JO STRØMGREN with “The Society” on tour
JO STRØMGEN: THE SOCIETY on Tour, Foto: Knut Bry.
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?
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
.
JO STRØMGREN: THE SOCIETY, on tour. Foto: Knut Bry
The Society expertly straddles the fragile line between humor and horror.
New York Times, USA
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.
JO STRØMGREN: THE SOCIETY, on tour. Foto: Knut Bry
The Society is an on-the-dot precise study on why a tea bag can start a world war.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 13/09 | Lillestrøm Kultursenter, Lillestrøm, Norway | TICKETS |
| 24/09 | Teater Ibsen, Skien, Norway | TICKETS |
| 04/10 | Festival Internacional de teatro de Ourense . Auditorio de Ourense, Ourense, Spain |
TICKETS |
| 06/10 | Teatro Principal Antzokia, Vitoria, Spain | |
| 07/10 | Teatro Principal Antzokia, Vitoria, Spain | |
| 11/10 | Teatro Gayarre, Pamplona, Spain | TICKETS |
| 18/10 | Four days in motion festival. Archa Theater, Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 21/10 | NET Festival. Meyerhold Center, Moscow, Russia | TICKETS |
| 22/10 | NET Festival. Meyerhold Center, Moscow, Russia | TICKETS |
| 26/10 | Festival Internacional Cervantino, Leon, Mexico | |
| 27/10 | Festival Internacional Cervantino, Leon, Mexico |
http://jskompani.no/productions/16
Jo Strømgren - Stressful rehearsal with Royal Danish Ballet. Foto: David Amzallaq