Lasse Kolsrud

Lasse Kolsrudmade his debut as a director with Songs of the Beehive, produced by The Norwegian Theatre in 2003, based on the book by Frode Grytten. Kolsrud also adapted the text for the theatre, and he won The Hedda Award 2004 in the debut of the year category.

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason:

"This year's debut is not made by a newcomer within the theatre world. He has been part of it quite some while, and has in many ways made his mark. But that has been as an actor. Now, for the first time, he has made a whole production from nothing. And not any kind of production, but one that the critics have appreciated greatly, and the audiences have loved.

It has been playing for full houses since the autumn of 2003, it will be back on again this autumn, and it has even moved out of town: The journey to Western Norway became an experience which will late be forgotten by those who took share in it. The debut of the year winner mastered the difficult assignment it is to maintain order among 18 actors - and a dog.

For those who have not yet guessed it: The debut of the year winner is Lasse Kolsrud for the adaptation and direction of Songs of the Beehive at The Norwegian Theatre."

Songs of the Beehive by The Norwegian Theatre was also nominated for The Hedda Award 2004 in the production of the year category. In addition, Lasse Kolsrud won The Norwegian Critics' Award for the production.

In the award ceremony speech on behalf of Norwegian Critics' Association the following, among other things, was said:

"As a playwright he has managed to create theatre out of Frode Grytten's eminent collective novel, theatre characterised by a rare solidarity with ordinary people, linked with the insight that among the so-called ordinary people one may find the most insane destines, characters and stories.

As a director he has managed to transfer his vision to a large ensemble, and connected the stage designer's, the musicians' and the whole theatre's many contributions with the text in an artistically coherent performance: A grand, human, warm and vulnerable success.

Such things give faith in the theatre. Such things, not least, give faith in Lasse Kolsrud."

The complete speech can be read at the webpage of Norwegian Critics' Association (link in Norwegian only).

SOURCES:

The Norwegian Theatre, www.detnorsketeatret.no, 23.10.2012, http://www.detnorsketeatret.no/index.php?option=com_play&view=play&playid=279

Sceneweb on The Hedda Award 2004, www.sceneweb.no, 24.10.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23869/Heddaprisen_2004-2004

Norwegian Critics' Association, kritikerlaget.no, 29.09.2011, http://www.kritikerlaget.no/pages/nor/12-teaterkritikerprisen_til_lasse_kolsrud

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

• The Hedda Award 2004 - Debut of the year
• Norwegian Critics' Award 2003/04 - Teaterkritikerprisen
• Radioteatrets Blå Fugl 1998 - Radioteatrets Blå Fugl 1998