The Night of the Tribades

play by Enquist

Also known as: “Tribadernas natt”

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July 21, 2026

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"The Night of the Tribades" is a play by Per Olov Enquist, not August Strindberg. The play, written in 1975, explores the intense and complex relationship between August Strindberg and his first wife, Siri von Essen, and her lover, Carl Gustaf Strindberg. It delves into themes of artistic creation, marital strife, and the societal constraints placed upon women in the late 19th century. The narrative is framed by a fictionalized account of a rehearsal for Strindberg's play "The Father," where the characters' personal lives and the play's themes become intertwined. Enquist uses this meta-theatrical device to examine the power dynamics and psychological struggles within the relationships, highlighting the challenges faced by women seeking independence and artistic expression in that era.1

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Per Olov Enquist
…successful drama, Tribadernas natt (1975; The Night of the Tribades, 1977), presents Enquist’s analysis of August Strindberg’s marital relationship. In 1999 he published Livläkarens besök (The Royal Physician’s Visit, 2001), a historical novel about sexual and political intrigue in 18th-century Denmark. It became his best-known work among American readers, and…
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…successful drama, Tribadernas natt (1975; The Night of the Tribades, 1977), presents Enquist’s analysis of August Strindberg’s marital relationship. In 1999 he published Livläkarens besök (The Royal Physician’s Visit, 2001), a historical novel about sexual and political intrigue in 18th-century Denmark. It became his best-known work among American readers, and…
Read More