Crossroads
Crossroads by Grenland Friteater was about people and work in Porsgrunn around 1890 – when the business life of the town was standing in the middle of a crossroads. The crossroads consisted of the choices that have to be made: Sail or steam? Traditions or new technical progress?
The play was acted out outdoors, in the areas belonging to Porsgrunn Bymuseum (the town’s museum) and Porsgrunn Sjøfartsmuseum (the maritime museum). It had character of wandering theatre and the audience followed the action from place to place around the area.
Information
(Objekt ID 2137)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | June 14, 2000 |
| Produced by | Grenland Friteater |
| Audience | Children, Families, Youth, Adults (from 6) |
| Number of events | 34 |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Theatre, Historical play, Physical theatre, Site spesific performance |
| Running period | June 14, 2000 |
| Website | Grenland Friteater |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | No |
In Crossroads by Grenland Friteater the audience met the siblings Peder and Kristine, two youths having grown up in hardship. They live in Matroshuset, one of the buildings in the plant. We followed them looking for work. Along the way they met persons from different layers of society: The ship-owner’s son John and Madame Henrichsen, running a hiring office for sailors in Porsgrunn. We were provided an image of the society in Porsgrunn a century ago – by social conditions in a time characterised by the transition from sailboat freight to other enterprises and early establishment of industry.
The audience were also allowed an insight into the time’s ways of thinking and the dreams and visions people from different social backgrounds had for the new century. This way, Grenland Friteater casted a glance at our own not all that distant past.
Source: Grenland Friteater, grenlandfriteater.com, 18.08.2010, http://www.grenlandfriteater.com/show_details.asp?ID=1056
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Tor Arne Ursin | – Script |
| Tor Arne Ursin | – Direction |
| Katharina Barbosa Blad | – Costume |
| Olav Hanto | – Actor |
| Vibeke Lie | – Actor |
| Cecilie Magnussen Fretheim | – Actor |
| Stian Sandersen | – Actor |
| Hans Petter Eliassen | – Producer |
| Åsmund Beier | – Consultant |
| Eli Haugland | – Consultant |
| Håvard Hvalen | – Consultant |
| Finn Rafn | – Consultant |
| June 14, 2000 – Bymuséet, Porsgrunn, Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival (Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival) | Worldwide premiere |
| Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival | June 14, 2000 |