Worthless Men

Worthless Men was a theatre production by The National Theatre, produced in 2008, with a script by Christopher Nielsen, based on music and lyrics by his late brother Joachim Nielsen, better known as Jokke.

Anders T. Andersen directed it.

The production was first performed at The Torshov Theatre, then transferred to The National Theatre's main stage as it became a huge audience success.

In addition it was revived at The National Theatre's main stage with the same cast in 2014.

Information

(Objekt ID 5810)
Object type Production
Premiere March 5, 2008
Produced by The National Theatre, The Torshov Theatre
Based on Worthless Men by Christopher Nielsen, Joachim Nielsen
Audience Adults
Language Norwegian
Keywords Musical theatre, Theatre
Running period March 5, 2008  
Website NATIONALTHEATRET ARKIV
More

Gard B. Eidsvold was nominated to The Hedda Award 2008 in the category of best leading actor for the role of Kleggen. Worthless Men was nominated for The Hedda Award 2008 in the category of theatre project of the year, while Christopher Nielsen won the Hedda Award in the category of best debut.

The Hedda Jury reasoned as follows:

"Only in the world of theatre can this year's winner be said to be a newcomer. In at least two other areas he is an experienced artist enjoying great acclaim. This spring he made his debut with a theatre text writing a way out of the traditional theatre mindset, something as rare as an anti-drama text.

There are situations, but no action and hardly any progress. In return there is a description of an environment so realistic it almost becomes mythical, and strong, desperate characters described without sentimentality, but also without superficial irony.

The debut of the year award goes to Christopher Nielsen for the text of Worthless Men at The National Theatre/The Torshov Theatre the spring of 2007 (sic)."

Christopher Nielsenalso won The Ibsen Prize AKA The Norwegian Ibsen Award in 2009 for Worthless Men.

The jury gave the following reason:

"Christopher Nielsen is nominated for the play Worthless Men. The play opened at The Torshov Theatre March 5 2008. In his play Worthless Men Christopher Nielsen describes the outcasts of society with dark comedy and great concern. In a socially involved cabaret tradition that in Norway may be traced back to Jens Bjørneboe’s Happy Birthday, Christopher Nielsen provides a nice section showing four persons on the bottom of the social latter. This way he fills out the already known songs the production has been built around. The songs were written by his brother, the rock musician Joachim Nielsen, who lived from 1964 to 2000."

The production is revived with the same performers in January 2014.

Sources:

Ibsen Awards, www.ibsenawards.com, 26.11.2013, http://www.ibsenawards.com/ia/vinnere/christopher-nielsen/

The Hedda Award

The National Theatre

Performance dates
May 11, 2018Hovedscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre New opening
June 16, 2015Hovedscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre New opening
January 9, 2014Hovedscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre New opening
April 17, 2009Hovedscenen, Nationaltheatret, The National Theatre New opening
March 5, 2008Torshovteatret - Hovedsalen Worldwide premiere
Press coverage

Lillian Bikset, Dagbladet:

"Worthless Men is an Oslo musical of the sincere kind. Honest, madcap, funny and sad."

Aftenposten:

"Nearing a symbiosis of Christopher Nielsen's raw cartoon humour and his late brother Joachim's candid rock reports from Purgatory on Earth."

Morgenbladet:

"Worthless Men on the theatre stage is genius... To play a bunch of drug addicts in such a disturbing credible way is an accomplishment."