kultur

The Return of the Patron – a quickly produced comedy without government funding

Gertrud, Anna-Lena and Frida want to put on a satirical show about Swedish cultural policy. They try in vain to secure funding for their idea. Member of Parliament Roland Utbult (KD) explains that they should do exactly as the composer Tchaikovsky once did: find a patron! In Skarpnäck lives a Russian gangster with an interest in culture, who is happy to step in as a financier – in exchange for certain favours… The Return of the Patron is a black comedy, divinely inspired by the parliamentary debate on the culture budget held on 4 December 2024. The production has been acclaimed by both the press and the public. It has previously been performed to full houses at Teater Brunnsgatan Fyra. *The Return of the Patron* is written and directed by Gertrud Larsson. The cast includes Gertrud Larsson, Anna-Lena Efverman and Jenny Svenberg. The Return of the Patron has also sparked debate; in the summer of 2025, Gertrud Larsson debated with the Minister for Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, on Expressen’s culture page about how culture should be funded. “Sharp satire on the conditions faced by artists” – Sara Granath, SvD “Gertrud Larsson pokes fun at everything and everyone. She swings from right to left. That is her strength.” – Gunilla Brodrej, Expressen