In a groundbreaking change for Danish performing arts, the Årets Reumert (Reumert of the Year) has decided to abolish gender-specific awards starting from the 2024 ceremony. This change means that the awards for Actor of the Year and Supporting Actor of the Year will now be gender-neutral, reflecting a broader trend in the theater world towards more inclusive practices.
Rie Hammer, chairperson of the Reumert jury and editor-in-chief of Iscene.dk, explained that the change is a response to the development seen in society and on theater stages, where gender is no longer a determining factor for casting roles. “It would be absurd to exclude some performing artists because they do not define themselves within traditional gender categories,” says Hammer.
This approach is not unique to Denmark. In Norway, the Heddaprisen (Hedda Award), a similar award in the field of performing arts, also eliminated gender-separated categories in 2023, marking a Nordic movement towards greater gender neutrality in artistic awards.
In addition to the gender-neutral awards, Årets Reumert also introduces two new award categories: Collaboration of the Year and Solo Performance of the Year. These awards are designed to recognize unique performances in collaboration between performing artists as well as outstanding solo acts. “A special collaboration can elevate a work to a whole different level, and it is important to acknowledge this,” emphasizes Hammer.
The Årets Reumert 2024 will take place on June 20 at the Odeon cultural center in Odense, and although the nominees have not yet been announced, it is expected to be an event that both celebrates and challenges the traditional understanding of performing arts.
With these changes, the organizers behind Årets Reumert, CPH STAGE and Dansk Teater (Danish Theatre), hope to reach a wider audience and include more aspects of modern performing arts. The jury for the award consists of 11 members, all of whom are professionals and critics within the theater world.