Olav Hoprekstad
Encyclopedia
Olav Ragnvaldsson Hoprekstad (4 April 1875 – 19 August 1965) was a Norwegian educator, playwright
, theatre critic and literary critic.
, Nordre Bergenhus
as the son of farmer Ragnvald Olsen Hopperstad and Ragnhild Eriksdotter Hønsi. He was married to Signe Valebjørg from 1902. He died in Bergen
in August 1965.
in 1895. He worked as a teacher in Bergen from 1899. From 1927 he was headmaster at the primary school at Møhlenpris
in Bergen, and later at the Fridalen
primary school. He was a theatre critic and literary critc for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
from 1913 to 1940, and for Gula Tidend
from 1949 to 1965.
His play Bjørnefjell, written in 1907, was among the opening repertoire at Det Norske Teatret
in 1913. His play Friarar was staged later in 1913, Eli Sjo in 1916, Bjørgedal in 1919, Straumen in 1922, Trollebotn in 1925, Veslelorden in 1931, and Berstein på Strondi in 1940. His plays have also been staged at Den Nationale Scene
and at the Comedy theatre in Bergen. He was a board member of the teachers' union Norges Lærerlag from 1917 to 1946. During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he was involved in the teachers' development of a strong attitude against nazification of schools. In 1946 he published the book Frå lærarstriden, with events from the war period. He wrote books about the history of education in Bergen, and was principal editor of the three volumes Bygdabok for Vik i Sogn. He was a proponent for Nynorsk language, and a board member of the society Noregs Mållag
for many years. He was a board member of Det Norske Teatret from 1948 to 1963. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1963.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, theatre critic and literary critic.
Personal life
Hoprekstad was born in VikVik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
, Nordre Bergenhus
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
as the son of farmer Ragnvald Olsen Hopperstad and Ragnhild Eriksdotter Hønsi. He was married to Signe Valebjørg from 1902. He died in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in August 1965.
Career
Hoprekstad graduated from the teachers' college in HamarHamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
in 1895. He worked as a teacher in Bergen from 1899. From 1927 he was headmaster at the primary school at Møhlenpris
Møhlenpris
Møhlenpris, formerly Vestre Sydnes, is a neighbourhood in the city of Bergen, Norway, located next to the Puddefjord. The neighbourhood is named after Jørgen Thor Møhlen, who established some industry at Møhlenpris in the late 17th century...
in Bergen, and later at the Fridalen
Fridalen
Fridalen is a neighborhood in the borough of Årstad in Bergen, Norway.The neighborhood lies at the foot of mount Ulriken, between Haukeland and Landås. The main attraction is Brann Stadion.-References:...
primary school. He was a theatre critic and literary critc for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende is Norway's fourth largest newspaper and largest newspaper outside Oslo, with a circulation of about 87,000 copies . Founded in 1868, it is a Norwegian-language newspaper published daily in Bergen. It reaches approximately 260,000 readers every day , mainly in the counties of...
from 1913 to 1940, and for Gula Tidend
Gula Tidend
Gula Tidend is a former Norwegian newspaper. It was established in 1904 by Johannes Lavik, and disestablished in 1996. The newspaper was a proponent for the Nynorsk language in Western Norway, located in Bergen....
from 1949 to 1965.
His play Bjørnefjell, written in 1907, was among the opening repertoire at Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret is a theatre in Oslo. The theatre was founded in 1912, after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs. It opened in 1913, touring with two plays, Ervingen by Ivar Aasen and Rationelt Fjøsstell by Hulda Garborg...
in 1913. His play Friarar was staged later in 1913, Eli Sjo in 1916, Bjørgedal in 1919, Straumen in 1922, Trollebotn in 1925, Veslelorden in 1931, and Berstein på Strondi in 1940. His plays have also been staged at Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
and at the Comedy theatre in Bergen. He was a board member of the teachers' union Norges Lærerlag from 1917 to 1946. During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was involved in the teachers' development of a strong attitude against nazification of schools. In 1946 he published the book Frå lærarstriden, with events from the war period. He wrote books about the history of education in Bergen, and was principal editor of the three volumes Bygdabok for Vik i Sogn. He was a proponent for Nynorsk language, and a board member of the society Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag is the main organisation for Norwegian Nynorsk , one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language. In the Norwegian language struggle, it advocates the use of Nynorsk...
for many years. He was a board member of Det Norske Teatret from 1948 to 1963. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1963.