Almighty Voice

Almighty Voice (2006) was a collaboration production made by Geirdis Bjørlo and Nordland Visual Theatre.

Almighty Voice builds on the story of a conflict between the whites and the natives towards the end of the 1800es USA. A misunderstanding led to the gravest manhunt in the history of the Western Territories. Using expressions reminiscent of computer games, strategy games and roleplay with miniature armies, the production illuminates cultural collisions and the need for ethnic understanding and tolerance.

Information

(Objekt ID 1189)
Object type Production
Original title Norwegian: Store stemme
Premiere October 27, 2006
Produced by Almighty Voice Project Group
Coproducers Nordland Visual Theatre
Based on Almighty Voice by Geirdis Bjørlo
Audience Children, Youth (from 12)
Language Norwegian
Keywords Puppetry, Theatre, Performance for youth
Running period October 27, 2006  —  2010
Website Store Stemme

Requirements to venue

Minimum stage width 7m
Maximum stage width 10m
Minimum stage depth 7m
Maximum stage depth 8m
Minimum stage height 4m
Maximum stage height 10m
Blackout Yes
Rigging time 180 minutes
Downrigging time 90 minutes
Audience 100
More

Almighty Voice by Geirdis Bjørlo builds on the story of the Native American Almighty Voice from the autobiography of the Blackfoot chief Long Lance – published in 1928. Towards the end of the 1800s, within the borders of an Indian Reservation not far from Duck Lake in Saskatchewan, a misunderstanding led to the gravest manhunt in the history of the Western Territories.

The main message of the performance is how illogical and dangerous situations can arise because we don’t have sufficient knowledge about each other and our respective culturally defined rules of living. Almighty Voice grabs direct hold of problems attached to our own time’s cultural collisions. The story is conveyed in a scenic language making this understandable for older children and youth.

Almighty Voice by Geirdis Bjørlo and Nordland Visual Theatre was nominated for the Hedda Award in the category of best production for children and youth in 2007. The same year it was nominated for the award of The Cultural Rucksack, Gullsekken (literally: the Gold Sack).

Almighty Voice was supported by Arts Council Norway, the municipality of Bergen, the Freedom of Expression Foundation Fritt Ord and The Fund for Performing Artists.

Source:

E-mail from Preben Faye-Schjøll, 22.09.2010

Contributors (14)
Name Role
Geirdis Bjørlo – Script
Geirdis Bjørlo – Direction
Preben Faye-Schjøll – Direction
Geirdis Bjørlo – Stage design
Ragnhild Lie – Stage design
Pål Terje Nygård – Sound design
Jan Erik Skarby – Lighting design
Hedvig Garshol – Actor
Jan N.C. Holden – Actor
Hedvig Garshol – Puppeteer
Jan N.C. Holden – Puppeteer
Pål Terje Nygård – Technician
Geir Ove Andersen – Producer
Pål Terje Nygård – Videodesign
Teaterfigurer (1)
Performance dates
October 27, 2006Store sal, Nordland Visual Theatre Worldwide premiere