America

Visions of love

America - Visions of love (2009) is a production by Winter Guests/Alan Lucien Øyen.

"When we packed our bags, (with Baudrillard’s America as the only travel guide) and rather arrogantly set out to clear America of charges and to save the Americans from their bad reputation, we were first and foremost confronted with our own prejudices and bias", Alan Lucien Øyen/Winterguests describes.

Information

(Objekt ID 3007)
Object type Production
Original title America - Visions of Love
Premiere October 1, 2009
Produced by winter guests
Coproducers BIT Teatergarasjen, Carte Blanche, Dansens Hus,
Audience Adults
Language English
Keywords Theatre, Video, Dance
Running period October 1, 2009  
Duration 180 minutes with 1 interval
Website Winterguests

Requirements to venue

Blackout Yes
More

America - Visions of Love by Winter Guests/Alan Lucien Øyen examines the relationship to America.

As the company says*: "Why is the whole world so preoccupied with America and American culture? It seems an image, or movie exists in everybody’s mind about what it is "America" is and what it represents. We decided to grab a hold of that. Of our assumptions, our love, loathing and prejudice, and make this our stage performance: or rather, directions for a movie that might be made about people making a performance about America. This way, everyone could take part: George, Geoff, Marilyn, Donna, Drew, Ronald, Phil, Syria, Lazlo, Richard and Becca, Dennis, Peg, Larry, Annette, Tom, and Tom – and Debbie – and all those others we either happened to meet, note or record in our spread journey through The New World.

We have edited as one might edit a movie; re-ordering, re-contextualising, re-forming characters.

Through our prejudiced glance is a play appearing, with characters – all the Americans we met. They step out of their reality and gets onstage with us, and find their way into a screenplay based on transcripts of conversations we took part in or observed, as well as snatches of recontextualised dialogue from television shows or movies -and of course, our own writing."

America - Visions of love by Winter Guests/Alan Lucien Øyen was supported by Arts Council Norway, the municipality of Bergen, The Fund for Performing Artists and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/MFA (travel grant/performing arts).

Sources:

BIT Teatergarasjen, autumn program 2009. 10.08.2010: http://www.bit-teatergarasjen.no/article/64

Winter guests, winterguests.com, 07.11.2010: http://winterguests.com/theatre/america-visions-of-love

*The quote consists of two very similar, intertwined quotes, originally quoted in Norwegian and English respectively.

Contributors (18)
Name Role
Andrew Wale – Text
Alan Lucien Øyen – Text
Alan Lucien Øyen – Direction
Tom Remlov – Dramaturge
Åsmund Færavaag – Stage design
Alan Lucien Øyen – Video/Film
Gunnar Innvær – Sound design
Torkel Skjærven – Lighting design
Krysten Cummings – Performer (Gjesteaktør)
Suzie Davies – Performer
Åsmund Færavaag – Performer
Kate Pendry – Performer
Andrew Wale – Performer
Leander Øyen – Performer
Erik Berg – Photo
Martin Flack – Technical director
Alan Lucien Øyen – Video technician
Gunn Hernes – Producer
Performance dates
April 16, 2011Stora Scen, Dansens Hus - Stockholm Show
April 3, 2011Hovedscenen, Dansens Hus Show
October 18, 2009Hovedscenen, Dansens Hus Show
October 3, 2009Studio Bergen, Carte Blanche Show
October 2, 2009Studio Bergen, Carte Blanche Show
October 1, 2009Studio Bergen, Carte Blanche Worldwide premiere
Festivals (2)
CODA October 18, 2009
Oktoberdans October 1, 2009
Press coverage

Jan H. Landro, Bergens Tidende [Bergen, Norway]:

"Twelve year old Leander Øyen also impresses with his stage charisma and confidence. He is strongly reminiscent of the young, Polish boy Tadzio of Death in Venice, which is also referred to in the play. It makes an impression when he performs the story of an old, gay, sex-addicted man.”

Therese Bjørneboe, Klassekampen [Oslo, Norway]:

"Remarkably well performed and composed. At a high, international level."