2007 » Sweden » National section

Scenography for the New Circus – is there a Fourth Dimension

Arecent trend within Swedish theatre has been a phenomenon called Contemporary Circus, which reached Sweden some 10 years ago and quickly became a fixture, attracting new audience groups who would normally prefer rock concerts or sports events. Contemporary circus springs out of the traditional circus’ magical and thrilling acts. But in its meeting with other art forms and ways of expression, it has become a complete new form of stage art. The Cirkus Cirkör company – in its endeavour to combine acrobatics with story-telling – soon established co-productions with existing theatres. This has led to new challenges for scenographers who have to taken into account spatial demands, including security matters, for acrobatics etc. – possibly a new ”Fourth Dimension” of stage design. Cirkus Cirkör started in Stockholm in 1995. Emboldened by thrilling action, dare-devilish humour, and a cheeky commitment grounded in art and education as its working tools, Cirkus Cirkör has undergone expansion. Today this movement is comprised of international touring performances, as well as courses in circus education. To illustrate some of these challenges the Swedish OISTAT Centre STTF has chosen four productions from the past four years involving contemporary circus artists from Cirkus Cirkör.

The Designer/ Architects of the Exhibition are together SÖREN BRUNES, PETER LUNDQUIST, FRIDJON RAFNSSON and ULF ”POLY” NYLIN.

Exhibiting artists / ateliers

• Sören Brunes (Sören Brunes)

* 1938, Sundsvall
Specialization: set designer, costume designer
Additional information: Trained as constructional engineer; he worked for seven years at an architectural office. Since 1958 he co-operates with the Studenťs Drama Theatre in Stockholm. In 1964 he co-founded the experimental Pistolteatern. In 1968 he designed the décor for the performance of „Hair" at the Stockholm Scalateatern. Within the recent years he has been at work at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. In 1970 he designed the settings for Mahagonny by Brecht-Weill at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. He has taken part in various experimental productions in Sweden and abroad, for instance at Nancy in France and in New York. He is a member of the group Theatre Projects which is trying to bring into effect a new conception of stage design in the sense od the „total theatre".

Exhibiting works

• Williame Shakespeare: (Romeo and Juliet), Cirkus Cirkör 0 ;
  Comments: co-produced with The Royal Dramatic Theatre