Across the border - the myth of Jan Baalsrud's escape
How do you live on when you have become a legend? When the heroic story about you is no longer your own? Over the Border – the myth of Jan Baalsrud's escape is a newly written documentary theater that digs beneath the heroic surface and asks what really happened – and who paid the price.
The performance is based on recently released archival material and conversations with Baalsrud's family. It challenges the established story of the heroic escape from the Nazis in 1943. The performance allows us to meet the people behind the myth: those who helped and those who failed. And not least the man who survived thanks to the helpers, but was never the same again.
Ferske Scener's version is as much a story of hindsight as it is of escape.
About what happens when the nation needs a hero, and the reality turns out to be far more complex.The performance solidified Ferske Scener's role as a communicator of Northern Norwegian history – and as a theater with the ability to ask difficult questions with warmth, precision and sensitivity.
World premiere: March 30, 2008, Rådstua Theatre House, Tromsø
Tour: Along the escape route to Baalsrud in Troms county, April 2008
Script: Bjarne Robberstad in collaboration with Kristin Bjørn Director: Pål Øverland Dramaturgy: Kristin Bjørn Research: Bjarne Robberstad With: Bernt Bjørn, Pernille Dahl Johnsen, Gøran Østerbøl, Jørn-Bjørn Fuller Gee, Espen Østman Scenography and costumes: Sunniva Bodvin Music: Håvard Lund, Gudmund R. Østgård Sound: Nils Petter Christensen, Jim-Oddvar Hansen, Knut Steinlien Lighting design and video: Nicolas Horne Makeup: Irene Øynes Props/sewing: Lene Åsberg, Anne Marie Bakk Producer: Anita B. Bjørnstad
Marketing Manager: Helge Markusson Idea: Eirik Bræin Gikling Photo: Yngve Olsen Sæbbe Partner: Hålogaland Theatre Supported by: Culture in Troms, Tromsø Municipality, Lyngen Municipality, Troms County Municipality, Sami Parliament, Northern Norwegian Cultural Council, Fritt Ord, Norwegian Cultural Council, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, Fund for Performing Artists, etc.
RECEPTION
The performance was met with enthusiasm and strong reactions from both the audience and critics.
“Ferske Scener has managed to do what one would think was an impossible task, to become a lively and exciting theater performance in barely an hour and a half.”
– Bjørn H. Larsen, Northern Lights
“Over the Border is a performance that holds a firm grip on its audience.”
– Helge Matland, Bladet Tromsø
“This is probably the most important theatrical premiere I'm seeing this year.”
– Erling Steenstrup, NRK
“The show is good precisely because they don't fall into the trap of romanticizing Baalsrud. A spade is a spade. A war is a war, and the cold is devilishly cold when you can't hide indoors.”
- Erik Smith-Meyer, City of Tromsø
