Children's theatre, circus and cheerleading in Oslo

Vulkan, Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

Improvised theatre for children and youth at Det Andre Teatret - 'almost like a real theatre, just a bit more fun'. Through games and exercises the participants learn that it is fine to make mistakes, to listen to one another and to build stories on the spot without a script. Courses end with a small performance for family and friends.

ages 10-18

Voldsløkka og Schous kulturstasjon, Sagene

Improvised theatre for children and young people from ten to nineteen at Oslo municipal arts school. Voldsløkka has separate groups for years 5 to 7 and years 8 to 10, and at Schous culture station a group from year 8 to the final year of upper secondary meets every other Friday evening. Improv trains something different from regular theatre: thinking fast, saying yes to each other's ideas and building scenes without a script - useful far beyond the stage.

ages 10-18

Akersgata 38, Sentrum

Free song and dance company gathering children and young people aged 7 to 25 from every corner of the world and every district, creating performances where the participants' own cultural expressions are the raw material. Fargespill is an inclusive meeting place where everyone has something to contribute. Contact them via the link for rehearsal times.

ages 7-18

Ellingsrud, Alna

A free, low-threshold offering for children and young people who want to develop in singing, dance and acting, or simply make new friends. Note that places can be limited at times, so it is worth asking about availability before turning up.

ages 6-18

Oslo kulturskole, Sentrum

Oslo municipal arts school's own children's and youth theatre, working with Oslo Nye Teater and a range of professional actors and companies in the capital. Participants get to work with real stage artists and perform in proper theatre spaces, at the arts school's affordable price. Applications go through the municipality's shared portal.

ages 8-18

Voldsløkka, Sagene

The same weekly theatre programme from Oslo Culture School as at Manglerud, but at Voldsløkka kulturstasjon in Sagene. Theatre play, improvisation and stage performance for children aged five to twelve, as a year-round place.

ages 5-12

Damfaret, Østensjø

A locally run theatre where the children's own imagination and interests shape what gets made. The theatre is deliberately small: two groups of fifteen pupils each, with registration for half a year at a time. That means places are few, but also that each child is noticed. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-14

Persveien, Bjerke

A cheerleading club with training for children and teenagers at every level, from complete beginners to experienced athletes. Training builds strength, coordination and teamwork, and the club emphasises letting each person develop at their own pace. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Heimdalsgata 36, Grünerløkka

Weekly theatre school for children and young people aged 6 to 18, with ten age-banded groups on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Heimdalsgata. The groups carry electric names like Gnist (spark), Watt, Volt and Kortslutning (short circuit), and the aim is for theatre to be a creative, fun activity where students feel safe in the creative work. The fee is 1950 kroner per half year.

ages 6-18

Schous kulturstasjon, Grünerløkka

Oslo municipal arts school's theatre company for young people at Schous culture station, where the work sits at a higher level than the regular theatre groups and the aim is to create finished performances. Admission is by interview and a letter of motivation, so this is for young people who have already tried theatre and want to take it further.

ages 13-18

Bjørndal, Søndre Nordstrand

A theatre group in Bjørndal for children and young people aged nine to fifteen, run by parents as a voluntary organisation. The ensemble has around seventeen actors at a time and stages its own productions with outside directors. Suits those who want to do theatre regularly through the year, not just try it once.

ages 9-15

Ullernbanen, Ullern

Ullern IF has its own cheerleading section, a fast-paced team sport combining acrobatics, dance and gymnastics elements for shows and competition. The club welcomes children and youth, and for the very youngest there's an all-sports programme as a gentle way in. A niche that builds strength, rhythm and teamwork.

ages 6-18

Mortensrud, Søndre Nordstrand

A volunteer-run contemporary circus school for children and youth at Mortensrud, started in 2022 in partnership with Cirkus Xanti. Children learn aerial acrobatics, juggling, acrobatics and unicycling - a rare, creative niche that builds body control and confidence. It's free and for children aged 5-18 who live in the Søndre Nordstrand district.

ages 5-18

Oslo, Sentrum

Children's theatre and musical theatre in Oslo, with teaching that combines acting, singing and dance towards staged performances. Musical theatre is a good way in for children who like performing but find pure drama too narrow - here they get to use the whole range. Teaching runs in semesters with a performance as the goal.

ages 6-18

Voldsløkka kulturstasjon, Sagene

Musical theatre for children in years three to seven, taught on Mondays. The course combines acting, singing and dance, and ends in a performance on stage. For a child who likes all three, this is one activity rather than three.

ages 8-13

General Ruges vei, Østensjø

A volunteer-run and award-winning children's and youth theatre with around fifty performers aged 9 to 16, started in 1994. Each year the theatre stages a week-long festival at Bøler church, so there is a real production to work towards rather than just exercises. Being volunteer-run means parents are counted on. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 9-16

Hovinveien, Gamle Oslo

A parent-run circus theatre for children and young people aged 8 to 18, started in 2002. The group is open: there is no audition, and anyone who wants to can join as long as there is room. Smulene is split into three age groups, all training for an hour and a half every Monday. Training ranges from aerial and floor acrobatics to theatre exercises, taking in juggling, building pyramids and balancing on large balls. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 8-18

Manglerud, Østensjø

Weekly theatre classes for children aged five to twelve at Oslo Culture School, at Manglerud kulturstasjon. Children get theatre play, improvisation, characters, teamwork and stage performance, as a year-round place through the school year.

ages 5-12

Veitvethallen, Bjerke

Cheerleading for children and youth in the Bjerke district, with three squads: Nova-Stars (mini) ages 6-9, Stars (Peewee) ages 9-12 and Sparkels (youth +) from age 12. The two youngest squads train on Thursday evenings at Veitvethallen, while the oldest also trains on Mondays there and on Thursdays at the club's own LF hall on Østre Aker vei 90. The season follows the school year and starts in week 34 with open training sessions. The sport combines acrobatics, dance and gymnastics elements, and the squads compete. One of few cheerleading options in the east of the city.

ages 6-18

Tøyen kulturhus, Gamle Oslo

A theatre school for children and youth from age seven, run by Oslo Teatersenter in Tøyen kulturhus at Hasle. Through the year each group works playfully with acting, improvisation and teamwork, and puts on a performance shown at the Rampelys festival in May.

ages 7-18

Oslo, Sentrum

A children's and youth theatre where young people between 6 and 26 learn, create and perform theatre in collaboration with professional artists. The theatre works from a basis of Nynorsk and diversity, and participants take part in the whole process from idea to performance - not just learning lines.

ages 6-18