Can't Pay? Won't Pay!
Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (1978) was a theatre production by The Arctic Theatre, based on the play by Dario Fo. The production was performed on tour, opening in Narvik.
Per Sandborgh directed it.
The run was interrupted March 12 1979, due to a national actors' strike. The strike lasted until April 3 the same year, and the tour continued from June 14.
Information
(Objekt ID 67115)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | Navember 12, 1978 |
| Produced by | The Arctic Theatre |
| Based on | Can't Pay? Won't Pay! by Dario Fo |
| Audience | Adults |
| Audience size | 15000 |
| Number of events | 47 |
| Language | Norwegian dialect |
| Keywords | Theatre, Farce, Political Theatre |
| Running period | Navember 12, 1978 |
| Website | HÅLOGALAND TEATER |
"The basis for Can't Pay? Won't Pay! was the economic crisis in Italy in 1974. Inflation accelerated, whereas salaries stagnated.The crisis led to spontaneous actions among the people. They turned out differently from the expectations from the government and the businesses: People did not pay what was demanded as rents or for food, but paid what they could afford. They called it 'self-reduction'."
SOURCES:
The Arctic Theatre, halogalandteater.no, 31.08.2018, http://halogalandteater.no/produksjon/2005/vi-betale-ikkje
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 |
|---|---|
| Dario Fo | – Playwright |
| Ragnar Olsen | – Translation |
| Per Sandborgh | – Direction |
| Truls Kwetzinsky | – Stage design |
| Maryon Eilertsen | – Actor (Antonia) |
| Thor-Inge Gullvåg | – Actor (Luigi) |
| Randi Koch | – Actor (Margherita) |
| John Sigurd Kristensen | – Actor |
| Frode Rasmussen | – Actor (Giovanni) |
| Arne Skog | – Extra |
| Siggen Stinesen | – Photo |
| Arne Skog | – Producer |
| Navember 12, 1978 – Hålogaland Teater før 2005, The Arctic Theatre | Opening night |
Astrid Sletbakk, date unknown, Verdens Gang [Oslo]:
"It can be hard to review plays one has seen, but only partly heard. That was the case for The Arctic Theatre's premiere performance of Dario Fo's Can't Pay? Won't Pay!. Several times, the actors had to pick the acting back up in between cascades of laughter from the audience. The laughter had no end. (...) Can't Pay? Won't Pay! might be the most political play the theatre has ever performed."
Ellen Pollestad, date unknown, Nordlys [Tromsø]:
"One can only conclude that The Arctic Theatre took Narvik by storm. The opening of Dario Fo's madcap comedy Can't Pay? Won't Pay! became an unconditional and definite success."