How the First Letter Was Written

How the First Letter Was Written (2010) was a theatre production by Brageteatret, based on the short story by Rudyard Kipling, in a theatrical adaptation by Sigrid Strøm Reibo, with music by Alexander Manotskov.

Sigrid Strøm Reibo directed it.

The production was performed using the Norwegian title Tøffe Taffy Huleboer (literally: Tough Taffy Cavedweller).

Information

(Objekt ID 38520)
Object type Production
Premiere September 30, 2010
Produced by Brageteatret
Based on How the First Letter Was Written by Rudyard Kipling
Audience Families, All (from 5 to 100)
Audience size 1299
Number of events 19
Language Norwegian
Keywords Performance for the Family, Theatre
Running period September 30, 2010  
Duration Approximately 2 hours
Website brageteatret
More

"Once upon a most early time was a Neolithic man. He was not a Jute or an Angle, or even a Dravidian, which he might well have been, Best Beloved, but never mind why. He was a Primitive, and he lived cavily in a Cave, and he wore very few clothes, and he couldn't read and he couldn't write and he didn't want to, and except when he was hungry he was quite happy. His name was Tegumai Bopsulai, and that means, 'Man-who-does-not-put-his-foot-forward-in-a-hurry'; but we, O Best Beloved, will call him Tegumai, for short. And his wife's name was Teshumai Tewindrow, and that means, 'Lady-who-asks-a-very-many-questions'; but we, O Best Beloved, will call her Teshumai, for short. And his little girl-daughter's name was Taffimai Metallumai, and that means, 'Small-person-without-any-manners-who-ought-to-be-spanked'; but I'm going to call her Taffy. And she was Tegumai Bopsulai's Best Beloved and her own Mummy's Best Beloved, and she was not spanked half as much as was good for her; and they were all three very happy."

(The start of Rudyard Kipling's short story.)

SOURCES:

Brageteatret, brageteatret.no, 04.03.2014, http://www.brageteatret.no/taffy / 15.05.2017,  http://www.brageteatret.no/forestilling/toffe-taffy-huleboer/

Marit Synnøve Berg's private archive, donated by Marit Synnøve Berg, 28.01.2014

The National Library of Norway, performance program transferred to Sceneweb, 31.05.2018

Contributors (17)
Name Role
Rudyard Kipling – Author
Sigrid Strøm Reibo – Dramatised by
Sigrid Strøm Reibo – Direction
Alexander Manotskov – Music
Gjermund Andresen – Stage design
Gjermund Andresen – Costume design
Anders Busch – Lighting design
Joseph Angyal – Actor
Marit Synnøve Berg – Actor
Sarah McDonald Berge – Actor
Yngve Berven – Actor
Michael Bordman Bø – Actor
Cecilie Enersen – Actor
Richard Olsen – Actor
Morten Svartveit – Actor
Trude Øines – Actor
Kjetil Moslåtten – Technical director
Performance dates
September 30, 2010Idunnsalen Union Scene, Brageteatret Worldwide premiere