It feels like coming home. I have been there for 32 summers, even during the pandemic. Fredriksdal is close to my heart, she says.
Eva Rydberg's farewell performance, summer 2026, will thus take place at Fredriksdalsteatern. The outdoor theater in Helsingborg has for decades been closely associated with the theater profile who led the business from 1994 to 2023. When the contract ended in 2023, Rydberg moved her business to Sundspärlan in the same city.
”Saved me”
I am very grateful to Sundspärlan, they saved me in some way, when I was very sad and down, says Eva Rydberg.
She has previously expressed disappointment over how the collaboration with Helsingborg City ended in 2023 when she had to leave Fredriksdalsteatern. But now Eva Rydberg feels that she has got redress.
I was called to a meeting with the municipal director. That meeting was completely decisive – she encouraged me in a very positive way. After that, I said yes directly, says Eva Rydberg.
Claes Malmberg takes over
Now Helsingborg City has signed a four-year agreement for the operation of Fredrikdalsteatern – with some of those who previously ran Sundspärlan. Claes Malmberg becomes the new artistic leader of the theater.
How does it feel that Claes Malmberg takes over?
Yes, but it's me who wanted it, because I've noticed that he has the same kind of love for the job that I also had, says Eva Rydberg.
For Claes Malmberg, it feels good but challenging to take over the helm. His ambition is to continue in Nils Poppe's and Eva Rydberg's footsteps.
Now it feels mainly nice to give Eva Rydberg the opportunity to end her career at the theater she has been in for over 30 years. Then we'll take the next step after the summer, he says.
In 1966, Fredriksdal's outdoor theater became nationally known with Nils Poppe, who was both manager and actor at the theater in Helsingborg.
1994–2023, Eva Rydberg ran the theater.
In 2023, Rydberg was told that she could not continue at Fredriksdal. She then moved the business to Sundspärlan, in the same city.
In 2024, the company Anagram took over the theater and signed a four-year agreement with Helsingborg City, which was terminated prematurely, among other things due to competition from Sundspärlan.
In 2025, during the summer, the production company Dröse & Norberg took over the operation. The municipality initiated a new procurement regarding which actor should take over the theater in 2025-2029, but received no bids.
In September, Claes Malmberg made a statement where he said that Rydberg should be allowed to put up her last performance at Fredriksdalsteatern. Shortly thereafter, a meeting with Helsingborg City was booked.
On October 12, Helsingborg City announced that Eva Rydberg will return to Fredriksdalsteatern in the summer of 2026 for a final performance. Thereafter, Claes Malmberg will become the artistic leader of the theater. Behind the company that will run the theater in 2025–2029 are several profiles from Sundspärlan.
Source: Helsingborg City and Helsingborgs Dagblad.
