Axel Otto Normann
Encyclopedia
Axel Otto Normann was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor, theatre critic and theatre director.
He was born in Fredrikstad
as the son of a wholesaler. He finished
his secondary education in 1901, and studied philology
at the University of Kristiania
and for half a year at Sorbonne University, but without graduating. Instead, he started a career in journalism. In 1905 he was hired as subeditor in the newspaper Posten; he was chief editor briefly in 1907. In 1910 he married actress Helene Andersen (1881–1955). He was a journalist in Aftenposten
from 1907 to 1915 and editor-in-chief for Verdens Gang
from 1915 to 1922. In 1922, one year before Verdens Gang went defunct, he left Norway for France
, but continued to write for Norwegian newspapers and magazines. In 1927 he was among the founders of the Norwegian Theatre and Art Critics' Association
. In 1929 he returned to Norway as a theatre critic of Arbeiderbladet. He biographed actress Johanne Dybwad
in the 1937 book Johanne Dybwad. Liv og kunst. He also contributed to the women's magazine Urd.
He was theatre director at the National Theatre
from 1935 to 1941, and again from 1945 to 1946. The reason for his hiatus was the German occupation of Norway. The occupation started on 9 April 1940, whereas the attempts of nazification came somewhat later. Non-cooperative members of the National Theatre board of directors—literary historian Francis Bull
, publisher Harald Grieg
and banker Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
—were arrested by the Nazi authorities in 1941. With a new, Nazi-friendly board in place, Normann chose to resign as director, returning only after the liberation of Norway
in 1945. He had also chaired the Association of Norwegian Theatre Directors
from 1936 to 1941, but did not return to this position. He was theatre director for Det Nye Teater
from 1947, and for Oslo Nye Teater
from 1959 to his death. In 1954 he released his second and last book, editing the festschrift
for the 25th anniversary of Det Nye Teater.
Normann was highly decorated. He became a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1951, and was a Knight of the Swedish Order of Vasa
, Knight of the Belgian Order of Leopold, Commander of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
, Commander of the Finnish Order of the Lion
and Officer of the French Légion d'honneur
. He died in May 1962 in Oslo.
He was born in Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
as the son of a wholesaler. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1901, and studied philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
at the University of Kristiania
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
and for half a year at Sorbonne University, but without graduating. Instead, he started a career in journalism. In 1905 he was hired as subeditor in the newspaper Posten; he was chief editor briefly in 1907. In 1910 he married actress Helene Andersen (1881–1955). He was a journalist in Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
from 1907 to 1915 and editor-in-chief for Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang (1868-1923 newspaper)
Verdens Gang is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1868 to 1923.It was established as a weekly magazine in 1868, later expanded to three issues a week, and was issued daily from 1885. It was the most widespread political newspaper in Norway for many years, and had considerable...
from 1915 to 1922. In 1922, one year before Verdens Gang went defunct, he left Norway for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but continued to write for Norwegian newspapers and magazines. In 1927 he was among the founders of the Norwegian Theatre and Art Critics' Association
Norwegian Critics' Association
The Norwegian Critics' Association is an organization for Norwegian critics in the newspaper and broadcasting professions....
. In 1929 he returned to Norway as a theatre critic of Arbeiderbladet. He biographed actress Johanne Dybwad
Johanne Dybwad (actor)
Johanne Dybwad was a Norwegian stage actress and stage producer. She was the leading actress in Norwegian theatre for half a century.-Early and personal life:...
in the 1937 book Johanne Dybwad. Liv og kunst. He also contributed to the women's magazine Urd.
He was theatre director at the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
from 1935 to 1941, and again from 1945 to 1946. The reason for his hiatus was the German occupation of Norway. The occupation started on 9 April 1940, whereas the attempts of nazification came somewhat later. Non-cooperative members of the National Theatre board of directors—literary historian Francis Bull
Francis Bull
Francis Bull was a Norwegian literary historian, professor at the University of Oslo for more than thirty years, essayist and speaker, and magazine editor.-Early and personal life:...
, publisher Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher.He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces during the German occupation of Norway...
and banker Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Mathias Sejersted Bødtker CBE was a Norwegian banker, art collector and patron of the arts.-Early and personal life:...
—were arrested by the Nazi authorities in 1941. With a new, Nazi-friendly board in place, Normann chose to resign as director, returning only after the liberation of Norway
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
in 1945. He had also chaired the Association of Norwegian Theatre Directors
Association of Norwegian Theatres and Orchestras
The Association of Norwegian Theatres and Orchestras is an employers' organisation in Norway for theatre and symphony orchestra institutions.-Organization:...
from 1936 to 1941, but did not return to this position. He was theatre director for Det Nye Teater
Det Nye Teater
Det Nye Teater was a theatre that opened in Oslo in 1929, and ended as an independent theatre in 1959, when it merged with Folketeatret to form Oslo Nye Teater. The theatre's original purpose was to support contemporary Norwegian drama.-History:...
from 1947, and for Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
from 1959 to his death. In 1954 he released his second and last book, editing the festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
for the 25th anniversary of Det Nye Teater.
Normann was highly decorated. He became a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1951, and was a Knight of the Swedish Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
, Knight of the Belgian Order of Leopold, Commander of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, Commander of the Finnish Order of the Lion
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
and Officer of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He died in May 1962 in Oslo.