Even as a child, Ola Karlberg knew he possessed a special ability to draw attention to himself, to be heard and seen. The 12-year-old sang and made such an infernal noise that his Uncle Nisse nicknamed him “Ljud-Ola” (Sound-Ola).

Today, he is the theater director of Big Wind, one of the country’s most prolific and sought-after theater companies, putting on 300 to 400 performances a year.

Ola is a musician, singer, and actor—a self-taught artist who has never set foot in either the Academy of Music or the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Instead, his education came through various music and theater groups, not least through his involvement in the cultural association Tajphoon Tivoli. This group has fostered many talents in Gothenburg and remains highly active.

Ola does not only perform on stage; he also writes songs and poetry, translates lyrics from Danish and French, and incorporates the material into Big Wind’s productions. The driving force behind it all is a love for the art, he says: having the opportunity to create shows that engage children and young people, interacting with them directly.

There is also an element of exhibitionism in performing before an audience, he admits. But as long as he can engage a crowd and spread joy and passion for the arts, he has no problem with that.