Scenografi for The Strangers by Albert Camus. Staged at the Theater Oslo Nye and it became a part of Heddadagene, Oslo 2023
Foto: Oslo Nye
The novella The Stranger/ L'Étranger /The Foreigners, also published in English as The Outsider, is a 1942 written by French author Albert Camus. The first of Camus' novels published in his lifetime, the story follows Meursault, an indifferent settler in French Algeria, who, weeks after his mother's funeral, kills an unnamed Arab man in Algiers. Considered a classic of 20th-century literature,
We got a review in the newspaper Morgenblandet and in the Sheakspear theater magazine.
We got a review in the newspaper Morgenblandet and in the Sheakspear theater magazine.
Translated text from the webpage of the Theater Oslo Nye:
'A person kills another due to the intense heat of the sun. She is subsequently sentenced to death, not only for the murder but also because she did not mourn at her mother's funeral. "The Stranger" narrates the story of Meursault, who vehemently rejects societal norms. It is a homage to freedom, albeit a different kind from the prevalent, hasty, romantic, liberal freedom characterizing Oslo in 2023 and the West today.
Freedom, a hard-fought value, is not something one can take for granted. Ideas of individual freedom influence choices both on a personal and societal level. Yet, here in Norway, considered a freedom hub compared to many parts of the world, an increasing number of individuals across age groups and life situations find themselves living alone, often against their wishes.
Social media comment sections offer subtle signs of a trend where the sense of alienation is on the rise. Apparently free individuals craft worldviews in isolation, avoiding confrontation with other perspectives through dialogue. Despite the facade of togetherness, loneliness can persist.
Even with numerous communication channels, loneliness and fragmentation are escalating. This situation is not only ironic but also profoundly serious. It becomes progressively challenging to rally for change as we grow more estranged from one another. Theater, in a way, counters this trend: it is the art of ensemble. It thrives on live performances and delves into the fundamental aspects of life - togetherness.
By utilizing "The Stranger" to explore the extreme sport of acting, particularly monologue, set in a cell on "death row" the night before execution, we deliberately intensify the circumstances. This amplifies the performing arts' capacity to showcase humanity, enabling the audience to reflect on their yearning for freedom and personal confinements
Dramatisering og regi: Lena Sendstad
Scenografi: Gitte Sætre
Musikk og lyddesign: Jørn Erik Ahlsen Alkanger
Dramaturg: Marianne Sævig
Fransk dramaturgistøtte: Chloé Royou
Sukkesymfoni: Victoria Gulliksen
Globalt ekko: Sólveig Halldorsdottir, Chloé Royou, Sophie Chevallier, Lina Werning, Caterina Fornos, Em Mikalsen, Ken Gamada, Sanja Drakulic.
Veiledere: Mads Thygesen og Katie Mitchell
Produksjonskoordinator: Maria Brym
Teknisk koordinator: Anders Audum
Inspisient: Christina Bjurholt