| 19:15-20:15 | 21  |
Northern Echoes: Tracing the Past, Exploring the Present, and Shaping the Future of Independent Performing Arts in Northern NorwayAs part of the International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts Caravane, the team is excited to present a pivotal three-part talk series titled Northern Echoes. This series will delve into the rich tapestry of the independent performing arts scene in Northern Norway, with a special focus on its historical roots, contemporary challenges and future opportunities. The inaugural session of our series begins with a retrospective look at the origins of the independent performing arts in Northern Norway. This part will highlight the pioneering Sámi initiatives that laid the groundwork for cultural expression in the region. Participants will also learn about the establishment of the Hålogaland Teater—the first professional theatre in Northern Norway—and its role in fostering a vibrant arts scene. The discussion will also cover the subsequent emergence of new and diverse performing arts groups that have enriched the region's cultural landscape. Through this exploration, attendees will gain insights into how these early developments have influenced the broader Norwegian performing arts scene. The second part of the series shifts focus to the profound impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report, submitted in 2022, which addressed the historical assimilation policies affecting the Sámi and the Kven the north. This session will explore how the narratives of assimilation have shaped the artistic expressions and practices within the Northern and Sámi art scenes. By examining the intersection of art and historical narrative, this talk aims to foster a deeper understanding of the complex cultural dynamics at play. The final segment of our series looks forward to the future of the independent performing arts in Northern Norway. This discussion will engage with younger artists, to outline the necessary steps to stimulate the development of new infrastructure, collaborations, and networks. Key topics will include the potential for cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural projects, and strategies to enhance visibility and sustainability for the independent arts sector. The goal is to reflect upon a forward-looking strategy that not only addresses current challenges but also harnesses the unique cultural strengths of Northern Norway to foster a thriving artistic community. |
| 11:15-12:15 | 21 |
Sneak Peek: What 3 Nordic Artists Explore in Their Creative WorkWe have invited three artists to showcase their fields and what interests them in their artistic practice. We encouraged them to present either a small detail or a broad overview. The key is to highlight what is important to them. Through this, we want to inspire and engage whoever is listening and watching. The artists we have invited are scenographer Fredrik Tjærandsen, playwright Karoline Una Moen, and dancer Thomas Voll, all from Nordland. Speakers: Fredrik Tjærandsen |
| 18:00-19:00 | 21 |
Carte Blanche - RETRO CATLocation: Stormen Konserthus, Store Sal
Location: Stormen Konserthus, Store Sal
Address: Storgata 1B, 8006 Bodø, Norway | Event Map | Venue Accessibility RETRO CAT unfolds in an oversized setting. Amid imaginative surroundings, we find the rear end of a giant cat. The cat butt acts as a magical portal. The cat’s tail sways back and forth. The portal pulsates. The moon rises with the sun. Strange creatures inhabit the stage. They sing in an unrecognisable language, yet we still understand. The figures on the stage are ambiguous in nature. Are they humans or animals, fish or birds, or something entirely different? RETRO CAT is a performance where set design, sound, light, and dancers merge into a lively and surreal experience. Contrasts and repetitions are explored. Tori Wrånes questions both the visible and the invisible. She playfully engages with parallel worlds and with new rules. Artist and composer Tori Wrånes has created spectacular works worldwide. In RETRO CAT, Wrånes has put her signature on choreography, composition, set design, and costume design. Enter an extraordinary world filled with visual and auditory acrobatics, mystery, seriousness and play! Duration: 60 min Credits Choreography: Tori Wrånes Dancers: Adrian Bartczak Co-produced with Carte Blanche and Bergen International Festival in collaboration with BIT Teatergarasjen Get in touchProduction contact: Gulli Sekse Status: Ready for touring |
| 20:30-21:40 | 21 |
Plexus Polaire - A Doll’s HouseLocation: Teater NOR
Location: Teater NOR
Address: J. M. Johansens Vei 97, 8340 Stamsund, Norway | Event Map | Venue Accessibility Language: English, no subtitles Plexus Polaire presents A Doll's House, a puppet theatre piece that brings together puppets, actors, music and video projections, inspired by Henrik Ibsen's well-known play. In a performance featuring one female and one male actor-puppeteer in a house haunted by life-sized puppets, dead birds and a possessed female choir, you are invited on a journey that explores the depths of one of the world's most performed plays. Nora, the main character of A Doll's House, experiences a collision with her own reality, akin to a bird hitting an invisible barrier. Throughout the performance, the old house filled with ghosts that still affect us today is explored. It's an opportunity to reflect on who we are, the choices we make, and how we shape our own illusions. This is not just a performance but an invitation to delve into your own life and explore your own choices. Duration: 70 min Genre: Puppet theatre Credits Contributing Directors: Yngvild Aspeli and Paola Rizza Get in touchProduction contact: Claire Costa, Plexus Polaire Status: Ready for touring |
| 12:45-13:30 | 21 |
NORDTING Caravan LofotenLocation: Nordland Visual Theatre
Location: Nordland Visual Theatre
Address: J.M. Johansens Vei 23, 8340 Stamsund, Norway | Event Map | Venue Accessibility NORDTING is an assembly for the North, the whole North and nothing but the North. And why do we need an assembly for the North? Because the capital is always in the south, because the power is always in the south, and because the money - usually - ends up in the south. Since the beginning in 2014, NORDTING has arranged people's assemblies all over the Arctic, from Alaska to Greenland, from Iceland to Norway. Thousands of people have made their voices heard, assemblies have voted yes or no to oil drilling, fish farming, mining, independence for the North, new street names, new airline routes, new national anthems and taxation of the rich. There has been a lottery, cheering, praying, flagging, singing, chanting, moving, voting and thinking about what it means to be an Arctic inhabitant - all under the assembly slogan ‘Make the North Great Again!’. The point of departure for NORDTING is the North, but the issues addressed - of power, economy, local identity, ownership to resources, centre and periphery, separatism and populism - are very much global and common for us all. We invite you to a special Caravan edition of NORDTING, as always tailored to the local context and people present. (´nord´ = north, ´ting´ = old norse word for governing assembly, legislative assembly) Duration: 30 min Credits Artistic and Political Director: Amund Sjølie Sveen Get in touchProduction contact: Amund Sjølie Sveen Status: Ready for touring |
