Mátki = Reisen* (The Journey)

Mátki = Reisen* (The Journey) by Haugen Produksjoner was an intensive project with one week of rehearsing and five days of performing connected to the Riddu Riddu festival in Manndalen, Kåfjord, Troms. 18 adults and 7 children took part in the project. All were responsible for their own stations and had the artistic freedom to shape it like they wanted. Anne Katrine Haugen and Heidi Persdatter Greiner Haaker were responsible for the complete dramaturgy. The route started by a graveyard and went further into a forest down a hill over marshland, upon which it followed the river.

The beginning of the performance Mátki = Reisen by Haugen Produksjoner was a ritual cleansing of the audience with incense, performed by a South African "Sangoma" (or medicine woman). Then the spectators drew an elf card providing directions and intention for the rest of the experience. The audience went in groups of eight persons along a route marked with red hearts. After three stations everyone went by themselves to be able to get even closer to the performers.

 The audience got to hear about Sami gods and goddesses, and they got to experience dance, joik, drum journeys, learning how to throw a lasso, hanging wishes on the tree of wishes, wandering in a labyrinth, listen to eagles and wolf flutes, receive healing, be sung for inside of a grand art installation shaped as a big plastic bubble (it was inflated using the force of the water in the river), making their own mandelas (that is, a life map), hear about the river and be seduced by a hulder.

The last station was a campfire where hot dogs were grilled and the audience got tea and coffee. The spectators decided for themselves how much time they wanted to use underway, from two to four-five hours.

Mátki = Reisen by Haugen Produksjoner was supported by The Northern Norwegian Arts Council, The Fund for Performing Artists and Riddu Riddu.

Source: E-mail from Haugen Produksjoner, 14.2.2011