Beauty School
a horror opera
Beauty School by Alpaca Ensemble and RohdeAass Produksjoner is a horror opera for children aged ten years or more, performed by four singers and seven musicians. It is about often one-sided focus the society puts on looks and demands for kindness – and not least about the way children can perceive these demands. The production discusses the right to be ugly as well as cute, nice as well as naughty; in other words, the right to be who one is.
Information
(Objekt ID 8319)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | September 16, 2009 |
| Produced by | Alpaca Ensemble, RohdeAass produksjoner |
| Coproducers | Rosendal Teater |
| Based on | Beauty School by Karin Rehnqvist, Kerstin Klein - Perski |
| Audience | Children, Families, Youth (from 10) |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Musical theatre, Theatre, Music |
| Running period | September 16, 2009 |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | No |
Beauty School by Alpaca Ensemble and RohdeAass Produksjoner is about Bella, who is ten years old. Her father is dead and her mother is about to remarry. Bella doesn’t want her mother to get married and she definitely doesn’t want to be a pretty and nice bridesmaid. In despair she tries sending Morse signals to her dad in heaven, but instead of her dad, a mysterious man named Thorko shows up. Thorko leads Bella to Beauty School – an educational institution led by the strict Countess. By this, the table is made for horror and musical excitement. What will happen to the girls in Beauty School? And who is really the scary Vampire?
Beauty School was written by Karin Rehnqvist and Kerstin Klein-Perski, on commission from The Swedish Concert Institute in 1999. The opera has been translated to German and has been performed in several German venues.
Avant Garden had the honour of presenting the Norwegian premiere of Beauty School – in collaboration with Alpaca Ensemble and RhodeAass produksjoner.
Alpaca Ensemble is a flexible music ensemble springing out from Alpaca Trio, consisting of Sigrid Elisabeth Stang (violin), Marianne Baudouin Lie (cello) and Else Bø (piano). They are responsible for several critically acclaimed record releases, concerts and performances. RohdeAass produksjoner consists of the multi-artists Ane Aass and Rasmus Rohde. The pair has made a series of performances and concerts, for instance Sila Sand and Rasmus og verdens beste band på verdensturne (literally: Rasmus and the best band in the world touring the world).
Beauty School was supported by Arts Council Norway, the municipality of Trondheim and the municipal culture school of Trondheim.
Source: The jubilee program 2009, Avant Garden.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kerstin Klein - Perski | – Text |
| Ane Aass | – Direction |
| Karin Rehnqvist | – Music |
| Sigrid Elisabeth Stang | – Concertmaster |
| Ingvild Rømo Grande | – Stage design |
| Ingvild Rømo Grande | – Costume |
| Marianne Baudouin Lie | – Musician |
| Ole Jørgen Melhus | – Musician |
| Ida Marie Sørmo | – Musician |
| Ragnhild Torp | – Musician |
| Kjersti Beate Vindal | – Musician |
| Lars Eggen | – Singer |
| Hazel Eilertsen | – Singer |
| Kathrine Strugstad | – Singer |
| September 19, 2009 – Teaterhuset Avant Garden | Show |
| September 18, 2009 – Teaterhuset Avant Garden | Show |
| September 17, 2009 – Teaterhuset Avant Garden | Show |
| September 16, 2009 – Teaterhuset Avant Garden | Opening night |