“It’s clear that it’s sad, but at the same time I think it’s going to be so nice”
Published 2026-05-05 14.04
Eva Rydberg welcomes you to her final summer at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg.
At 82 years old, she has decided that it will be her last – but her career is not over.
– It’s something that’s going on, she says confidentially.
But first a summer with the farce “Hjälten från Öresund”, there Eva Rydberg plays Ester, the wife of a cheerful seed merchant (Claes Malmberg) who is suddenly getting married.
This completes the circle, notes Rydberg, for when she played against the legendary in the summer of 1993 Nils Poppe at Fredriksdal it was precisely in the role of housing. The following year she took over from Poppe as theater manager and since then every single summer has been booked.
– I got to do what I love. I love my profession way too much. It’s this thing about hearing people laugh. I don’t care much for applause, but laughter.
Financial security
For Eva Rydberg, the summer theater has also meant financial security which has meant that she has not had to skip any assignments. But it is not something she has become rich from, she underlines. She herself is satisfied if she can manage.
– I always say that money is like energy: it comes and goes.
The baton has already been passed to Claes Malmberg, who has taken over the role of artistic director. He is careful not to change too much – basically the audience should recognize themselves at Fredriksdal.
But how will things go without Eva Rydberg?
– If it worked without Poppe, then… it works. Everything changes, says Claes Malmberg.
Eva Rydberg’s best advice to the successor is to listen carefully to the employees.
– You have to be humble, I think, and play what the audience wants. That is the most important thing.
Eva Rydberg has full confidence in her successor. She also hopes that the daughter Birgitta Rydberg will take a bigger place as “the funny girl on stage”. She sees a lot of herself in her daughter.
– Yes, I do, although sometimes I think she’s even funnier.
Leaving dear colleagues at the end of the summer will be sad.
– It is clear that it is sad, but at the same time I think it will be so nice. I just feel it’s good. That’s enough now.
“The hero from Öresund”
The comedy of confusion “Hjälten från Öresund” will be Eva Rydberg’s last performance at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg.
It was written in 1926 by Franz Arnold and Ernst Bach and was originally called “Der kühne Schwimmer” (“The Daring Swimmer”).
The music is newly created and the plot is set in Helsingborg in 1966. Anders Aldgård directs and he has also edited the script together with Niklas Holtne.
The ensemble features Eva Rydberg, Claes Malmberg, Mathilde Simonsen Hebrand, Birgitta Rydberg, Robert Rydberg, Fredrik Dolk and others.
The performance is given from June 12 to August 16.
