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Forestillingsprogram for Trøndelag Teaters produksjon Vestregata (2016). pdf April 28, 2016 Download

Vestregata

Vestregata (2016) was a theatre production by The Arctic Theatre, based on a play by Maja Bohne Johnsen. The production was staged at The Arctic Theatre's main stage, Scene Vest.

Nina Wester and Ingrid Forthun collaborated in directing it.

Maria Bock interpreted the leading role of Johanne.

Vestregata is an authentic street name in Tromsø.

Information

(Objekt ID 54782)
Object type Production
Premiere April 27, 2016
Produced by The Arctic Theatre
In collaboration with Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP)
Based on Vestregata by Maja Bohne Johnsen
Audience Adults
Language Norwegian
Keywords Drama, Theatre
Running period April 27, 2016  
Duration 2 hours, 15 minutes
Website Hålogaland Teater
More

At the webpage of The Arctic Theatre the following, among other things, is written about Vestregata:

"Johanne lives in a municipality-owned unit in Vestregata with her daughter Synnøve. In the same building four other women live – Helga, who is married to Edvartsen, Grete, who has five children, Gunda, whose walls are decorated with images of dead statesmen, Angel, who is religious and drinks in secret. Fina lives around at mercy, and pops by to change her underwear, whereas Lily is the kind one, taking care of Johanne.

Johanne walks the streets during nights. Her thoughts circle Dolfen (her nickname for Hitler) and she is unable to work at the laundry because she really wants to be a seamstress.

The women in Vestregata have grand dreams for the future, but poverty stops them from getting anywhere. For Johanne and Synnøve it has disastrous consequences."

SOURCE:

The Arctic Theatre, www.ht.tr.no, 02.05.16, http://ht.tr.no/index.php/theatre/showview?iShowID=595

Performance dates
April 27, 2016Scene Vest, Hålogaland Teater, The Arctic Theatre Worldwide premiere
Press coverage

Lillian Bikset, Hålogaland Teaters Vestregata er sosialdrama som folkekomedie (literally: Vestregata is social drama as popular comedy), Dagbladet April 28 2016:

"The socially conscious theatre has long traditions at The Arctic Theatre, as long as the theatre's own. Popular comedy, too. In Vestregata the two meet in a many-sided depiction of female life in poverty. It's not just the epoch - the 1960es - that gives this an air of another day. In the expression, theatrical styles more familiar in the theatre's earlier day are combined. The body language, the facial expressions and the verbal intonation are made markedly clear. The spectator is not to mistake emotions or political messages. (...) This is a society where the lack of money is so precarious that little dreams seem big and big ones unachievable. Yet, comedy has a major place in the performance, a popular, rough humour, standing like a bulwark between the women and their problems, determined and insisting. Most downplayed is the expression of Bock, in the parts of the performance in which Johanne is not psychotic. The others act more pointedly outward."