Actor
The course for those who want:
- To become a better actor and live out your dreams
- Learning from professional actors at Nordland Theatre
- To combine theater and film and gain a lot of acting experience
- To get inspired, make new friends and experience Japan
Hear from former students
Camilla Saxhaug
At Toppen I learned how to step out of my comfort zone, get to know new people and how to relate to people who may not be quite like you! I learned to become more confident in myself in front of an audience. It has come in handy in my journalism education and the job I have had in TV2, where I am, among other things, in front of a camera a lot and communicates to many people!
Amalie Bjerkenes
I have learned a lot about communication and dissemination, being safe in myself, management, work creatively and LOTS about collaboration and relationship building. It comes in handy in my education as a teacher. I learned SO much about myself and I got relationships that I will last all my life.
I came from a small place and grew up with the same people around me. Moving far away, starting a theatre line (which I had never done before) and starting at a folk high school, I would never have missed out.
Josephine Kiara Astrup
If there is one place in my life that I have experienced being able to really let myself loose, it was on the theatre line at Vefsn Folkehøgskole. It was a year of incredible amounts of play, learning, collaboration and creativity. With the world's best teachers and amazing friends, we created our unique stage expressions and grew together in a wonderful bubble of laughter, fun, development. And in a school where there is also room to try other things, whatever that may be. One sanctuary, one place to belong.
Course content
At Toppen, we take democracy seriously, and it is in shaping our activity. Nevertheless, we have a few topics that are our very heart:
Felles
Common
Autumn
Spring
We play, practice and explore body, voice and mimicry. Having fun and feeling comfortable on stage is the goal. Good interaction, creativity and joy of playing are important to become a good and credible actor. Here you get to develop in a safe and stimulating environment.
In the context of the script, we work on interpreting, understanding and developing the play's themes and characters. This is an exciting phase for reflection and creative artistic choices. We also learn a lot about ourselves in the process.
When we improvise, everything is allowed! Letting go of the fear of making mistakes is hugely liberating and gives you greater peace of mind both on stage and in life. Here there is a lot of laughter and joy playing on the floor.
In performance, we explore artistic means and create performances where everything is allowed. You will have the opportunity to go deeper into topics that interest you. Or just make something really exciting and weird.
How can you develop to become more open to your own and others' ideas? How to tell a story? In this course, you get great tools to be able to take new paths and make resilient choices.
Together with experienced directors, we explore film and film acting. Sometimes take part in the whole production, other times we're in as actors.
Throughout the year, we try to take part in as many workshops and courses as possible, in order to open up new impulses. It can be drag make-up, theatre sports, street art, Method Acting, stage technique, voice use, improvisation, acting technique, etc. Sometimes we use actors at Nordland Theatre, other courses can be obtained from freelancers or course holders from HATS (Tromsø).
You get a basic course with basic theater makeup, character makeup and some special makeup according to your level and wishes. This is an oasis for creative exploration of facial features and how to strengthen character traits with the help of makeup. Henry Mortensen also comes to give us insight into glam and drag makeup, which is really exciting. Makeup rooms are always available if you want to do it yourself.
We have a unique collaboration with Nordland Theatre, and can give our students an insight into the professional acting world. The theatre is located at Mo i Rana, an hour's drive from the school. Here we get to come and see performances, meet staff and actors, get inside productions and have workshops and teaching. Nordland Theatre also hosts the Winter Light Festival every year, a theatre festival where people can revel in entertainment and perhaps get to play theatre themselves.
A good and open class environment where everyone wants each other well is the best basis for well-being and artistic development. Therefore, it is important for us that everyone contributes positively in class and spreads good vibes and good attitudes. Here you will make friends for life and a wonderful year together. We teachers promise to give everything for maximum well-being and benefit!
Going on tour with a show we are proud of gives an insanely good feeling! It is also instructive, both in terms of playing experience, but also tour planning and marketing. In recent years we have played shows in Nordland and Trøndelag.
At school we have:
- stage
- Blackbox
- dressing rooms and wardrobes
- rehearsal room
- costume warehouse
- prop stock
- A lot of exciting scripts
As a student of theatre we can solve most things, if we are familiar with what your challenges are before you arrive. The classroom we use most is accessible only by stairs. We do not have an elevator available and you need to be able to get around the buildings/areas yourself. We work a lot with interaction and if you have a vision/hearing impairment, you need to have adapted aids in order for you to participate in this ithe best way. The school has not installed aids for this at this time. We work a lot with body/expression/movement. If you need the opportunity to retire for rest/recovery during the day, or need other arrangements, please let us know. Most of it can be done with good will and a bit of effort.
- Registration fee: NOK 2,700, -
- Living costs: NOK 95.922, - Covers food and living expenses for the full school year.
- Common costs: NOK 10,300, - Includes community excursions/cinema/performances/concerts, laundry, internet and administrationcosts. Included you also get a school jacket, a yearbook and various tripslocally.
- Line costs cover all costs on the individual line, including material and study trip. The price varies somewhat between the courses.
Full Year 2026-27
kr. 147.872, -*
Half-year Fall 2026
DKK 61.286, -
Half-year Spring 2027
kr. 89.286, -*
* Including line trip and possible participation in tour rings. Subject to changes.
Miscellaneous additions:
- Those who choose to live in the newer boarding houses payNOK 5000, - more
- Special diet
- Equipment insurance
- Some electives and voluntery trips
If you have Norwegian citizenship, Lånekassen has excellent scholarship schemes and loan opportunities. If you quit school during the school year, you must pay tuition for 6 weeks from the end date. This also applies if you were to be expelled for violating school rules.
We don't have too many criteria for who can apply, but you have to be 18 years old or become so during the first semester. You can apply from October 1 to next year's courses and we are admitting students on an ongoing basis from November 15. Then you will receive an email from us with a response to the application. We will continue to admit students until the school are filled. In some cases, the composition of the line will determine whether you can fit or have to be put on a waiting list. For example,the composition of instruments may be of importance. If there are more applicants for a line than there is room for, your applicant number will determine whether or not you get an offer. In some cases, gender balance will have an impact.
Line teachers usually contact those who apply. Then you can get to know each other a little better and find out if you have found the course that suits you best. Maybe you have some questions, are unsecure or have something you want to tell us about yourself.
The line trip goes to...
JAPAN
We travel to wonderful Japan. The country has a rich theatrical tradition (Noh, Kabuki, Bunraku) and a modern film industry, and a wonderfully exciting culture that embraces both new and old. We start in the capital Tokyo, where we really get to know the metropolis and the futuristic elements that this city has in it. Tokyo is known for advanced technology and is a global center for innovation. There is always something new and exciting coming out of Norway that we have never seen before. In addition to letting Japanese culture sink in, we take the time to be inspired by both theater and film.
We travel further with the high-speed Shinkansen, which is proof of Japanese high technology and an experience in itself. In the ancient capital of Kyoto, the combination of hyper-modern and historical culture is unique, with opportunities to experience Kabuki theater, anime studios, film festivals, and traditional Japanese culture.
On the plan will be a good mix of experiences: theater performances, film studios, cosplay culture, workshops in traditional theater arts, and explore temples and historical sites. How about watching a non-verbal performance by Gear Theatre Kyoto, after a meal of Japanese Sushi or Ramen? Visit a temple and end the day with a real Tea ceremony? There are temples everywhere in Kyoto. In fact, this ancient city has almost 1600 temples, so the challenge is to decide which ones to visit.
On the line you will get to know better:
Nordland Teater
Kursholdere på linja Skuespiller
Apply to Vefsn Folkehøgskole
Line teacher
Brit is our acting teacher and thinks she has the best job in the world! She has a teacher education and studied drama/theatre at NTNU. After many years in the industry, she has coveted experience and is widely used as a director on various projects and performances. Brit is fond of people, and always finds an opportunity to strike up a chat. She is involved in most things at Toppen, and in the cultural life of Mosjøen, with music, revue — and theatre productions. Brit is lively, bubbly and thoughtful. She is imaginative and committed, and loves to realize exciting projects on stage.