Days below
Days Below is a psychological thriller. The plot takes place in a large basement. The owner of the house, played by Bernt Bjørn, takes people who look lonely and lost to the house and locks them in the basement. To save them from destruction, according to him - he believes he is making them able to handle life.
For the performance, set designer Marcus Olson, lighting designer Tobias Leira and sound designer Amund Sjølie Sveen have created a space that completely transforms Stage East at Hålogaland Teater. The audience sits on high benches along the walls, on boxes that house enormous bass speakers. The entire room vibrates when the deep bass tones are played. A ceiling is stretched over the entire room through which light comes through without the light sources being visible. And in the middle of the room is a spiral staircase where the Owner, played by Bernt Bjørn, descends.
Arne Lygre wrote the text as early as 2006, and the premiere was in Denmark. The characters refer to themselves and each other in the third person, and the sinister events that occur take place largely in language. Days Below is an intense and disturbing performance about power, addiction and human vulnerability - about how violence and oppression can be justified in altruism and love.
Premiere September 24, 2015 AT Hålogaland Theatre
Text: Arne Lygre Director: Kristin Bjørn Actors: Bernt Bjørn, Mary Sarre, Kristine Myhre Tunheim, Kristoffer Veiersted Scenography and costumes: Marcus Olson Sound design: Amund Sjølie Sveen Lighting design: Tobias Leira DRamaturg: Tale Næss Photo: Ingun A. Mæhlum The performance is a collaboration between Ferske Scener, Hålogaland Teater and Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter. Supported by the Norwegian Culture Council and Fund for sound and image.
RECEPTION
The performance received great attention and strong reviews.
Dagbladet's theater critic Lillian Bikset described Days Under as a strong and original production, and highlighted how the direction, acting and spatial design made the audience part of the performance's inner landscape.
iTromsø characterized the performance as a peculiar thriller,
where language alone is enough to evoke acts of violence and fear – without anything actually being shown.
The storytelling technique was highlighted as being so effective that the audience instinctively pulls away from what is just being said.
