Two new board members
January 19, 2026
Elin Schjenken Halvorsen and Ahmed Fawad Ashraf joined the board of Kloden theatre at the turn of the year. Schjenken Halvorsen is the general manager of Hovinbyen Sirkulære Oslo, and Ashraf is the debate editor at Avisa Oslo. Get to know them better!
Elin Schjenken Halvorsen
What do you think about becoming part of the board of Kloden Teater?
– Kloden The theater is an important part of the Hovinbyen Circular Oslo innovation district, which I am already working on, and an important contribution to making urban development holistic for the residents.
For me, being on the board is about ensuring that culture has a real place in Norway's largest urban development project and that the urban area receives a very important offer for children, young people and its broad audience.
What relationship do you have with Kloden theater from before?
– I have followed Kloden theatre as an important player in the development of the area, especially with its clear focus on children and young people. Kloden represents exactly the kind of content that makes new urban areas vibrant, attractive and inclusive.
How do you envision the development of Kloden Teater over the next 5 years?
– I see myself Kloden as a fully developed theater house with stable operations and strong roots in the innovation district, and as a natural cultural offering for children, young people and families in the area, and throughout the city.
Where do you see the greatest potential for the Kloden Teater theatre?
– The greatest potential lies in the interaction between art, urban development and new collaborations, especially with the business community that is already part of the innovation district. Kloden can become a clear example of how culture and established business strengthen each other.
What do you envision contributing as a board member?
– I contribute experience from strategic development, partnerships and collaboration across sectors, through my work in Hovinbyen Circular Oslo. In particular, I want to contribute to building broad support structures around Kloden theater that ensures operation over time, as well as visible and clear communication with a strong identity.
Ahmed Fawad Ashraf
What do you think about becoming a part of? Kloden theater's board?
– I consider it a privilege to be a part of that Kloden theatre's board. The theatre house will be one of the big stages in Oslo East. It is good for the area, and for the whole city in general, that the house has secured an opening in a year. I think it is very fun and interesting that an old former industrial workplace will become a large room for children and young people.
What relationships do you have with Kloden theater from before?
– We have debates about the area and its development in Avisa Oslo, so in that way I am well acquainted with the urban development that Kloden theatre is a part of. I saw the performance Ubuntu by Guro Sibeko this summer, it was a great opportunity to experience Pilotscenen and see a rehearsal. There are a lot of good things coming to Økern and the surrounding area at the moment, and Kloden Theatre is an important part of that.
How do you envision the development of Kloden theater in the next 5 years?
– I see a development there Kloden The theater is established with good finances, so that the house can be filled with content so that people in the neighborhood and the whole city will come here.
It is more important than ever to have meeting places where people of all ages, especially young people, can gather to just be and have an informal time.
– In Oslo, we are in a situation where the city council is going to save money and the districts are having to cut services and offerings. That is why it is a real ray of hope that Kloden The theater has such an ambition for its place.
What do you envision contributing as a board member?
– I will be involved in contributing to Kloden theatre has a stable operation, is a place where people want to be, and a place that creates talents by allowing young people to express themselves. Not everyone knows that they have an interest in art and culture until they are exposed to it, and they get that exposure on Kloden theater. I want to be involved in doing Kloden theatre into a place where people from all backgrounds and abilities want to be, including through a good program, and good offers outside the program as well.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
– I live in Oslo now, grew up in Haslum and Høvik and have been a journalist for 20 years in NRK, Aftenposten and VG. Since 2021 I have been a debate editor in Avisa Oslo. Once in my life I was actually a budding actor! I did theater and revue at school, but then I grew up and realized that here there are many talents fighting for the same places, so I had to choose a different path.
Kloden Teater is very happy to welcome Elin and Fawad, and we look forward to everything we will achieve together!