Best Of Reykjavík Activities 2024: Best Theatre

You’ve had your five a day (veggies/beers/panic attacks), now you gotta stay active. Whether it’s to get a dose of culture, hopping on a day tour or splashing around in your municipal pool, you can’t go wrong with our picks for Best Activities.

Best Theatre

Tjarnarbíó

Tjarnargata 12, 101 Reykjavík

For the second year in a row, we are happy to give the title of Best™ to this little theatre that could. Tjarnarbíó is located right in the city centre (right across the street from city hall) and, in addition to staging regular performances in English, it continues to put on a staggering number of shows for an independent theatre, consistently catering to different tastes and talents. Recent productions have included everything from a show on cannibal Armin Meiwes to comedy musicals and meditations on ageing. As if that wasn’t enough, 2023 also saw Tjarnarbíó cement itself as a haven for standup comedy and fringe performance art in Iceland.

Runner-Up:

Borgarleikhúsið (The Reykjavík City Theatre)

Listabraut 3 Reykjavík

Photo by Art Bicnick

There really are only three professional theatres in Reykjavík, with the third being Þjóðleikhúsið (the National Theatre). While Þjóðleikhúsið enjoys state funding, those krónas come with stricter frameworks about the kind of productions they can pursue. Borgarleikhúsið gets to be the rambunctious younger sibling and tackle current affairs and dive headfirst into social issues with some truly impressive shows this year. The panel noted more impromptu pieces like the worldwide performance of the Gaza Monologues as well as new Icelandic plays like Með Guð í Vasanum, a tragicomic piece on the battle with Alzheimers. The downside is that shows are primarily in Icelandic but this really is the pinnacle of the theatre scene in Iceland, where ambitious shows combine with a large stage and top of the line sound system.

Runner-Up:

Þjóðleikhúsið

Hverfisgata 19

The National Theatre is an institution. While the works they stage aren’t usually in English, they’re top notch. If you’re learning Icelandic and want something cultural to do with the kids, you can’t go wrong with the children’s theatre productions staged at Þjóðleikhúsið. Plus, it’s a stunning old theatre, with all the mahogany panelling and red velvet draperies you could dream of. So even if the Icelandic productions aren’t your thing, consider stopping by to gawk at the architecture.

Previous Winners

2023: Tjarnarbíó