Alfie Atkins

Gunilla Bergström

Gunilla Bergström, 1942–2021, was born in Gothenburg, where she also graduated in journalism. She is best known as the illustrator and author behind the Alfie Atkins stories, today a classic for millions of children in many countries. She has also created rhymes and story books, wrote song lyrics together with Georg Riedel, wrote the libretto for a children’s musical, worked with children’s theater and animated movies. 

From 1997 to 2013, Gunilla Bergström was a member of The Swedish Academy for Children’s Books. 

Film & Television

During the 80s and 90s, SVT produced 16 animated Alfie Atkins episodes, directed by Per Åhlin after Gunilla Bergström’s script. The seires is still broadcasted on television in Sweden, Norway, Germany, and others.

In 2014, a new TV series was released, produced by Maipo Film and Nordisk Film in collaboration with the Nordic TV channels.

In 2022 the Book-Films premiered, a new style, directed by Tomas Alfredson with famous actors as narrators. Jonas Karlsson narrated in Sweden, Thorbjørn Harr in Norway, David Dencik in Denmark, and Eero Ritala in Finland.

The films can be seen online in the Nordics on Netflix and Viaplay, in Sweden on SF Anytime, Apple TV, Itunes, TV4 Play and others, and in Norway and Denmark on TV2 Play.

Alfie Atkins Theater

Alfie Atkins has been seen in theaters and musicals in Sweden and around the world. The first theater production ”Heja Alfons Åberg” was staged by Riksteatern as early as 1979. Since then, among others, Danska Comedievognen, Boulevardteatern and Oslo Nye Teater played several productions. Theaters in Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Iceland have also played Alfie.

Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre

In 2012, Alfie Atkins’ Cultural Centre was opened in Gothenburg. The Cultural Centre has around 64,000 visitors a year, is open 361 days a year, and is a non-profit organisation.

The Centre promotes children’s rights, equality and diversity. It’s located in the Old Seed Shop at the Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdsföreningen), where past and present meet in a creative environment.

This is a place where inquisitive children can play, learn, get up to mischief, climb and discover a building full of fascinating things. The scenography, which is based on Gunilla Bergström’s stories about Alfie Atkins, was designed by Tor Svae. Here you can find the high-rise building that Alfie lives in, his living room, the scary monster, the helicopter and of course Milly, Malcolm, Grandma and much more.

Alfie Atkins at Funnys Äventyr

Play in Alfie’s and Milly’s cabin or take a ride in the helicopter! Step into Alfie’s classroom or go up to the high-rise building where Alfie lives, or down to the basement if you dare…

The Alfie Atkins exhibition is a permanent installation at Funnys Äventyr in Malmö, Sweden, where children can play in Alfie Atkins’ world.

Friendship Day

Friendship day (vänskapsdagen) is celebrated in Sweden every year on the third Thursday in October. With the Friendship Day, Friends, Bok-Makaren, and Raben & Sjögren aim to create a day to celebrate friendship. Friends provide tools and support for thematic work in preschools they can use before and after the Friendship Day. 3817 preschools participated in 2023, which is almost half of all preschools in Sweden.

Friends is a non-profit organization with a mission to stop bullying and other forms of harassment within schools, preschools, and sports clubs throughout Sweden. Since 2014, there has been a long-term collaboration between Friends and Bok-Makaren.