| Title (2) | File type | Publiseringsdato | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program for The Theatre of Cruelty's production Alaska (2001) | January 22, 2001 | Download | |
| Season program Black Box Theater the spring of 2001. | January 2001 | Download |
Alaska
Alaska (2001) was a theatre production by The Theatre of Cruelty with the band When, in part based on the story about The Cranium Drill Knight by Danielle Sarréra (Frédérick Tristan). The production was first performed at Black Box Teater's main stage, at the time located at Aker Brygge. A developed version, Alaska II, was first performed at The Theatre of Cruelty's facilities in Hausmania in 2003.
Lars Øyno directed it.
Information
(Objekt ID 1986)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | January 22, 2001 |
| Produced by | The Theatre of Cruelty |
| Based on | Kranieborer ridderen by Frédérick Tristan |
| Audience | Youth, Adults (from 15) |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Theatre, Physical theatre, Musical theatre |
| Running period | January 22, 2001 — August 16, 2003 |
| Website | Grusomhetens Teater |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | Yes |
The writer Danielle Sarréra, who was credited in The Theatre of Cruelty's information material, was in herself fictional. Purportedly, she was a young French girl who committed suicide when she was seventeen, leaving behind some morbidly erotic stories, supposedly autobiographical. Her work was praised for her "authentic female" voice, and several feminists analysed her "specifically feminine" style. But a few years after her stories were published, the real writer, Frédérick Tristan, declared that he had made up Danielle Sarréra, and that he had written the stories.
"Alaska is based on texts by Danielle Sarréra (1932-1949). After Sarréra took her own life, three notebooks containing four short prose pieces were found in her apartment at Monmartre. These texts, written with fervour that suggests autobiographical content, deal with incest and death.
'The Cranium Drill Knight – this is the Christ that lives in me, and drills his way through my cranium day by day, like a needle'."
Alaska II was performed August 12-16 – 5 performances at the theatre in the street of Hausmannsgate (Oslo) in 2003. This was a duo impro performance with jazz musician Frode Gjerstad and Hanne Dieserud.
The Theatre of Cruelty thanked: Fretex Elevatorm Godlia Velhus, Øyvind Wahl and Kjartan for contributions and aid.
Supported by: Arts Council Norway, The Fund for Performing Artists.
SOURCES:
The Theatre of Cruelty, grusomhetensteater.no, 18.08.2010, http://www.grusomhetensteater.no
Jannah Loontjens, 05.2008, Resisting the Author: JT Leroy's fictional authorship, Image and Narrative, 18.08.2010, http://www.imageandnarrative.be/inarchive/autofiction2/loontjes.html
The National Library of Norway, digitised performance program transferreed to Sceneweb 13.08.2015
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Frédérick Tristan | – Author |
| Annie Riis | – Translation |
| Lars Øyno | – Direction |
| Øyvind Borgemoen Lyse | – Music |
| Lars Tore Pedersen | – Music |
| Nils-Arne Øvergård | – Music |
| Thor Eriksen | – Stage design |
| Åse Strand | – Costume design |
| Signe Vasshus | – Costume design |
| Svein Solberg | – Sound design |
| Helge Rinnan | – Lighting design |
| Mette Renée Oreen | – Graphic designer |
| Hanne Dieserud | – Actor |
| Robert Skjærstad | – Actor |
| Øyvind Borgemoen Lyse | – Musician |
| Lars Tore Pedersen | – Musician |
| Nils-Arne Øvergård | – Musician |
| Britt-Helen Riise | – Mask design |
| Harald Medbøe | – Photo |
| Thomas Sanne | – Technician |
| Ken Ruben Theodorsen | – Technician |
| August 16, 2003 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| August 15, 2003 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| August 14, 2003 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| August 13, 2003 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| August 12, 2003 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| 2002 – The Venue of The Theatre of Cruelty | Show |
| 2002 – Studioscenen, Trøndelag Teater, Trøndelag Theatre | Show |
| January 28, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 27, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 26, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 25, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 24, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 23, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Show |
| January 22, 2001 – Store scene (Vika), Black Box teater | Worldwide premiere |
Jon Refsdal Moe, date unknown, Morgenbladet [Oslo, Norway]:
"Alaska is miles away from the raw confrontational aesthetics Artaud is so often is linked to, and which has been seen in Øyno's earlier performances. Rather than to seek the sixties avant-garde violent expression, Øyno has here been inspired by Artaud's idea of theatre as poetry incarnated."
Fredrik Rütter, date unknown, Aftenposten [Oslo, Norway]:
"No doubt about Lars Øyno’s involvement and belief in Artaud’s ideas, for him the only correct way to create theatre. The performance is coherent into the very smallest detail. Øyno is uncompromised and he doesn’t make strategic choices to please a larger audience. These days the form of the performance is regarded as particular."