Danse- og teatersentrums scenekunstpris (The performing arts award of Performing Arts Hub Norway) 2003

Danse- og teatersentrums scenekunstpris (The performing arts award of Performing Arts Hub Norway) for 2003 was awarded Baktruppen for the production FunnySorryJesus.

"FunnySorryJesus took place in and around the company's tiny little office in the street of Dælenggata in Oslo, revolving around what passes by, seen from the turning point of the theatre. In the office, a former shop with windows going all the way down to street level, an amphitheatre was built looking out of the room. The audience sat looking out the windows, while Baktruppen performed on the pavement. The world outside became the stage, something Baktruppen took advantage of in discussing the distinct character of theatre and the role of the audience.

As Jon Refsdal Moe expresses it in his review at Kunstkritikk.no: 'Baktruppen documents and beautifies with the theatre as a frame. With FunnySorryJesus Baktruppen continues to examine the room outside of the established aesthetic.'

Assisted by simple effects Baktruppen manages time and time again to initiate complex forming of opinions. Regularly we also allow ourselves to get impressed by the company's ability to renew itself, its ability to stay contemporary. The window performances in Dælenggata were utterly simple in expression: Somebody watches somebody do something - within a frame, in this case outside of a window. One could almost call it a trivial performance situation. Chances are this form could have remained trivial if it wasn't Baktruppen taking it in hand. Few artists in this country - if any at all - know as well as Baktruppen how to master the point zero of theatre in such a refined way as Baktruppen does.

The artistic bravery of Baktruppen isn't about running away from its art, but continuously revitalising its fundamental joy in performing, at the delight of the audience and with consequences for what we experience as a spearhead in Norwegian performing arts."

Danse- og teatersentrums scenekunstpris (The performing arts award of Performing Arts Hub Norway) for 2003 was awarded Baktruppen for the production FunnySorryJesus.

"FunnySorryJesus took place in and around the company's tiny little office in the street of Dælenggata in Oslo, revolving around what passes by, seen from the turning point of the theatre. In the office, a former shop with windows going all the way down to street level, an amphitheatre was built looking out of the room. The audience sat looking out the windows, while Baktruppen performed on the pavement. The world outside became the stage, something Baktruppen took advantage of in discussing the distinct character of theatre and the role of the audience.

As Jon Refsdal Moe expresses it in his review at Kunstkritikk.no: 'Baktruppen documents and beautifies with the theatre as a frame. With FunnySorryJesus Baktruppen continues to examine the room outside of the established aesthetic.'

Assisted by simple effects Baktruppen manages time and time again to initiate complex forming of opinions. Regularly we also allow ourselves to get impressed by the company's ability to renew itself, its ability to stay contemporary. The window performances in Dælenggata were utterly simple in expression: Somebody watches somebody do something - within a frame, in this case outside of a window. One could almost call it a trivial performance situation. Chances are this form could have remained trivial if it wasn't Baktruppen taking it in hand. Few artists in this country - if any at all - know as well as Baktruppen how to master the point zero of theatre in such a refined way as Baktruppen does.

The artistic bravery of Baktruppen isn't about running away from its art, but continuously revitalising its fundamental joy in performing, at the delight of the audience and with consequences for what we experience as a spearhead in Norwegian performing arts."