Verk Produksjoner asks questions about the world and the theatre. This desire characterizes VP’s version of the classic drama Iphigenia in Aulis, written by Euripides in the 4th century BC. In the play the Greek commander Agamemnon offers to sacrifice his daughter to gods to have favourable winds to sail to Troy. Verk has been strongly influenced by Finn Iunker, who delights in ridiculing some of the world’s greatest literary heroes. At the same time Verk identifies with Iunker’s playful approach to the theatre as an art form.
Verk’s Ifigeneia is a political farce that has its roots in Greek tragedy. Social critique is directed at the insanity of war and the complete lack of a feasible reason for a war. With subdued vaudeville, epic acting and tragic clowns, the company reconstructs the events in the harbour of Aulis. They turn the story into trashy, satirical action with political undercurrents. Ifigeneia was nominated as the “best performance of the year” for this years Hedda prize. Hedda is the biggest theatre prize in Norway.
Med en nedtonet vaudevilleaktig og episk spillestil rekonstruerer karakterene hendelsene i Aulis. Og de gjør det i en satirisk og trashy atmosfære med politiske undertoner. Dagsavisen
The absurd economy of war
Because there isn`t any wind, the greek marine is stuck in the little harbourtown Aulis on it´s voyage towards Troy. Prince Paris has abducted the beutiful Helen, and the greeks want revenge. The Troyan war is about to start, and also the western litterary heritage. But first an exchange has to happen. A virgin for the price of a virgin: The beutiful Helen in exchange for the young Ifigeneia. If the greeks want to secure good sailingwind towards Troy, to slaughter the phoenicians and bring Helen back to Greece, Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter. That is in fact what the goddess has said. And godesses can as we know be pretty cunning.
This is the foundation of the european culture. Wifeabduction, childmurder and a dirty transaction. If this trade hadn´t happened, no Illiade, and absolutely no odyssé and not so many classical tragedies would have been written. Big things is on stake when a norwegian impolitely steps into the worlds heritage with the question: What happens when the war loses it´s motive? Then suddenly we understand the terrible conclusion: It probably wouldn´t matter. The war follows it´s own logic independent of wich motive we choose to give it.
Jon Refsdal Moe, Morgenbladet, 12.12.03
Publikum sa:
-Åja åja åja. sto til forventningene denne her; Velholdt med løse snipper og mye søl. Tydelig inspirert av McCarthy -Herlig trashy! Obs , Vær ute i god tid!(underskog)
-Forestillingen var absolutt severdig. Lindkvist synes VERK kom sterkere tilbake med nettopp denne forestillingen.(Lindkvist blog 06.nov)
-Hittintills årets teaterupplevelse! (Max Kroken, Svenska Dagbladet 13/5 -07)
Reviews:
Verk og Iunker i skjønn forening(Dagsavisen 31. okt 06), Monoton orgie(Morgenbladet 3. nov 06), Aktuelt antikrigsteater(Klassekampen 4. nov 06). Iunkersk tolkningsmangfold (Norsk Shakespeare- og teatertidskrift, Mars-07)Titta leka lära eller bara shoppa(Aftonbladet 12.mai) Uppfinningsrik estetik och övertygande drama (Svenska Dagbladet 13. mai 07) Ukorrekt og komisk(Varden 21. juni 07) Klovner i krig(Dagbladet 25.juni 07) A irracionalidade da guerra(Le Mond diplomatique 13. juli 07) Lost in la playa(rapport fra Almadafestivalen av Jon R. Moe 29.juli 07) God morgen Agamemnon(Adressa 22.okt.07) Sterkt for sansene(Meteor, Bergensavisen 19. okt. 07) A cultural Labyrinth(Baltic Circle Festival Helsinki 28.nov. 07) Hvor blåser det fra, Agamemnon(Helsingin Sanomat 19. nov 07)
Medvirkende:
På scenen: Anders Mossling, Saila Hyttinen, Håkon Vassvik, Thea Fjørtoft, Solveig Laland Mohn og Per Platou Regi: Fredrik Hannestad Tekst: Finn Iunker Musikk: Per Platou Scenografi/kostyme: Signe Becker + VERK Dramaturgi: Kristian Seltun Lys: Nora Hagen Dramaturgisk input: Anders Paulin Videoassistanse: Joachim Hamou Produsent: VERK Co-produksjon: Black Box Teater. Forestillingen er støttet av Norsk kulturråd, Nordisk Kulturfond, UD, Norsk-Finsk Kulturfond.
Spilte forestillinger :
Black Box Teater, Oslo 28-29 okt, 1-5 nov 06. ShowBox, 29 nov 06. Teater Tribunalen, Stockholm 11-12 mai 07. Stamsund Internasjonale Teaterfestival 1.juni 07, PIT 20-21 juni 07. Lisboa Festival de Almada 14 juli 07. Hamar 11/9 07. Trondheim Teaterhuset Avantgarden 20-22 sept; Bergen Meteor BIT-Teatergarasjen 18-19 okt; Helsinki Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival 17-18 nov. Tou Scene: 28-29 november 08, 29 april-2 mai in Copenhagen Denmark Teater FÅR 302