The Shit/La Merda
The Shit/La Merda (2018) was a theatre production by Østfold kulturutvikling (administrative unit, part of the county of Østfold) and POS Theatre Company in collaboration with Frida Kahlo Productions, Richard Jordan Productions and BaGS Entertainment, Summerhall. The Shit//La Merda is based on the monologue La merda by Cristian Ceresoli. The Norwegian premiere took place in Moss during NonStop International Theatre Festival. The production was performed on tour in Østfold prior to being transferreed to Rogaland Teater, Stavanger.
Audny Chris Holsen directed it.
Helga Guren performed the monologue. She received The Hedda Award 2019 in the best leading actress category for her interpretation of the role.
The Shit/La Merda was performed in Norwegian, as Dritt//La merda, in a translation by Ilene Sørbøe.
Information
(Objekt ID 87934)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | September 16, 2018 |
| Produced by | , Performing Arts Østfold |
| Coproducers | Rogaland Theatre |
| In collaboration with | , , , |
| Based on | The Shit AKA La Merda by Cristian Ceresoli |
| Audience | Youth, Adults (from 15) |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Theatre |
| Running period | September 16, 2018 |
| Website | Rogaland Teater, Østfold kulturutvikling |
The Hedda Jury gave the following reason for the award to Helga Guren:
"Gender identity and men who, in different ways, suppress women are among the characteristics for the nominees in the best leading actress category. Life's dark sides are illuminated through strong emotions and sharp texts. This year's winner brutally confronts men, the society and herself. She is repressed, but she wants to be at the centre in a performance filled with irony, humour and raw, uncomfortable presence of bitter truths. In every way bared, she conveys the role's agitations and self-consciousness with genuine musicality in text, tone, gaze and movement, and she owns the production from start to finish."
"In La merda, we meet a young woman who struggles with her lousy self-image while fighting relentlessly to break through, in a world in which exquisite thighs means freedom. Her war on her demanding surroundings brings her to the edge of rage and hysteria, while confronting herself with self-depreciation and self-recognition, awakening the audience's sympathy and reflection. This story switches between political criticism, pornographic dirt and sentimental nostalgia."
SOURCES:
Import from the Scenekunst.no list of openings 16.08.2018
Østfold kulturutvikling (the county of Østfold), www.kulturutvikling.no, 16.08.2018, http://www.kulturutvikling.no/dritt/
Rogaland Theatre, www.rogaland-teater.no, 16.08.2018, https://www.rogaland-teater.no/program/dritt-la-merda-av-cristian-ceresoli
The Hedda Award, www.heddaprisen.no, 16.10.19, https://www.heddaprisen.no/vinnere/2019
Sceneweb on The Hedda Award, www.sceneweb.no, 16.10.19, https://sceneweb.no/en/awarding/93019/The_Hedda_Award_2019-2019
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Cristian Ceresoli | – Playwright |
| Ilene Myrann Sørbøe | – Translation |
| Audny Chris Holsen | – Direction |
| Stig Håvard Dirdal | – Visual design |
| Arne Nøst | – Room |
| Jonas Bjerketvedt | – Sound design |
| Norunn Standal | – Lighting design |
| Helga Guren | – Actor (Protagonist) |
| Elisabeth Fjermestad | – Prompter |
| Øyvind Andresen | – Technician |
| Vilde Broen | – Producer |
| Per-Olav Sørensen | – Consultant (Kunstnerisk konsulent) |
| October 4, 2018 20:00 – Teaterhallen (Turnhallen), Rogaland Teater, Rogaland Theatre | visiting performance |
| September 16, 2018 18:30 – Kirkeparken videregående skole (NonStopFestivalen) | National premiere, Norway |
| NonStopFestivalen | September 16, 2018 |