Happy Birthday Putin

Happy Birthday Putin (2011) es a production by Rebekka/Huy.

"I have had the strength to do this work because nobody else lines up to do it", Anna Politkovskaya said.

Rebekka/Huy say: 

"We observe the conflict between Russia and Chechnya at a safe, Norwegian distance. From our safety-wrapped, safe existence we try to understand the expanse of Anna Politkovskaya's choice, who she was, how it affected her and why she couldn't choose differently even though she knew what she did could cost her life.

Information

(Objekt ID 31910)
Object type Production
Premiere April 14, 2011
Produced by
Audience Adults
Keywords Theatre, Solo, Monologue
Running period April 14, 2011  —  2013
Website Dramatikkens hus, Hålogaland Teater

Requirements to venue

Blackout Yes
More

At the webpage of Dramatikkens hus the following, among other things, is written about Happy Birthday Putin, in a quote from the book Mitt russiske testamente (literally: My Russian testament) by Siri Lill Mannes, July 2007:

"With courage, integrity and an excellent pen Anna Politkovskaya became the foremost critic of the leadership in the Kremlin. October 7 2006 what she feared and predicted happened. The murder took place in the stairs to her own home during the birthday of Vladimir Putin. The birthday boy commented the loss of Russia's internationally best known reporter through calling her extremely insignificant."

Supported by: Arts Council Norway, Spenn.no, The Freedom of Expression Foundation Fritt Ord, The Audio Visual Fund, The Fund for Performing Artists and The Norwegian Actors' Equity Association's fund for freelancers.

Sources:

Dramatikens hus, arkiv.dramatikkenshus.no, 16.10.2012, http://arkiv.dramatikkenshus.no/pub/dramatikkenshus/Innhold/kalenderarkiv/?aid=1425&cid=1045&viewall=1

E-mail from Huy Le Vo, 15.10.2012

Underskog, underskog.no, 16.10.2012, http://underskog.no/kalender/forestillinger/78319

Contributors (12)
Name Role
Huy Le Vo – Text
Rebekka Maria Nystabakk – Text
Geir Magne Pedersen – Text
Huy Le Vo – Staging
Rebekka Maria Nystabakk – Staging
Lars Myrvoll – Music
Solmund Nystabakk – Music
Lisa Hjalmarson – Stage design
Norunn Standal – Lighting design
Rebekka Maria Nystabakk – Actor
Lisa Hjalmarson – Photo
Birgitte Strid – Consultant (Kunstnerisk konsulent)
Performance dates
March 9, 2013Scene Øst, Hålogaland Teater, The Arctic Theatre visiting performance
March 8, 2013Scene Øst, Hålogaland Teater, The Arctic Theatre visiting performance
July 9, 2011 14:00 – Kverneland, The House of Literature Show
July 9, 2011 19:00 – Kverneland, The House of Literature Show
July 8, 2011 19:00 – Kverneland, The House of Literature Show
April 16, 2011Prøvesalen, Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) Show
April 15, 2011Prøvesalen, Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) Show
April 14, 2011Prøvesalen, Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) Worldwide premiere
Press coverage

Julie Rongved Amundsen, Happy Birthday, PutinNorsk Shakespeare- og Teatertidsskrift nr 2/2011 [Oslo]:
"It has become a journey in Russian politics and ideology and one's own prejudiced ideological knowledge. [...] Naivety is used as an effect to underline the feeling of powerlessness facing an unjust world, and through this personification, the performance is presented as a personal education journey in which knowledge is an aim. [...] The questions I am left with after the performance centre around what terrorism is, who commits terrorism and who controls fear when everyone is afraid? [...] With this production Rebekka/Huy have managed to create very good theatre."