Jeg svarte på en drøm* (I responded to a dream)

Jeg svarte på en drøm* (I responded to a dream) is a theatre production produced by Dramatikkens Hus the winter of 2012. The production was made after an idea by Siv Svendsen.

Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr is a young woman with Down syndrome. She has one dream for her life; to work as a professional actress. But who has the right and not least the opportunity to follow their dreams in today's society?

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Information

(Objekt ID 28727)
Object type Production
Premiere February 8, 2012
Produced by Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP)
Audience Adults, Youth
Language Norwegian
Keywords Theatre
Running period February 8, 2012  
More

At the webpage of Dramatikkens Hus the following, among other things, is written about Jeg svarte på en drøm* (I responded to a dream):

"The frame story is the story about Joan of Arc - a female character Marte W. Goksøyr recognises herself in; a woman fighting for her calling and her beliefs.

Marte W. Goksøyr has stated that she feels chosen and called to perform onstage, and her struggle is about getting the opportunity to follow this dream or this call. On her way to realise this dream, Marte fights for people like her to have the same rights to live their lives as people without handicaps. To its furthest consequence Marte's struggle is that people with handicaps it's possible to find during the pregnancy are not to be aborted, but given the chance to be born and live dignified lives, in which they experience that they, too, have something to contribute to the bigger picture.

Dramatikkens Hus has taken Marte's dream seriously and, in collaboration with Marte, made a production about this dream. Through it the sorting society is questioned. The production is based on a script written by the former actress Siv Svendsen and Marte W. Goksøyr herself, and it has been made during a short and intense rehearsal period of 3-4 weeks.

Marte W. Goksøyr, a verbal young woman with Down syndrome, is to many known through the media, in particular from the autumn of 2010 when she challenged Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in the open area of the Parliament, with questions regarding early ultrasound and the right of people with Down syndrome to live.

In 2011 she was given the Bjørnson award, and in 2012 she got the award Livsvernprisen for her involvement.

Jeg svarte på en drøm is the production Dramatikkens Hus' produces on its own this winter. The rehearsal period has been short, but still, together we have managed to create a full-length production in which Marte again has the lead. With the performance we want to reflect rather than give ready-made answers.

We want to question the sorting society, freedom of expression connected to this and the individual's right and not least opportunity to follow his or her dreams in today's society. In today's Norway, one often speaks about 'the welfare society' - but perhaps one should also discuss the well-functioning society in which every single individual functions optimally in comparison to one's circumstances, and that we to a larger degree see the value of what every single one of us has to contribute.

The production is in no way just a 'socio-political' project, but as much an artistic project about examining the marginal, being an outsider, and original voices."

The project was realised with contributions from The National Theatre, and the production was also performed at The National Theatre's Amphi Stage (Amfiscenen) the autumn of 2012.

Dramatikkens Hus directs thanks to Oslo National Academy of the Arts for their collaboration.

Jeg svarte på en drøm was supported by: The Freedom of Expression foundation Fritt Ord.

Sources:

Dramatikkens Hus, www.dramatikkenshus.no, 16.11.2012, http://www.dramatikkenshus.no/pub/dramatikkenshus/archive/?aid=1950

The National Theatre, www.nationaltheatret.no, 15.01.2013, http://fdb.nationaltheatret.no/S%C3%B8k/tabid/57/ctl/PlayView/mid/374/oppsetningId/ee7231f0-c86c-45d9-a480-e25abe99d06c/Default.aspx

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Contributors (14)
Name Role
Siv Svendsen – Script
Johannes Holmen Dahl – Adapted by
Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr – Adapted by
Siv Svendsen – Adapted by
Siv Svendsen – Idea
Johannes Holmen Dahl – Direction
Kai Johnsen – Direction
Johannes Holmen Dahl – Dramaturge
Kai Johnsen – Dramaturge
Inger Astri Kobbevik Stephens – Stage design
Eindride Eidsvold – Actor
Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr – Actor
Siv Svendsen – Actor
Julie Høigilt – Producer
Performance dates
Navember 22, 2012Amfiscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre visiting performance
Navember 21, 2012Amfiscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre visiting performance
Navember 17, 2012Amfiscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre visiting performance
Navember 16, 2012Amfiscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre visiting performance
February 9, 2012Hallen, Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) Show
February 8, 2012Hallen, Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) Worldwide premiere
Press coverage

Idalou Larsen, Flerbunnet teaterlek (literally: Theatre game with several foundations), 13.12.2012, Klassekampen [Oslo] and at idalou.no (14.02.2012):
"The production expresses something general about being a human, with all it contains of hope, dreams, disappointments and anxiety."

Knut Olav Åmås, Hun som bare vil leve (literally: She, who only wants to live), 25.02.2012, Aftenposten [Oslo]:
"I have seen a lot of indifferent, yawning boring theatre the past year. In Jeg svarte på en drøm* (I responded to a dream) something is at stake."

Kristin Aalen, Et stykke som berørte (literally: A moving piece), 15.06.2012, Aftenbladet [Stavanger]:
"Who fears sweet soup when Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr performs in a visiting performance at Tou Scene, needs to think again. The little woman is truly tough and she affects her audience."

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.