The Consulate
In The Consulate (2007) by Jo Strømgren Kompani, a group of diplomats are trying to maintain a consulate. The front looks bad, the inside is worse, and neutral politeness is long forgotten. But in a world of mental fatigue and worn hopes, a ray of light can sometimes appear - the tiny seed of love. This requires, unfortunately, a domestic diplomacy far beyond their consular talents.
Information
(Objekt ID 5260)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | Navember 1, 2007 |
| Produced by | Jo Strømgren Kompani, The Reykjavík City Theatre |
| Audience | Adults |
| Language | Gibberish |
| Keywords | Dance, Dance theatre, Physical theatre, Contemporary dance, Comedy, Theatre |
| Running period | Navember 1, 2007 |
| Website | Jo Strømgren Kompani |
Jo Strømgren Kompani writes the following about The Consulate:
"Of all particularities, perhaps serious accusations of racism in the Icelandic press are worth mentioning. The portrayal of Russians in The Consulate was too much to bear for some journalists. After satirical portrayal of all kinds of nationalities, performed in almost 50 countries, this was the first time ever the R-word has come up.
Relevant, and interesting as a case study, is the fact that Iceland has protected itself from foreign influence ever since its independence in the 1950es. It's still probably the whitest country on earth and also one of the few remaining places where the word “negro” is still in daily use.
Multicultural debate as we know it in the rest of Europe has only just started to evolve, with the consequential confusion of terms and references. The accusations were nevertheless yet another example of how interesting local circumstances are when judging feedback, even in microscopic societies like Iceland. Definitions are relative - as always.
Jo Strømgren Kompani however regards the accusations as an awkward anecdote."
Source:
Jo Strømgren Kompani, jskompani.no, 08.08.2010, http://jskompani.no/productions/15
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jo Strømgren | – Script |
| Jo Strømgren | – Direction |
| Jo Strømgren | – Choreography |
| Jo Strømgren | – Stage design |
| Jo Strømgren | – Costume design |
| Ólafur Örn Thoroddsen | – Sound design |
| Magnús Arnar Sigurðarson | – Lighting design |
| Birgitta Birgirsdóttir | – Performer |
| Helga Braga Jónsdóttir | – Performer |
| Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir | – Performer |
| Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir | – Performer |
| Hilmir Snær Jónsson | – Performer |
| Pór Tuliníus | – Performer |
| Bergur Þór Ingólfsson | – Performer |
| Navember 1, 2007 – Main Stage, The National Theatre of Iceland | Worldwide premiere |