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Heksenatt* (Witch Night)

Heksenatt* (Witch Night) (1999) was a production made in collaboration between Kulturproduksjoner and Women's University NorwayHeksenatt was commissioned by Women's University Norway, performed during Kvinner viser vei (literally: Women shows the way) in August 1999.

During a nightly wandering in the woods surrounding Women's University Norway (Løten)the audience met society's outcasts, and came closer to individual destinies.Heksenatt was sold out a long time beforehand.

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Information

(Objekt ID 27025)
Object type Production
Premiere August 1999
Produced by Kulturproduksjoner,
Audience Adults
Language Norwegian
Keywords Theatre, Wandering Theatre
Running period August 1999  
Website Kulturproduksjoner
More

From Heksenatt* (Witch Night) by Kulturproduksjoner:

"Mens vi går ruller havet
stjernene har tent sine lykter i natten
noen faller mens de svever
faller som dråper mot dypet
fra samme dyp kom myriadene en gang
bølgene vugger opp og ned og tar imot
stjernene speiler seg
føttene mine vil løpe, løpe
vil hente opp de som falt ned
vil svømme til havets bunn
og tenne lyktene der om nødvendig"

("As we walk sea is rolling
stars have lighted lanterns in the night
some fall as they glide
fall like drops towards the deep
from the same deep the myriads once came
the waves rock up and down and accept
the stars reflect
my feet will run, run
will fetch those falling down
will swim to the bottom of the sea
and light the lanterns there if so needs be")

The quote is from the black-clad in Heksenatt, and the text has been written by Karen Høie. Sceneweb's Lillian Bikset has done the direct translation in brackets for this Sceneweb entry.

Sources:

E-mail from Karen Høie/Kulturproduksjoner, 03.01.2012

Kulturproduksjoner, kulturprod.no, 28.02.2012, http://www.kulturprod.no/index.php/tidligere-forestillinger/Vandreteater/38-heksenatt-kvinneuniversitetet-1999

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Contributors (10)
Name Role
Svein Gundersen (teater) – Author
Karen Høie – Author
Svein Gundersen (teater) – Text
Karen Høie – Text
Svein Gundersen (teater) – Direction
Bjørg Holmen – Choreography
Svein Gundersen (teater) – Stage design
Ola Jevnaker – Costume
Hedevig Schjødt – Light
Karen Høie – Actor
Performance dates
Press coverage

Nina Kraft, date unknown, Nationen [Oslo]:
”... We are out in the woods… The lantern barely illuminates the path, we stumble across roots and look scared from side to side, where disturbing tableaus reveal between the spruces, masterfully illuminated by indirect light sources. Black-clad priests wheeze accusations against the witch, and consequently against all us sinful female humans: 'For the woman is receptive for the nature of the devil, made by a bent rib as she is, and as a consequence, an incomplete and traitorous animal.' An herbal remedy wife repeats over her bonfire: 'Juices are running, my fire is burning..'. A woman plays the harp. Another woman breastfeeds, several women collect herbs, a white-clad creature sings sad songs with a clear, beautiful voice. The elves dance in thecornfields, phosphorescently lighted.Ophelia complains: 'There's rosemary, that's for remembrance... I would give you some violets, but they withered all. Withered, withered'**..."

(The Shakespare quote is incomplete, in Hamlet it goes as follows: "OPHELIA: There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts. LAERTES: A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted. OPHELIA: There's fennel for you, and columbines. There's rue for you; and here's some for me. We may call it herb-grace o' Sundays. Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end." Then Ophelia starts singing.)

Håvard Lillebo, date unknown, Hamar Dagblad [Hamar]:
"Out in the dark late summer night we got the witch processes close upon us, we met the judging, cursing priests, we heard the screams, we saw the shadows, the brutality, the envy, the contempt for women and the sh*t that for several hundred years legitimated humiliation, mutilation and death. For a bit more than an hour we took part in a different theatre experience, a witch night during which close to 60 performers contributed to making good drama out of an exciting subject."