women—and the stories these women tell about their own lives.

Director and playwright Kamilla Wargo Brekling transforms the ten performers’ own experiences, reflections, dreams, and visions into the foundation of the production’s dramaturgy and text. In the winter of 2025, a series of conversation salons was also held with women of retirement age, whose stories form a vital part of the performance’s framework.

Alberte Winding and Andreas Fuglebæk compose the music and songs, while Karin Gille is responsible for set and costume design.

Welcome to a true celebration of the mature woman.

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SPECIAL PROGRAMME

In connection with Renaissance, we present a special programme designed to explore the themes of the performance and foster meaningful connections. Through talks, conversations, and life drawing sessions, audiences are invited to engage in dialogues about ageing, generations, and representation—with the mature woman at the centre.

5 March at 5.00 pm
Former Minister of Culture and chemical engineer Jytte Hilden and author Puk Qvortrup present their new portrait book “I Never Apologise”. The conversation will revolve around Hilden’s experiences with depression and psychological vulnerability—and how, with unwavering optimism, she has found her footing time and again.
Read more here.

8 March 2026 at 11.00 am
Mette Vibe Utzon invites participants to intergenerational encounters, offering tools for asking meaningful questions about lived lives across age groups. Bring an older role model or take a younger loved one by the hand, and learn how to engage one another with care and curiosity.
Read more here.

12 March and 19 March at 4.30 pm
Life drawing sessions facilitated by drawing host Helle Mie Hellesen, focusing on the mature female body.
Read more here.

20 March at 11.00 am
A conversation salon exploring the themes of the performance, beginning with an introduction by actors Birgitte Raaberg and Marianne Mortensen from Renaissance, followed by a dialogue with the audience.
Read more here.

26 March at 5.45 pm
Introduction to the performance with actors Jannie Faurschou and Pia Rosenbaum.
Free of charge for audience members holding a ticket for that evening’s performance.

The show is in Danish.

The production Renæssance and its accompanying special programme are supported by Hoffmann og Husmans Fond, Overretssagfører L. Zeuthens Mindelegat, I.F. Lemvigh Müllers Fond and Fonden Ensomme Gamles Værn