THE SOCIETY
ON TOUR
A society of sworn coffee drinkers in Europe gather for their daily ritual. However, the harmony is broken by an horrific incident – the discovery of a used teabag. As the investigations into a possible Asian infiltration unfold, one question is inevitable. How far are they willing to go in order to track the unpatriotic traitor down and bring this evil act to justice? More…
The isolated conflict between drinkers of coffee and tea in a micro world is of course open for interpretation by audiences. JSK always tries to mirror the macro world by scrutinizing basic elements of contemporary phenomena. In our turbulent times the average citizen is, for example, ever more tempted to accept torture, the surpression of minorities, and other violent means in order to restore order and avoid a clash of civilizations.
These are potentially difficult themes, not only to discuss, but particularly to reflect in theatre. Much respect, cultural knowledge, and political insight is needed to provide credible standpoints in a international conflicts. But then again, one is also free to harass the seeds of such problems that are to be found universally.
Less…
The Society expertly straddles the fragile line between humor and horror.
It eats into your conscience, makes you laugh while you’re horrified, and edges the everyday world so far into fantasy that you doubt it can return. Nightmare has become the new reality.
Strømgren combines good taste, plastic intuition, and kinetic wisdom.
It was like watching a Norwegian Three Stooges on acid but it must have worked because I’ve been having flashbacks all morning.
The Society is an on-the-dot precise study on why a tea bag can start a world war.
The dance – a great cast with excellent plastic training and sufficiently large scenes where the characters can dance for real. The drama – great dialogues and general construction of the play, where the movements, with its quality and diversity, are still submitted the overall storytelling.
Whimsical like a dream, and reliable as thesis in psychology.
Strømgren’s pictures of manners and customs are based on accurate and, I must say, merciless observations.
Pure enjoyment. Comprehensible, funny, relevant, and unpredictable.
An extremely funny comedy.
Language: Nonsensical French and some English
Touring: Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Norway, Lithuania, USA, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Poland, Russia
Premiere: Beirut, Lebanon, May 2008
| Date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 11/10 2011 | Teatro Gayarre, Pamplona, Spain | Tickets |
| 18/10 2011 | Four days in motion festival. Archa Theater, Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 21/10 2011 | NET Festival. Meyerhold Center, Moscow, Russia | Tickets |
| 22/10 2011 | NET Festival. Meyerhold Center, Moscow, Russia | Tickets |
| 26/10 2011 | Festival Internacional Cervantino, Leon, Mexico | |
| 27/10 2011 | Festival Internacional Cervantino, Leon, Mexico | |
| 31/10 2011 | 14 Festival de Teatro de la Habana, Havana, Cuba | Tickets |
| 01/11 2011 | 14 Festival de Teatro de la Habana, Havana, Cuba | Tickets |
| 09/11 2011 | Festival les Borealis. Comedie de Caen, Caen, France | |
| 10/11 2011 | Festival les Borealis. Comedie de Caen, Caen, France |
Length: 65 min without interval Direction, script, choreography, set design: Jo Strømgren Cast 2010-2011: Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Hallvard Holmen, Stian Isaksen Original cast: Bartek Kaminski, John Fjelnseth Brungot, Trond Fausa Aurvåg Sound design: Lars Årdal Lighting design: Stephen Rolfe Costumes, styling: Peter Löchstöer Props: Tina Peios Photographer: Knut Bry Producer: Jo Strømgren Kompani General Manager: Ann-Christin Danhammer, Inger Margrethe Stoveland Project managers: Tine Rude, Solfrid Glesnes Norwegian co-producers: Norwegian National Theatre, Bergen International Festival, BIT Teatergarasjen Support: Arts Council Norway, City of Bergen Support on selected venues: The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Download: Society Technical RequirementsDownload: Society Lighting Plan
