The pretenders, a staged reading

In the first half of the thirteenth century, there are several candidates to inherit the Norwegian crown after the king dies, unmarried without any clear heir. Håkon Håkonssøn, the late king's illegitimate son, claims he is the rightful heir: he has been given a mission from God to unite Norway into one people. But the royal guardian Skule Jarl has a different opinion – he does not think Håkon has any legitimate claim to the throne. Instead, he himself should be placed in power. And behind the scenes, bishop Niklas lurks, creating doubts, chaos and intrigue – both before and after his death ...

This is the background to the large-scale power struggle in Henrik Ibsen's The Pretenders, an historic five act play, successfully staged by student director Marie Nikazm Bakken and scenographer and costume designer Fredrik Floen in summer 2015 as a six-hour marathon production at Otta in Gudbrandsdalen.

This time the duo has been inspired by the Slow-TV hit show «minute by minute», approaching the play in recital form. But this does not mean the show is slow: The Pretenders, a staged reading is an action-filled royal drama, and perhaps we will also witness wild and intense dancing? And naive and grotesque cardboard scenography? Or full-blown pyrotechnics?

Get ready for a staged reading of one of Ibsen's most immense works, written by a younger and more experimental version of our celebrated playwright, a play that is seldom performed, but deserves a place on stage.

Actors: Actors from Nationaltheatret's ensemble.

Director: Marie Nikazm Bakken (student in direction at Stockholm Dramatiske Högskola). Scenography and costume design: Fredrik Floen (student of costume at KhiO). Dramatic advisor and supervisor: Njål Helge Mjøs. Advisor from StDH: Hilda Hellwig.