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Description
The project is realized by JEDL, z.s., presenting creation of the director Jan Nebeský jointly with the script writer and actress Lucie Trmíková and the actor David Prachař.
The purpose of the project is development of an interdisciplinary theatre play Play Ibsen! and an accompanying programme. It will be created in cooperation with the Norwegian artist. The script to the theatre play will be created as an authorial synthesis by the script writer and actress L. Trmíková, who is going to build on and process her acting experience with Ibsen’s female protagonists. The directorial plan will be created by J. Nebeský who has devoted himself to Ibsen''s work throughout his entire career; he has directed 8 of his plays.
The script will explore Ibsen’s relationship with women: with specific women in his life, and with the female protagonists in his plays. When writing the script, L. Trmíková will work with material and experience she gained when depicting 6 female Ibsen characters. The script will follow a struggle between a man and a woman for their relationship, for themselves, for their children, for dignity, for life. This time, however, Trmíková‘s activity on the script will be enriched by another inspirational element: to her work will also add aspect of results of current research in the area of gender studies.
Within the project are scheduled several activities:
- creation of a new theatre play, premiere
- In total 28 repeat performances for audience both in Prague and in regions
- Accompanying programme including 2 courses on authorial theatre, debates with students focused on the gender aspects of the theatre play etc.
- Support for the cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Norway
The project’s aim is also to contribute to the international debate on the topicality of Ibsen’s plays, and to highlight issues that are still relevant today despite the amount of time that has passed since Ibsen’s premieres.
Summary of project results
Ibsen’s theatre plays are being performed on various stages around the world; with varying degrees of provocation or experimentation, and in various cultures they also emphasize aspects currently applicable to the given culture. The repertoire of the well known independent JEDL theatre company has been closely linked to the work of this Norwegian playwright for years. The play Ghosts became the basis for the ninth Ibsen production directed by Jan Nebesky. In the "PLAY IBSEN!" project, the focus was put on the development of an innovative interdisciplinary theatre play - a new opera. The script focused on the role of women in society raising debate about the equality between men and women. The creation and performace of the play was accompanied by audience development and strengthenened the capacities of cultural players, including students in the field of performative arts. It also supported also the cultural eschange between the Czech Republic and Norway.
A new play was created based on Henrik Ibsen''s Ghost as a new opera. The libretto for the opera was created, based on Ibsen''s play Ghosts, by Lucie Trmiková, a screenwriter and an actress who has so far portrayed 6 major female roles in Ibsen''s plays.The music was composed by Matous Hejl, a representative of the youngest generation of Czech composers, The creative team was joined also by a Norwegian composer and interdisciplinary artist Tyne Surel Lange, who focused on creating audio-visual works. The play premiered on in April 2022. 16 reruns took place in Prague and other locations in the Czech Republic within the project implementation with the total audinece of more than 1800 people. After the project ended, the play has remained in the repertoire of the JEDL company.
The project gave the JEDL company a unique opportunity to create a "big screen" (the term used in the promotion): a demanding multi-genre production in an innovative genre. The association gained a new audience group including students, young people and fans of contemporary music. The project supported contemporary art and contributed to its accessibility. It also developed capacities of cultural players through 2 Masterclasses focused on scriptwriting. The production won an award at the Theatre Critics Awards in 2002 for the music composed by Matous Hejl. The success of the play also contributed to the fact that the JEDL theater company was invited by the Czech National Theater to create the theater performance "Wernisch!". This performance became the winner of the Theater Critics Awards for 2024 as the best production of the year.
Summary of bilateral results
We faced problems with our initial Norwegian partner who wasn''t able to deliver an adequate proposal for the planned conceptual installation, which could be considered relevant for the artistic intent developed by the director Jan Nebesky and scriptwriter Lucie Trmikova. Therefore we decided to change the partner and invited Tine Surel Lange to join our creative team. Tine created a video-installation "Portrait of Ms. Alving" as a part of the play. The installation extended the scenographic component of the production. It was even presented within the UNG Nordisk Music Festival in Reykjavik in August 2022.