Inspired by the Freie Deutsche Volksbühne in Berlin led to forming of interest organizations in Bergen and Oslo in 1928 and 1929.

The Folketeatret building in Oslo was commissioned in 1929, and the architects Christian Morgenstierne (1880–1967) and Arne Eide (1881–1957) worked on it until it opened in 1935.

Hans Jacob Nilsen (1897–1957) was the theatre director from 1952 to 1955, then Jens Gunderssen (1912–1969) from 1955 to 1959.

In 2014, Scenekvelder produces the first production of Billy Elliot The Musical at Folketeateret.

In the fall of 2018, Scenekvelder set up the production of The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Stephen Barlow.