The Hedda Award 2009

Eirik Stubø for Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, The National Theatre:

"Eirik Stubø studied direction at The National Academy of Theatre. As early as 1997 he became boss of Rogaland Theatre, and in 2000 he was given responsibility for The National Theatre, where he was a two-term artistic director/CEO, until 2009. All the time he has been able to maintain his career as a director. As early as 1993 he staged Waiting for Godot at The National Theatre, and during his term as the theatre manager, he has put his name on two interesting, minimalist Ibsen productions - Hedda Gabler and The Wild Duck, the latter of which received New York Magazine's Cultural Award 2006. It was also selected among the two best productions in all of 2006 in New York. In May 2007 Eirik Stubø was awarded the Obie Award for best direction."

Erik Ulfsby for The Jungle Book by Kipling/Mørk-Eidem, The Norwegian Theatre, and Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill, Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre):

"Erik Ulfsby made his debut as a director in 2000 with Oleanna at Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre) in Molde. His production of Tarjei Vesaas' The Ice Castle, dramatised by Petter Rosenlund, was a collaboration project between The Norwegian Theatre and Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre). At Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) in 2006 he directed Bollywood Ibsen - Fruen fra det indiske hav* (Bollywood Ibsen - The Lady from the Indian Sea), an exciting, successful production rewarded with The Hedda Award for the theatre project of the year. Erik Ulfsby is a director ranging wide - from the spectacular, musical to the intensely psychological, and from show productions to standup!"

Kari Holtan for Shadows by Jon Fosse, De Utvalgte, Black Box Teater:

"Kari Holtan is a member of the independent company De Utvalgte, which has long worked with the interaction between video, music and performers. She has been responsible for the direction, instruction, stage design and video design of Bang Bang Club, the production with which Black Box Teater celebrated its 20th anniversary, and she directed Jimmy Young, which visited The Contemporary Stage Festival in 2007, and which has also been performed at places including the international theatre festival Mladi Levi 2008 (in Ljubljana, Slovenia), Noordrezon Festival 2008 (in Groningen, Holland) and at Stamsund International Theatre Festival."

Per Kjerstad for the role of Lieutenant Glahn in Pan, Hålogaland Theatre:

"Per Kjerstad was educated at The National Academy of Theatre. At Hålogaland Theatre he made his debut the autumn of 2007 as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, and in 2008 he played Nils Krogstad in both of Tyra Tønnessen's versions of A Doll's House. He is also a movie actor, who has taken parts in movies including Fallen Angels and Fatso. Besides he has taken part in several TV series for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and TV2, for instance he acted in Hotel Cæsar the season of 2002."

Mads Ousdal for the role of Ivan in The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky, The National Theatre:

"Mads Ousdal is son of the actor Sverre Anker Ousdal. He was educated at The National Academy of Theatre, and has worked for The National Stage as well as Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) before he started working for The National Theatre in 2000. He made his debut in the role of Edmund Tyrone against his father in the role of James Tyrone. Since then his roles include d'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Alfred Allmers in Little Eyolf and Jasper in When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town. This role he interpreted in 2001, while he five years later was responsible for the direction of the same play. He has had parts in TV series and movies, including Detector and Through a Glass, Darkly, and in 2000 he received Amanda's Debut Award."

Adil Thathaal for the role of Mowgli in The Jungle Book by Alexander Mørk-Eidem after Rudyard Kipling, The Norwegian Theatre:

"Adil Thathaal originally hails from Pakistan, but his grandfather was among the first Muslim immigrants to Norway, and Adil Thathaal has grown up in Lambertseter in Oslo. He obviously comes from an artistic family, as his sister Deepika, for the time being living in England, is a song artist. In 2006 he won the competition Dansefeber at TV Norge (the Norwegian version of So You Think You Can Dance, Sceneweb's comment), and this became the start of his career. The autumn of 2006 he went to Los Angeles to develop as a professional break dancer. His first major theatre role he got when playing Bernardo in West Side Story at Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), after which he interpreted the dream character Amo in @lice at The Norwegian Touring Theatre. Mowgli is his first role at The Norwegian Theatre."

Ågot Sendstad for the role of the hostess in Salong* (Salon) by Goksøyr/Martens at The National Theatre, Torshov:

"Ågot Sendstad is from Nes in the county of Hedmark. She was educated at The National Academy of Theatre, and in 1996 she was hired by The National Theatre, for which she has been working since. There she started her career as Hedvig in The Wild Duck and Lisbeth in Erasmus Montanus.

She has been grandma mouse in The Animals in The Hunchback Wood, Mrs. Maia Rubek in When We Dead Awaken, duchess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro and, as time went by, Gina in The Wild Duck, to mention a few of her many roles. She has taken part in several movies, such as Most People Live in China and Yatzy, and in 2006 she was the recipient of the Honorary Award of Per Aabel, given out annually to 'a particularly deserving performing artist'."

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

Birgitte Victoria Svendsen for the role of Mary Tyrone in Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill at Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre):

"Birgitte Victoria Svendsen was educated at The National Academy of Theatre. She was connected to Rogaland Theatre where she was, among other things, Juliet in Bentein Baardson's Romeo and Juliet in 1987.

In 1990 she came to Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) where she started her career by playing the coquettish and innocent Gwendolen in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Throughout the years she has had many roles at Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), one can mention the title role of Yerma, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Linda in Death of a Salesman.

She has also worked for The National Theatre, where she was Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband, and for The Norwegian Touring Theatre where she last year alternated with Ellen Horn in the role of Mother Nille. The role of Mary Tyrone is her first in Molde."

Petronella Barker for the role of Rebecca West in Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, The National Theatre:

"Petronella Barker was born in England, but grew up in Fredrikstad. She was educated at The National Academy of Theatre, and made her debut at Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre) in Molde in 1988. In 1990 she started working for Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), and in 1996 for The National Theatre, where she has interpreted roles as diverse as the pantry mouse in The Animals in The Hunchback Wood, Léone in Black Battles with Dogs, The Spirit/Narrator in Growth of the Soil and the title role of Hedda Gabler. She has had roles in many of Ole Anders Tandberg's productions in Sweden, including the role of Agnes in Brand at Gothenburg City Theatre (2001).

She has also made her mark in a number of movies, one can mention Sweetwater (1988), Thrane's Methode (1998) and Hawaii, Oslo (2004), and for TV she has, among other things, played in Codename Hunter from 2007."

Invasion! by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre):

"The spry troupe gets their interpretation of Jonas Hassen Khemiri's highly contemporary satire on language and attitudes going."

Møre- og Romsdals Budstikke.

"Invasion revolves around one topic, the hunt for Abulkasem. For all of a sudden Abulkasem appears everywhere, in the white man's imagination and horror visions. He doesn't really exist, but becomes the symbol of everything that is unknown and dangerous (...) a rare theatre experience."

Klassekampen

The Jungle Book by Kipling/Mørk-Eidem, directed by Erik Ulfsby, The Norwegian Theatre:

"If Bagheera, Mowgli, Kaa and the rest of Kipling's characters do not draw a new generation of theatre attenders with this year's production of The Jungle Book, the future of theatre seems dark."

Dagsavisen

"The target group is the youth for which there is no other theatre, only movies dripping of blood and doomsday war games to metal rhythms"

Aftenposten

"This is new theatre, in a new language, a theatre for an age group rarely given such a good offer. This is a brave success from The Norwegian Theatre."

Dagbladet

Simon's story by Stig Amdam, directed by Stig Amdam, The National Stage, Hordaland Theatre and Sogn og Fjordane Theatre (SoFT):

"A Google search gave several reviews of all the other productions mentioned here. But none of Simon's Story, a striking theatre documentary. Thus we quote Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen's speech after she had attended Simon's Storyat The National Stage:

'On behalf of us all I would like to thank The National Stage for the theatre experience you have just given us. It was moving. It was tragic. It did what art is meant to do; grab hold of you, move you, make you see the world differently. Or simply just look. At the same time we should not forget that the story shown to us is a story. It is fictional. Art may make us see the truth, but art and reality do not always walk holding hands.'

Kim Sørensen for the role of Jamie in The Retreat from Moscow by William Nicholson, The National Theatre:

"Kim Sørensen is son of the actor Kim Sørensen, and he chose the same road as his father. He was educated at The National Academy of Theatre, and has already found the time to work for Agder Theatre, The National Stage, The Norwegian Theatre, Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), Nordland Theatre and The National Theatre. At Nordland Theatre he made his mark with his interpretation of Peder Seier in a play by the same title, and at The National Theatre his roles include Lyngstrand in The Lady from the Sea, Joey in The Homecoming and Knugern in Verdiløse menn* (Worthless Men). He has had parts in movies and TV series, and made his debut as a director with Rocky Horror Show at Nordland Theatre in 2007."

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

Øyvind Gran for the role of Edmund Tyrone in Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill, Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre):

"Øyvind Gran is from Bergen, and educated at The National Academy of Theatre.He started his career at The National Theatre, where his roles include Horatio in Hamlet and Ole in Journey to the Christmas Star. At The Norwegian Theatre he was Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in 2001, and he took part in Belgrade Trilogy. Next he returned to his native Bergen and The National Stage. He has also been part of Bergen Prosjektteater, and has acted in several movies, including The Last Joint Venture and Varg Veum - Bitter Flowers."

Pål Rønning for the roles of Anders in Guttene i skyggen* (The Shadow Boys) by Lars Norén, and Hermann Wurm in People Annihilation - or My Liver is Senseless by Werner Schwab, both at The National Stage:

"Pål Rønning has his acting education from ArtsEd London, School of Acting. After graduating he began working for Teatret Vårt (Our Theatre) in Molde, where the productions he acted in included the major success 90-metersbakken* (The K 90 Hill) (2004), in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and in the Christmas production Okse og Esel* (Ox and Donkey) (2005). At The National Stage he has played the cat Roberto in Ingvar Ambjørnsen's Samson & Roberto, and he had parts in The Cherry Orchard and Death of a Salesman. Further he has been active in theatre sports for the Bergen company Turboteatret."

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

Gisken Armand for the role of Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, The National Theatre:

"Gisken Armand is a daughter of the actor Eilif Armand, and her sisters Frøydis and Merete are both actresses. In other words, she hails from a true theatre family. In 1976 she made her debut, aged 14 years old, at The National Stage in The Women. She has been employed by The National Theatre since 1988, and here she has interpreted a number of Ibsen's female characters, but also modern women such as Helene in The Celebration, the woman in Someone is Going to Come and Rebecca in Ashes to ashes. Not to mention the evil witch daughter in Journey to the Christmas Star.

She has also taken part in a number of movies and TV productions, including Cross My Heart and Hope to Die and Eva's Eye and several TV series. She has recorded several audio books and won the audio book award Årets lydbokstemme (literally: The audio book voice of the year) in 2003. She was the recipient of Gösta Ekman's memorial award in 1992 and of The National Theatre's friend association's honorary award and Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's radio theatre award Blå fugl (The Blue Bird) in 2006."

Kjersti Elvik for the role of Mrs. Wurm in People Annihilation - or my Liver is Senseless by Werner Schwab, The National Stage:

"Kjersti Elvik was born in Bergen and educated at The National Academy of Theatre. She has performed at Trøndelag Theatre and The National Theatre, where she in the period from 1994 to 2003 interpreted roles including Gerd in Brand and Irene in When We Dead Awaken. In 2005 she was touring with The Norwegian Touring Theatre in the stage version of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage.

At The National Stage she has in 2000 acted in Shakespeare's King Lear, and she was Ellida in The Lady from the Sea in 2007. In the role of Hanne Wilhelmsen she was a success in the movie versions of Anne Holt's Blind Goddess and Blessed Are Those Who Thirst. The latter she received The Amanda Award for."

Kirsti Stubø for the role of Hermione in Andromache by Jean Racine at The Norwegian Theatre:

"Kirsti Stubø grew up in Nesodden, and was educated at The National Academy of Theatre. She first spent two years at Rogaland Theatre where she, among other things, interpreted the role of Irina in Three sisters before she in 2001 became employed by The Norwegian Theatre. At the theatre she has played a number of different roles, including the girl in Lars Norén's November, Kitty in Anna Karenina, Cassandra in Orestes, Indra's daughter in A Dream Play and Esmiluni in Verdas mest forelska par* (The Couple in the World Who is the Most in Love).

She also has taken parts in movies, and during the international film festival in Moscow in 2007 she got the prestigious Best actress award for her effort in the film Opium. "

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

Stage designer Dordi Strøm and lighting designer Gyril Høgberg for Then Silence by Arne Lygre, The Norwegian Theatre:

"Dordi Strøm is a visual artist, and says for herself that she 'works with installation, drawing and stage design, often collectively and with experimental spaces and time-based works', whereas lighting designer Gyril Høgberg has been responsible for the lighting design for Turn Me on, Dammit at The Norwegian Theatre and Edvard Munch - Alfa og Omega* (Edvard Munch - Alpha and Omega) at Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre)."

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

Stage designer Arne Nøst for Pan, Hålogaland Theatre:

"Arne Nøst was born in Molde, and educated at Trondheim Academy of Fine Art. As a visual artist he has had a number of separate art exhibitions, and many assignments in decoration. He has also illustrated several books, including the book club Den Norske Bokklubben made of The Sorrows of Young Werther. From 1988 he has been drawing for the newspaper Dagbladet, and he has been responsible for the stage design for productions as different as The Cherry Orchard (The National Stage), Turn Me on, Dammit (The Norwegian Theatre) and Bollywood Ibsen - Fruen fra det indiske hav* (Bollywood Ibsen - The Lady from The Indian Sea (Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre)). January 1 this year he started his term as the head of Rogaland Theatre."

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

Lighting designer Ellen Ruge for the lighting design for Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, The National Theatre:

"Ellen Ruge was born in Oslo, but educated at the photo school Fotoskolan in Stockholm and the video academy Videoakademin in Gothenburg, and she now lives in Sweden. She has been active as a lighting designer in Stockholm and abroad since the mid-1980es. In Norway she has collaborated with Eirik Stubø several times, including Hedda Gabler, Black Battles with Dog, and I am the Wind, but she has also worked with Ole Anders Tandberg (En vanlig dag i helvete* (An Ordinary Day in Hell) and A Midsummer Night's Dream."

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

Stage designer Dordi Strøm and lighting designer Gyril Høgberg for Then Silence by Arne Lygre, The Norwegian Theatre:

"Dordi Strøm is a visual artist, and says for herself that she 'works with installation, drawing and stage design, often collectively and with experimental spaces and time-based works', whereas lighting designer Gyril Høgberg has been responsible for the lighting design for Turn Me on, Dammit at The Norwegian Theatre and Edvard Munch - Alfa og Omega* (Edvard Munch - Alpha and Omega) at Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre)."

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

Forever Young, script and direction Erik Gedeon, The Norwegian Theatre:

"… this funny, absurd, unpredictable play which is not about anything at all, but through his (Erik Gedeon's) own minutely detailed direction, filled with small, mega-comical moments, develops unbelievably."

Aftenposten

"The play about a bunch of retired actors aged ninety-something, stumbling from the chairs to play rock'n roll every time the nurse has closed the door behind her, is simply incredibly good."

Dagsavisen

"The idea is simple. But there are more levels to Forever Young than one may think beforehand. The border between humour and seriousness is fluent, and the moods change quickly and often."

Dagbladet

En vanlig dag i helvete* (An Ordinary Day in Hell) by Tor Ulven, directed by Ole Anders Tandberg, The National Theatre:

"The feeling of being lonely, mortal and ephemeral as a human is approximate and strong throughout the two and a half hours En vanlig dag i helvete lasts. It has become a deeply serious, but also humorous day in hell."

Aftenposten

"Ole Anders Tandberg's playful and reflective Ulven production is theatre at a high level."

Klassekampen

"The production is serious, but never sombre, it is advanced, but never difficult. And it is funny! Here, Ulven has been taken out of the melancholy and into open air, in a theatre production that will long be talked about."

Vårt Land

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

Salong* (Salon) by Toril Goksøyr and Camilla Martens, The National Theatre, Torshov:

"Merry and revealing satire with a crooked glance towards the bourgeois existence and society life. Toril Goksøyr and Camilla Martens are not afraid to go new ways."

Aftenposten

"Surefire revelation of a self-righteous, but limited upper class. But also of the rich, well-meaning Norway."

Klassekampen

"Toril Goksøyr and Camilla Martens are known for working with documentary theatre. They intertwine fiction and reality with a political edge."

Kulturkompasset

These Eyes by Jon Fosse, directed by Oskaras Koršunovas, Rogaland Theatre:

"These Eyes consists of nature and art in impressive interaction, dominated by the visual."

NRK Kulturnytt

"Technically, These Eyes is impressively complex, it is musically powerful, with a strong text maintained excellently by the director, actors and dancers."

Rogalands Avis

The Mountain Bird by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Lars Øyno, The Theatre of Cruelty:

"In the ensemble, presented as a unity, it is a delight to study the actor instruction Øyno has provided. The design of the roles and the intensity of each and every staring glance show the focus and involvement of the actors."

Adresseavisa

"What we get in the graffiti-tagged building of The Theatre of Cruelty in the street of is a special experience. But nevertheless:An original worldwide premiere of an unknown Ibsen text. That is not something you see every day."

Aftenposten

"The Mountain Bird is not just a world wide premiere of something as rare as an Ibsen script that has never been performed. It is, too, a production using a distinct stage expression."

Morgenbladet

Operation Almenrausch by Tore Vagn Lid, concept and direction, produced by the county of Vest-Agder/Agder Theatre:

"Operation Almenrausch, a grand, intellectually challenging and onstage innovative production. Using video, authentic recordings, music appropriate of the period, original stage design and young, capable performers the director, Vagn Lid, manages to recreate a bygone period of our history while challenging us to take a stand in the ethical dilemmas the human has to face in extraordinary situations."

Klassekampen