Description
The project develop greater awareness of Europe’s cultural diversity throughout its history.The story of Princess Kristina of Norway, who travelled from Norway to Spain in the 13th century to marry the brother of Alfonso X represents a link between Iceland, Norway and Spain. For centuries, a Norwegian medieval saga has passed along the story of Princess Kristina from generation to generation, highlighting what it meant for a woman to cross Europe in the Middle Ages to marry a stranger. The project offers the audience to rediscover history through her travel. The objective of the project is to strengthen cultural relations between Iceland, Norway and Spain through the promotion of cultural heritage and cultural exchange. Arjé Training and Kristinn R. Ólafsson will join artists in a play using audio-visual material. Princess Kristina of Norway represents the union of cultures and people. This project has emerged from the belief that differences enrich those who share them. Music, dance and words are combined to create a unique and moving performance. The project consists of combining the essence of two countries (Norway and Spain) with a third country (Iceland) to create a performance conceived as the journey of Princess Kristina and "the goblin," conveyed through music, self-expression through movement and culture. A DVD with graphic material covering the realization of the 6 performances was produced as a part of didactic material for educational purposes. The general public and the local community will benefit from this project. The donor partner is a key element of the project as one of the organizers, the author of the texts, and a member of the cast. The cultural relations between Iceland, Norway and Spain has been strengthened through the promotion of traditional cultural heritage.
Summary of project results
The Spanish organisation Arjé and Icelandic journalist Kristinn R. Ólafsson has contributed to create a greater awareness of European cultural diversity by creating a play, “Princess Kristina and the Goblin”, based on the story of Princess Kristina of Norway, who travelled from Norway to Spain in 1257. Through music, self-expression and movement, Princess Kristina’s thoughts and feeling were interpreted by artists from Iceland and Spain. The performance is a journey through the history of music and throughout the play, dance was used to interpret Princess Kristina’s life. The eventful story could contribute to reflect over women’s situation in the middle ages, but also today. The project resulted in stagings at different theatres in Madrid in May 2014. The performance was also held in Covarrubias due to its special role in the story of Princess Kristina. When she died, her body was taken to Covarrubias, approximately 40 km south Burgos, where her wooden casket was placed within a simple limestone sarcophagus. In June, the play was staged at the National Theatre in Iceland. In addition, a DVD with graphic material covering the performances was produced as a part of didactic material for educational purposes. The general public and the local community (particularly in the village of Covarrubias) has benefitted from this project. The project promoter reached more than 2000 persons through six performances (four in Spain and two in Iceland).
Summary of bilateral results
The story of Princess Kristina Hákonardóttir and her connection with Spain dates back to the 13th century when King Haakon Haakonson of Norway, a pioneer in foreign policy, agreed to marry his daughter to Philip, Infante of Castile and brother of King Alfonso X (Alfonso the Wise). For centuries, and with the voice of Icelandic narrators, a Norwegian medieval saga has passed along the story of Princess Kristina from generation to generation, highlighting what it meant for a woman to cross Europe in the Middle Ages to marry a stranger. The play told her story from a present framework and made us understand how Europe has changed through times, by developing a contemporary message that relies on the universal language of art. The possibility to take the performance to Norway is being discussed and creates an opportunity to further spread the story about how the Norwegian princess that travelled across the continent 700 years ago brought together two nations. The project promoter and the donor partner met during a workshop on the EEA grants organized by the Embassy in Madrid 13 February 2013. The goal was to facilitate international cooperation. The workshop was financed with bilateral funds on national level. The project partner, Kristinn R. Ólafsson, is an Icelandic journalist/writer/translator who has been living and working in Spain for more than 35 years. Ólafsson played an active role in preparing the project and his knowledge of mediaeval literature and Spanish and Icelandic languages and cultures was crucial for the final project result. Ólafsson also took directly part in the play as an on stage narrator. The project partner is a key figure in public relations in Spain and Iceland. The cultural relations between Iceland, Norway and Spain have been strengthened through the promotion of traditional cultural heritage.