SEPTEMBER 10
THOMAS OF NORWAY
Changes in the program for Double Bill in Lofoten Kulturhus on 10 September
"Tribute To Me" by choreographer Martijn Joling unfortunately has to be canceled, as the dancer is injured and unable to perform. "You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together" by Thomas of Norway will be performed as planned. In addition, "Then You Left" by Thomas of Norway will be replacing "Tribute To Me".
In these performances, Thomas of Norway shows the range of his artistic expression - from fierce rhythms and disco lights to the quiet and almost introverted. "You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together" takes place in a nightclub setting with heavy beats, glitter and sugar, partying and flirting with the audience. "Then You Left" is the stark contrast, and explores the experience of grief and loss in close relations. The performance is an aesthetic, audiovisual and thoughtful experience.
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Photo: Øystein Voll & Mette Myhr
Based on experiences with illness, death and grief, Thomas of Norway takes the audience into a poetic landscape where bodily experiences and reflections take place. Then, You Left is an aesthetically, sonorous and thoughtful performance about experiences of loss in close relationships. ​
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The performance is based on interviews with adult children of a person who suffered from Dementia in the last years of her life. The performance's soundtrack consists entirely of a processing of the interviews, and has been developed by composer and sound artist Tine Surel Lange in collaboration with Thomas of Norway. ​ The choreography also takes the interviews as a point of departure, and explores the consequences of the disease both for the person who is ill, and for the relatives.
Then, You Left is a solo version of the duet Holding Position, which premiered in 2021 and was produced with support from Davvi - Center for Performing Arts, Figurteatret i Nordland, Hurtigrutens Hus, Art Council Norway, Nordland county municipality, Vågan municipality and Øksnes municipality. Holding Position was co-produced by Lofoten Kulturhus (Svolvær). ​
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Then, You Left premiered on April 27, 2023, at Vårscenefest in Tromsø, Norway.
#STORIESABOUTGRIEF
Photo: Øystein Voll
Foto: Joseph Malone
#JOINTHEPARTY
In You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together, Thomas of Norway has worked with concepts such as #MeToo, "the meat market" and dickpics. The audience gets a glimpse into a world that cultivates the perfect body, where the pursuit of attention, confirmation and sex is more important than anything else. In the performance, the audience enter a nightclub; a colourful, glossy and fun place with pulsating lights, bare skin, and fierce rhythms. The audience is drawn into a suggestive atmosphere, but quickly encounters the repulsive side of clubbing. Soon the party turns, and it all looks like a bad dream.
When does a hand on the thigh from someone you hardly know, go from being an innocent flirt to being experienced as harassment? Why do we dress sexy to attract attention, then label the person who gives in to temptation as an asshole? And how do we maneuver these physical experiences in an increasingly digitized reality?
The performance is a comment on how far someone is willing to push their own and other people's limits.
Foto: Renate Jensen
PRODUCTION FACTS
You Might Like Me Better
If We Sleep Together
Then, You Left
Production Team
Double Bill
CHOREOGRAPHER THOMAS OF NORWAY
​DANCER THOMAS VOLL
DRAMATURG METTE MYHR
COMPOSER TINE SUREL LANGE
COSTUME THOMAS VOLL
LIGHT & STAGE DESIGN LUCJAN GOLAS
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CO-PRODUCED BY
LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
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PRODUCED WITH FUNDING FROM
DAVVI - CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
ART COUNCIL NORWAY
LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
NORDLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
CHOREOGRAPHER THOMAS OF NORWAY
​DANCER THOMAS VOLL
DRAMATURG METTE MYHR
CO-CREATING DANCER ELLINOR STAURBAKK
COMPOSER TINE SUREL LANGE
COSTUME THOMAS VOLL
LIGHT & STAGE DESIGN LUCJAN GOLAS
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PRODUCED WITH FUNDING FROM
DAVVI - CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
NORDLAND VISUAL THEATER
HURTIGRUTENS HUS
KULTURFABRIKKEN SORTLAND
ART COUNCIL NORWAY
LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
NORDLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
VÅGAN MUNICIPAALITY
ØKSNES MUNICIPALITY
PROJECT MANAGER THOMAS VOLL
​PRODUCER LINDA BIRKEDAL
TEXT ØYSTEIN VOLL
TEXT & DOCUMENTATION ØYSTEIN VOLL
PARTNER LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
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WITH SUPPORT FROM
FOND FOR LYD OG BILDE
FOND FOR UTØVENDE KUNSTNERE
ART COUNCIL NORWAY
NORDLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
TEAM DOUBLE BILL
WITH SUPPORT FROM
