The Misfits

On the outcasts. 1978-2016.

DOWNLOADABLE PDF ON THE MISFITS (PDF document, 1.1 MB)

In a galaxy far, far away ... Up in the distant north ... In a grey working class suburb of Göteborg, Sweden ... The year was 1978 and some radical theatre workers founded a theatre company: Backa Teater.

Their aim was to interact with the young people of the community, and especially with the ones who came from the working class or from socially troubled backgrounds.

The ensemble searched for scripts, music and theatrical shapes that could describe and connect with the outcast, the troubled youth, the misfits of the Swedish society in 1978. They wanted to use theatre to inspire the younger generation and thereby change the course towards a better world.

This performance is a scenic investigation of how social constructions and the need for scapegoats create the misfits of a society. Documentary pictures, scripts and music from the history of Backa Teater, from 1978 to 2016, are combined with the fluctuating narratives about the outcast, the troubled youth, the misfits in news media, music and film.

In this choreographic and visual piece 14 actors and one musician reveal the constantly shifting images, attributes and gestures of the antagonistic part that is: The Misfit. Authentic texts and voices from the outcast, the troubled youth and the misfits of Europe 2016 are included in the piece.

Written and directed by: Mattias Andersson
Set design and costume by: Anna Heymowska
Choreography: Tove Sahlin
Hair and make-up design: Linda Boije af Gennäs
Light design: Thomas Fredriksson
Sound and music: Jonas Redig
With: Stefan Abelsson, Hannah Alem Davidson, Ulf Dohlsten, Ibrahim Faal, Ylva Gallon, Anna Harling, Maria Hedborg, Gunilla Johansson, Mats Nahlin, Josefin Neldén, Ramtin Parvaneh, Ulf Rönnerstrand, Nemanja Stojanovic, Emelie Strömberg, Ove Wolf

The Prospero Network

Prospero is an ongoing collaboration between seven different Theatres and Festivals in Europe. The project aims to support and highlight artistic theatre projects in order to support dialogue, exchange and creativity. The project has previously supported artists like Thomas Ostermeier, Angelica Liddell, Katie Mitchell pch Krzysztof Warlikowski.

Premiere: 9 Apr 2016
Duration: 2 h 30 min
Price: 30-230 SEK
Subtitles: English and Italian subtitles on the 11/10 at 7 pm

LÄRARMATERIAL

Mattias Andersson started to develop his collage method in “The mental states of Gothenburg” ten years ago. I have never seen it more defined than here. In a phenomenal way the performance manages to connect scenes, sources, subjects, levels – without one overriding the other. “The Misfits” uniquely, organically and seamlessly link scenes together, which look like they have nothing to do with each other – and hence surprisingly illuminate each other.”

– Dagens Nyheter (Swedens biggest newspaper)

”/…/ and the texts twists, are declared and vocalized in that special way that only Andersson can. /…/ And the movement that binds the classical pieces with the present, that movement finds its response in the room where the choreography of Tove Sahlin and the music of Jonas Redig binds it all together into a bodily now.

– Sveriges Radio, Kulturnytt (National Swedish Radio)

Backa’s history of reaching out to the misfit, the outcast – with different approaches and varied political influence through time but with the same crazy belief; “people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world” /…/ Maybe it is Backa Teater who are “The Misfits” – may they never acclimate!

– Sveriges Radio, Kulturnytt (National Swedish Radio)

In a time of open political conflict, it would be damned if the theatre didn’t correspond with the present and its convulsions. Backa Teater has done so since 1978.

– GöteborgsPosten (Gothenburgs biggest newspaper)

In long moments it is a wonderful performance, vibrating with vitality in its expressions, with a strong trust in the ensemble and the audience that is the trademark of Backa Teater.

– GöteborgsPosten (Gothenburgs biggest newspaper)

Theatre is more than its different parts and sometimes the entirety rises higher than the ceiling in sweet unison with the audience. That is what happens when Backa Teater after 38 active years gives “The Misfits”, a highly local and highly European story on the outcasts.

– Svenska Dagbladet (Swedens second biggest newspaper)

So much is expressed behind the words, in the stillness and the movements of the bodies, in the sad eyes of Ibrahim Faal, in the invasion of the strange aquarium fish. Many of the images get etched, not least the frozen desperation of Anna Harling as a child and a sister, and her wild attacks against the walls.

– Svenska Dagbladet (Swedens second biggest newspaper)

Credits

Av och Regi Mattias Andersson Scenografi och kostym Anna Heymowska Skådespelare Hannah Alem Davidson, Ulf Dohlsten, Ibrahim Faal, Ylva Gallon, Anna Harling, Maria Hedborg, Gunilla Johansson Gyllenspetz, Mats Nahlin, Josefin Neldén, Ramtin Parvaneh, Ulf Rönnerstrand, Nemanja Stojanović, Emelie Strömberg, Ove Wolf Musiker Stefan Abelsson Koreograf Tove Sahlin Maskdesign Linda Boije af Gennäs Mask Josefin Ekerås Musik och ljuddesign Jonas Redig Ljus Tomas Heyman Dramaturg Stefan Åkesson

Medproduktion PROSPERO, THÉÂTRE NATIONAL DE BRETAGNE, FRANKRIKE, THÉÂTRE DE LIÈGE, BELGIEN, EMILIA ROMAGNA TEATRO FONDAZIONE, ITALIEN, SCHAUBÜHNE AM LEHNINER PLATZ, TYSKLAND, NATIONAL THEATRE OF CROATIA / WORLD THEATRE FESTIVAL ZAGREB, KROATIEN, ATHENS AND EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL, GREKLAND