Like Thunder
Like thunder by Niels Fredrik Dahl (translated by Stephen T. Murray) and directed by Franzisca Aarflot had its world wide premiere in Edinburgh Fringe Festival the summer of 2001 and its Norwegian premiere the autumn of 2001 in The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater). Like Thunder was revived in 2002.
Information
(Objekt ID 8876)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | August 4, 2001 |
| Coproducers | The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater), Gilded Balloon |
| Based on | Like Thunder by Niels Fredrik Dahl |
| Audience | Adults, Youth |
| Language | English |
| Keywords | Theatre |
| Running period | August 4, 2001 |
| Website | Det Åpne Teater, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Gilded Balloon |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | No |
In Like Thunder the audience met a family without a father; mother Eva, the son Gerhard and his wife Cille, plus Tom and his girlfriend Roz. One day the father just disappeared. Now the mother wants him declared dead to get a grave to visit.
Franzisca Aarflot’s staging of Like Thunder won the Fringe First Award in the Fringe Festival of Edinburgh 2001.
Sources:
Lisa Kristin Strindberg, 06.09.2001, Medrivende familiethriller (literally: Riveting family thriller), nrk.no/nyheter/kultur, 12.11.2010, http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/1269861.html
The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater), Archive, playbill for Like Thunder
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Niels Fredrik Dahl | – Playwright |
| Steven T. Murray | – Translation |
| Franzisca Aarflot | – Direction |
| Christine Lohre | – Stage design |
| Christine Lohre | – Costume |
| Maureen Allan | – Actor (Eva) |
| Jay Manley | – Actor |
| Katherine Morley | – Actor (Roz) |
| Ian Skewis | – Actor |
| Imogen Walker | – Actor (Cille) |
| September 7, 2001 – Hallen, The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater) | Show |
| September 6, 2001 – Hallen, The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater) | Show |
| September 5, 2001 – Hallen, The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater) | National premiere, Norway |
| August 4, 2001 – Traverse 1, Traverse Theatre | Worldwide premiere |
"The dialogue of this thriller can be reminiscent of Ibsen’s tormenting family confrontations. However, acts of storytelling tradition make this a much more reflected experience. (...) It is the realistic dialogue that drives the action forward. The text digs archeologically inwards into this family the father left. (...) Niels Fredrik Dahl has used the repetition of singular quotes, the way of Jon Fosse, to underline and promote the emotions behind the words of the lines."
Lisa Kristin Strindberg (2001). Review titled Medrivende familiethriller (literally: Riveting family thriller).
"The performance, which this summer won the first prize during Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was much stylised; the word was the centre of attention and the actors performed the text in a realistic style as well as in frontal performance style. In content the play is as dramatic, and as familiar, as any play by Norén, but the language, the dramaturgy and this direction created a distance and an elegance separating Like thunder from the traditional realist family drama."
Morgenbladet