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
More

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

Contributors (12)
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
Performance dates
Festivals (1)