Fattigjenta, bingoprinsen og det magiske pølsevannet* (The poor girl, the bingo prince and the magical hot dog water)

The staged reading as an expression:

Readings are often associated with a series of actors on chairs or bar stools with scripts in their hands or on music stands. This can be a good way of presenting a text, but a staged reading is something else; it includes a degree of staging/direction. The actors have had the text for some time prior to reading and the rehearsal time is a bit longer. But the most important difference is that the director has made some clear choices regarding composition, visual effects, music etc. Hence, a staged reading is more similar to a performance. However, as opposed to the process towards a performance, the expression of a reading can open other types of directorial choices and other methods of approach for the actors. They can make choices which would not have been possible in a performance, but which works as interesting and releasing during a reading. Often this will be experimental choices including some degree of experimentation.

The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater) has developed a certain competence and experience with readings, staged and un-staged. The theatre wanted to develop this further by including a stage designer in the staging work, not just to enrich the visual aspect, but also to contribute to creating a room liberating the actor in his/her work. Staged or not – readings shall have short rehearsal periods and be characterised by brave choices and increased heartbeats – that is part of the appeal for performers and audience alike.

Source: The Open Theatre (Det Åpne Teater), detapneteater.no, 25.10.2010, http://www.detapneteater.no/pub/daat/forestillinger/?aid=686&cid=17&sac=all&viewall=1#daat