– It often works quite poorly with climate as a theme in performances, says news’s theater reviewer Karen Frøsland Nystøyl. In her review of “A midnight sun dream” earlier this year, she pointed out that the performance wanted too much at once “with a kind of climate backdrop”. One of several examples of performances with an attached climate theme, she believes. Climate is so important that it must be treated properly in art, says Karen Frøsland Nystøyl. Photo: JAVIER ERNESTO AURIS CHAVEZ / news – It is a very important subject, of course. But it shouldn’t be “decoration on the cake” just because it’s a current topic. It happens all too often, especially in performances aimed at the youngest. – The children do not need a lot of ideas about the climate, just because it is an important topic. They know that climate is important. Furthermore, the climate challenges are not the children’s fault, says Frøsland Nystøyl. Climate artist reacts Abigael Winsvold does not like this form of argumentation. She is a member of a group that calls itself “Acting for climate” – which only stages performances with climate as its theme. – The more people who address climate and the environment in their performances, the better, says Winsvold. – No matter what the artistic quality will be? – There is always good and bad art. But we have to make art about what is the big and precarious topic of our time. The “Acting for climate” gang in action. Abigael Winsvold is at the top of the picture. Photo: Cosmin Cirstea The task of the theater She receives partial support from theater reviewer in Subjekt, Cornelius Condrup Steinkjer. – One must be open to the fact that certain works of art have the primary desire to convey something about the climate, rather than to convey a strong artistic expression, he says. Cornelius Condrup Steinkjer is a performing arts reviewer in the cultural newspaper Subjekt. Photo: Aurora Henni Krogh – It is in the nature of the theater to take up themes like this, Steinkjer elaborates. Frøsland Nystøyl also receives support – from someone who creates climate theater themselves. Moralizing Teatergruppa Feil teater will soon premiere “Animals in Africa” at Vega Scene in Oslo. The performance is based on Erlend Loe’s satirical book. – Our goal with the performance is to address the climate crisis in a fresh and different way, because we found some climate art to be quite moralizing, says Sebastian Myers, who is an actor and producer for the performance. “Animals in Africa” premieres at Vega Scene on 19 August. Sebastian Myers is the producer. Photo: Christian Ingebrethsen – If you push a message on the public that we must save the planet, it probably creates more inaction than commitment, says Myers. – So you are not setting up this show to do something about people’s attitude to the climate? – No. I don’t think the theater alone will solve the climate crisis. But it is probably important to use the opportunities we have to raise the topic, he says.
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Thinks theater about climate is often moralizing and tacky – climate artist reacts – news Culture and entertainment
