Across the Border – the myth of Jan Baalsrud's escape (2008)
Premiere :
March 30, 2008, Rådstua Theatre House.
The performance toured along the refugee route in Troms county in April 2008.
Screenplay : Bjarne Robberstad in collaboration with Kristin E. Bjørn
Director : Pål Øverland
Dramaturgy : Kristin E. Bjørn
Research : Bjarne Robberstad
On stage : 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/stitching : Lene Åsberg, Anne Marie Bakk
Producer : Anita B. Bjørnstad
Marketing Manager : Helge Markusson
Idea : Eirik Bræin Gikling
Photo: Yngve Olsen Sæbbe
The performance is a collaboration with Hålogaland Teater.
The project has received support from :
Culture in Troms, Tromsø Municipality, Lyngen Municipality, Troms County Municipality, Sami Parliament, Northern Norwegian Cultural Council, Fritt Ord, Norwegian Cultural Council, Text Development Support, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, Fund for Performing Artists, Storfjord Municipality
STATEMENTS
“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. Larssen, Nordlys
“Over the Border is a performance that holds a firm grip on its audience.” -Helge Matland Bladet Tromsø
“This is probably the most important theater premiere I've seen this year,” - Erling Steenstrup, NRK
“The performance 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 in a house.” - Erik Smith-Meyer, TromsøBy
By Bjarne Robberstad in collaboration with Kristin Bjørn
Only the living can make history, … but what when you have made history? When the story is over? When the story is no longer yours? When you get in the way of the story about yourself?
A newly written documentary theatre about one of the most legendary heroes of World War II. The story of Jan Baalsrud's solitary escape through Festung Norwegen became a household name through the film Ni Liv (1958).
Baalsrud became a symbol of the Norwegian war effort: The good Norwegian who fought and won against a militarily superior enemy. David against Goliath. Norway needed a hero in 1944, and we got Baalsrud. But behind the symbol Baalsrud there are many other stories. Stories of people who put their lives on the line to help. Stories of people who failed. Stories of a catastrophically unsuccessful allied military action. About the fear of death. About delayed effects and alcoholism.
About a nobleman's son from Oslo with an education from Germany, who survived thanks to the inhabitants of the Sami village of Manndalen.
Based on recently released historical material, and in close collaboration with Baalsrud's family, playwright Bjarne Robberstad, in collaboration with Kristin Bjørn, has written a play for theater. It is our contention that it was a greater feat for Jan Baalsrud to live the rest of his life than to survive the escape.
The script was developed in collaboration with Ferske Scener.
