The Threepenny Opera
The Threepenny Opera (1971) was a theatre production by The Arctic Theatre, based on the work by Bertolt Brecht (libretto) and Kurt Weill (music). The production was performed on tour, with its opening in Målselv.
Pål Løkkeberg directed it.
Knut Husebø played the role of Mack the Knife.
The Threepenny Opera was The Arctic Theatre's opening performance. It was performed 33 times for a total of approximately 3200 spectators.
Information
(Objekt ID 66612)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | October 26, 1971 |
| Produced by | The Arctic Theatre |
| In collaboration with | The Norwegian Touring Theatre (Riksteatret) |
| Based on | The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill |
| Audience | Adults |
| Audience size | 3200 |
| Number of events | 33 |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Musical theatre, Theatre |
| Running period | October 26, 1971 |
| Website | HÅLOGALAND TEATER |
Among much else, Jens Harald Eilertsen writes the following in his history book Polare scener. Nordnorsk teaterhistorie 1971-2000(literally: Arctic stages. Northern Norwegian theatre history 1971-2000):
"Not only the theatre text carried the name of Brecht. The theories and the working methods that were to be used were strongly inspired by him. Klaus Hagerup had the role of Peachum, the perhaps most crooked of all the crooks in the play. One of Peachum's lines is 'I treat my workers as if they were my family'. This sentence, Pål Løkkkeberg brought up during one of the first rehearsals. He started a discussion about opposites, and ended it by asking 'How would it work if you turned the sentence like this: I treat my family as if they were my workers?'. This gave a rather different perspective in understanding the character essence of Peachum, and obviously it influenced how Klaus Hagerup was to play the role."
SOURCES:
The Arctic Theatre, halogalandteater.no, 16.06.2017, http://halogalandteater.no/index.php/produksjon/tolvskillingsoperaen
Eilertsen, Jens Harald: Polare scener. Nordnorsk teaterhistorie 1971-2000 (literally: Arctic stages. Northern Norwegian theatre history 1971-2000), published by Orkana forlag 2005
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Bertolt Brecht | – Playwright |
| Klaus Hagerup | – Adapted by |
| Pål Løkkeberg | – Adapted by |
| Pål Løkkeberg | – Direction |
| Finn Ludt | – Musical direction |
| Kurt Weill | – Composer |
| Christian Egemar | – Stage design |
| Kari Gravklev | – Costume design |
| Erik Blindheim | – Light |
| Tone Danielsen | – Actor (Polly Peachum, Peachums datter / Dolly, hore / Konstabel) |
| Klaus Hagerup | – Actor (Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum / Walter Kisteglad, medlem av banden / Vixen, hore / Konstabel) |
| Knut Husebø | – Actor (Mackie Kniven / Tigger III / Konstabel) |
| Katja Medbøe | – Actor (Jenny / Lucy, Browns datter / Jimmy 2, medlem av banden / Tigger II) |
| Svein Scharffenberg | – Actor (Politimester Brown / Gatesanger / Robert Kubein, medlem av banden / Tigger IV / Gammel hore) |
| Sigmund Sæverud | – Actor (Mattias Mynt, medlem av banden / Tigger I / Molly, hore / Konstabel) |
| Nils Utsi | – Actor (Charles Flich / Jacob Fingernem, medlem av banden) |
| Torill Øyen | – Actor (Celia Peachum, Jonathan Jeremiahs kone / Eddie, medlem av banden / Pastor Kimball / Betty, hore / Konstabel) |
| Knut Heljar Hagen | – Musician |
| Per Jørgensen | – Musician |
| Finn Ludt | – Musician |
| Arne Skog | – Stage manager |
| October 26, 1971 | Opening night |
Ivan Kristoffersen, date unknown, Nordlys [Tromsø]:
"One is impressed that The Arctic Theatre is already such a good theatre."
Martin Nordvik, date unknown, Adresseavisa [Trondheim]:
"The Arctic Theatre can muster an ensemble of young performers no other Norwegian theatre has the like of."
Sissel Lange-Nielsen, date unknown, Aftenposten [Oslo]:
"All in all, the production was definitely an artistic victory after a Sisyphean task by the young ensemble."
Thor Ellingsen, date unknown, Dagbladet [Oslo]:
"Musically, this is one of the best Brecht productions I have witnessed. These performers can show Brecht: the irony, the mocking and the pretend-pathetic of lyrics and melodies are promoted."