 The Open Theatre in Oslo, which is entirely focused on new, modern dramatic literature, has launched The Chamber Drama Challenge international project as a tribute to Henrik Ibsen and his anniversary.
Dramatists from Norway and other countries (19 authors in total) have been asked to write dramatic miniatures on the most common subject in Ibsen’s work – personal freedom.
The famous quote from his letter addressed to Georg Brandes – “Freedom to me is the greatest and highest condition in life” – serves as the formulation of the subject matter for the commissioned dramatic miniatures.
 All the texts will be first enacted on stage at The Open Theatre in Oslo, 8-10 September, but the plays, in different combinations, will also be shown at other theatres in Norway and beyond, in other countries, primarily in those countries which the participants in the project come from.
Our version (the coproduction between BELEF and National Theatre in Belgrade), as selected, adapted and directed by Vida Ognjenović (who accepted the invitation of The Open Theatre from Oslo to take part in the project), comprises four short pieces whose authors are as follows: Jon Fosse, Marit Tusvik, Arne Lygre and Vida Ognjenović.
Jon Fosse (Norway), playwright, poet, essayist and fiction writer, whose plays are being performed on stages in Scandinavia and worldwide in thirty odd languages. Fosse is considered to be the most successful and most popular Norwegian dramatist after Ibsen. He was awarded the Saint Olaf’s Medal as well as many other local and international prizes. He lives and works in Bergen.
Marit Tusvik (Norway), dramatist and poetess, fiction and screenplay writer, is equally successful in all literary forms and genres, including the children’s literature. Her best known plays are Mould and After William, which have been extensively performed on international theatre stages. Of the prizes she has won the most important is Ibsen Award for a dramatic work of art.
Arne Lygre (Norway), dramatist and fiction writer, who stirred up public interest early on with his first plays (Mummy and Me and Men and Suddenly Eternal). Soon after his debut in Norway, his plays have been enacted on stage in many other languages in France, Germany, Denmark and the Baltic countries. Literary awards have not bypassed him either. The premiere of his most recent play Shadow of a Boy was received with standing ovations at The Norwegian Theatre in Oslo in March 2006.
Vida Ognjenovic (Serbia), well-known dramatist, writer, theatre director and professor, whose plays are a regular feature in repertoires of prominent theatre companies in the country and abroad. She has won all the most relevant awards for drama, fiction and theatre direction in the country. She lives and works in Belgrade.
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