SL is the Association of Independent Theatres in Iceland. The association is a grassroots organization, with around 60 members – some are operating all the time, some are not. Like anywhere the theatre groups come and go but a strong base of around 25 groups is now in place. There has been a big change in the Icelandic theatre scene in the last 10 years and the SL groups are becoming stronger and stronger. In the year 2006-2007 over 255.000 people saw performances from the SL groups in Iceland and abroad. That is a huge part of the overall attendance to the theatres in Iceland. Members of SL have been a strong force in new writing for theatres in Iceland. In recent years SL members have produced new plays that the Icelandic public wants to see. Big part of the working field for Independent groups is touring in Iceland and abroad. SL has seen great successes in recent years and last year the independent groups scooped up most of the major prizes at the Icelandic Drama Awards, Griman. SL has, on behalf of City of Reykjavik been operating for the last 13 years Tjarnarbíó – a theatre and cinema located at the centre of Reykjavik. Tjarnarbíó will be re-opened in 2010 after a major reconstruction that will change the possibilities and create a new platform for Independent theatres in Iceland in the near future.

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