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Program for Grusomheten Teaters produksjon Thomasevangeliet (2004) pdf October 28, 2004 Download

The Gospel According to Thomas

The Gospel According to Thomas (2004) by The Theatre of Cruelty: "Who finds himself is larger than the world." The Gospel According to Thomas was discovered among a number of Gnostic scriptures in a tomb in Egypt in 1945. Scholars claim it dates back to year 50 AD, and that it is older than the four gospels incorporated in the Bible. The Theatre of Cruelty was the first theatre company to stage the gospel in Norway.

Information

(Objekt ID 1583)
Object type Production
Premiere October 28, 2004
Produced by The Theatre of Cruelty
Based on The Gospel of Thomas by
Audience Youth, Adults (from 10)
Language Norwegian
Keywords Theatre, Physical theatre, Metatheatre
Running period October 28, 2004  —  June 14, 2005
Duration 90 minutes
Website Grusomhetens Teater

Requirements to venue

Blackout Yes
More

The Gospel of Thomas does not refer to the Fall, Hell, punishment and penalty, or to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Hence it provides no fundament for a religious apparatus based on fear and submission. How should the human find calm and rest? With its silent poetry The Gospel of Thomas points out a deeper philosophical wisdom. Director Lars Øyno drew lines from Thomas' story about The Master to the moral and political challenges of our own time.

The Gospel of Thomas was the 14th production by The Theatre of Cruelty.

It was supported by Arts Council Norway, The Audio Visual Fund and The Fund for Performing Artists, plus the Salvation Army’s shop division Fretex.

Source:

The Theatre of Cruelty, grusomhetensteater.no, 10.08.2010, http://www.grusomhetensteater.no

Performance dates
June 14, 2005Friteatret, Grenland Friteater Show
June 13, 2005Friteatret, Grenland Friteater Show
October 28, 2004The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty National premiere, Norway
Festivals (1)
Press coverage

Andreas Wiese, date unknown, Dagbladet [Oslo, Norway]:
"An image-creating, strangely strong and at last warm performance in an uncompromised alternative theatre language. In this production The Theatre of Cruelty is a theatre of warmth, even hope." 

Elisabeth Rygg, date unknown, Aftenposten [Oslo, Norway]:
"Fascinating theatre of gospel. (...) The ensemble moves and disturbs with its demanding acting style. The Theatre of Cruelty manages to scenically revive the message in its own distinct way."

Yngve Kvistad, date unknown, VG [Oslo, Norway]:
"Cruelly good. The Gospel According to Thomas fascinates and moves. Intellectually there is a lot I do not understand when Lars Øyno stages the banished Gospel According to Thomas due to Antonin Artaud’s theories about a total theatre expression. The more this Christmas story from Hell appeals to the emotional registry. And it disturbs."