The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: ) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia. It is bordered by Norway in the west, Finland in the northeast, the Skagerrak Strait and the Kattegat Strait in the southwest, and the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia in the east. Sweden has a low population density except in its Metropolitan areas of Sweden, with most of the inland consisting of forests. The country has large natural resources of water, timber, and iron ore. Its citizens enjoy a high standard of living in a country that is generally perceived as clean, modern, and liberal.

Following the end of the Viking Age, Sweden became part of the Kalmar Union together with Denmark and Norway (Finland at this time was a part of the Swedish kingdom). Sweden left the union in the beginning of the 16th century, and more or less constantly battled its neighbours for many years, especially Russia and the still united Denmark-Norway, which never completely accepted Sweden leaving the union. In the 17th and 18th centuries Sweden extended its territory through warfare and became a Great Power, twice its current size. By 1814 Sweden had lost its empire as well as Finland, previously an integral part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Since 1814, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime.

Sweden had been a major European exporter of iron, copper and timber since the middle ages. However, improved transportation and communication allowed it to utilize natural assets from different parts of the country on a far larger scale, most notably timber and iron ore. Economic liberalization as well as universal schooling contributed to the rapid industrialization and by the 1890s the country had begun to develop an advanced manufacturing industry. In the 20th century a welfare state began to emerge. Today, Sweden is a generally considered a modern post-industrial country dominated by social liberal political ideas.

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ArtsJournal: Daily Arts News - Theatre

Can Theatre Go Green?
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:26:23 -0800
"It seems that it has only been relatively recently that the environment has become a concern for theatremakers. Perhaps this is not surprising. The science and politics involved tend to feel quite abstract and the consequences of climate change still feel far off, so it can be difficult to humanise all this in a way that will work on stage. So how, then, do you best tackle this issue?"...
All About Busking, A To Z
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:51:24 -0800
The best place to be a street performer: "North America, because people there embrace the circus culture and live performance, and they're used to tipping. In the U.K. they'll pay if you make them laugh. In Australia, where tipping isn't a common practice, you have to put on an exhibition of great skill before they'll part with money. You can earn a lot in Japan, but it costs so much to live there, it's almost not worthwhile. Canadians are generous and kind..."...
Seattle's Intiman Theatre Hires New Managing Director
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:30:17 -0800
"Brian Colburn, managing director of the Pasadena Playhouse in California, has been hired as the new manager of Seattle's Tony Award-winning Intiman Theatre. Colburn, who has worked at Pasadena Playhouse since 1997, will replace Intiman longtime former manager Laura Penn, who left earlier this year to head up the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers union."...
When Plays Get Revived
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:37:11 -0800
"Theatre in this country is currently preoccupied with a cult of virginity, with new plays premiered and discarded in rapid succession; far more than it is in nurturing a contemporary repertoire that will sustain modern playwriting long-term. This is a shame: our theatre is the envy of the world, and has a back catalogue of contemporary plays more valued overseas than they are here."...
Broadway Godspell Revival Put Back On The Shelf
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:33:08 -0800
"A Broadway revival of Godspell, the 1971 Stephen Schwartz pop musical, has been canceled because the producers came up short on the show's $4.5 million capitalization. An uncertain economic outlook has made many Broadway investors skittish."...
Reinventing London's Donmar Warehouse (At Great Risk)
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:50:26 -0800
It's an ambitious project - the company will present A-list actors. "Astonishingly, they will be presented at Donmar, not West End, prices - with 130 seats a night at £10 and a top price of £32.50. This is possible only because every actor involved has agreed to take £750 a week, which is up on the Donmar's normal salary of £415 but well below commercial rates. It means that far from being a moneyraiser, the theatre will have to sell 80 per cent of the 750-seat auditorium every night to break even. The economics are, frankly, barmy."...

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