HYSJ!* (HUSH!)

In its documentary theatre production HYSJ!* (HUSH!)Teaterfabrikken 70N 30Ø bases the work in the sexual assault cases in Kautokeino, in which adult men got sex from girls aged 13, 14 and 15 years in exchange for telephone cards. Over three years the company has talked to and interviewed school nurses, researchers, journalist, social anthropologists, mothers, fathers, youth club leaders, lawyers, people from mediation councils, philosophers, teachers, social workers, sociologists, priest and professors and youth, boys and girls, people from all of Norway, larger cities and smaller communities.

Teaterfabrikken takes use of text, music, film, images, physical acting and direct dialogue with its audiences. Many different youths’ voices are heard through the actors onstage. The actors’ own voices too – in hard and in beautiful stories, sad and funny.  

HYSJ! is a documentary performance about respect and dignity.

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Source: Hysj!, 12.11.2010, http://hysjhysj.ning.com

"Documentary theatre can be pedagogic theatre, which rarely succeeds. But in this performance statistics, personal expressions and excerpts from judicial protocols, poetic humour and heartfelt sincerity are united. (...) The audience gets to know all this information through fragmented dramaturgy, via abrupt effects. Suddenly situations are cut, the music following some sequences abruptly stops. This fragmented form matches the material, the expression becomes youthfully restless and unpredictable."

Source: Hilde Skancke Pedersen (April 2010), article titled Når teater lærer oss å si nei* (When theatre teaches us to say no), Altaposten (Alta).

*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

"Openness is important
Øyvind Lorentzen leads the local police in Kautokeino. He personally went to see the play when it was performed for the community this spring.

– In collaboration with the police, the mediation council and the youth club youth were divided into group post-performance. They talked about the play and what they experienced after having seen it, the police officer tells Ságat.

– I think it was good for the youth to have the threshold lowered and to talk about this, he means, and points out;

– It is important that adults open for openness surrounding this difficult subject."

Source: Hans Petter Tapio, Ságat No. 207 - Gaskavahkku 27. b. golggotmánus 2010 (pages 14 and 15)