The Story of a Mother
- co-production with ZeBU/Corona La Balance
The Story of a Mother is the moving story of a mother’s journey through the twilight kingdom and of her fruitless attempts to reclaim her dead child. With our adaptation, this great tale about the relationship of human beings with the hereafter – that unknown land – becomes a show told in a visual and musical theatre language which combines songs and theatre, music and puppet theatre for children from the age of 10 as well as adults.
The Story of a Mother from 1848 is one of H. C. Andersens key fairy tales; just like in The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid, he seeks to describe the struggle between Love and Death – without providing definitive answers, however. In these fairy tales, the author H.C. Andersen encounters the universe of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
The Story of a Mother is a co-production between The Corona La Balance state ensemble for children’s theatre and The FIGURA Ensemble. Musicians, composers and singers from FIGURA have cooperated closely with Corona La Balance on several occasions, most recently in the shows ”Looking for My Father” (2006) and ”King UBU” (2007). In addition, Marc van der Velden was the director of the FIGURA children’s theatre production ”Sleeping Policemen” 2004). With ”The Story of a Mother”, we wish to extend the already existing partnership with Corona La Balance.
PRESS QUOTES
“You will cry out your eyes. And nevertheless you will feel deeply at peace knowing some people are able to make such fabulous music theatre. World class … an unexpected gift for the Danish cultural heritage.”
Information, daily Danish newspaper
“A wondrous musical interpretation, rich with strong images … provides warmth and humour to the dark story”
Berlingske Tidende, daily Danish newspaper
"A performance for young people, strongly moving and full of imagery … Impressive, considering that the young spectators hardly ever have heart opera singing or modern music before. But when one meets the sublime, one can only be silent and experience.”
Jyllands Posten, daily Danish newspaper
Duration: 75 min.
AGE GROUP: From 10 years
THE CAST
Helene Gjerris (mezzosoprano)
Lotte Faarup (actor)
Jacob Bloch Jespersen (bass baryton)
Jørgen Carlslund (dancer/pupeteer)
Anna Klett (clarinets)
Jesper Egelund (double bass)
Frans Hansen (percussion)
IDEA, CONCEPT and DIRECTOR Marc van der Velden
MUSIC Steingrímur Rohloff
SET DESIGN Johan Kølkjær
LIGHTS Michael Breiner
PUPPET DESIGN AND CONSULTANT Hanne Sørensen
COSTUMES Hanne Mørup
The play is supported by:
Sonning-Fonden and Statens Kunstfonds Klassiske Tonekunstudvalg
- co-production with ZeBU/Corona La Balance
H.C. Andersen’s moving story told through modern music theatre with contemporary music by the composer Steingrímur Rohloff.
The Story of a Mother is the moving story of a mother’s journey through the twilight kingdom and of her fruitless attempts to reclaim her dead child. With our adaptation, this great tale about the relationship of human beings with the hereafter – that unknown land – becomes a show told in a visual and musical theatre language which combines songs and theatre, music and puppet theatre for children from the age of 10 as well as adults.
The Story of a Mother from 1848 is one of H. C. Andersens key fairy tales; just like in The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid, he seeks to describe the struggle between Love and Death – without providing definitive answers, however. In these fairy tales, the author H.C. Andersen encounters the universe of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
The Story of a Mother is a co-production between The Corona La Balance state ensemble for children’s theatre and The FIGURA Ensemble. Musicians, composers and singers from FIGURA have cooperated closely with Corona La Balance on several occasions, most recently in the shows ”Looking for My Father” (2006) and ”King UBU” (2007). In addition, Marc van der Velden was the director of the FIGURA children’s theatre production ”Sleeping Policemen” 2004). With ”The Story of a Mother”, we wish to extend the already existing partnership with Corona La Balance.
PRESS QUOTES
“You will cry out your eyes. And nevertheless you will feel deeply at peace knowing some people are able to make such fabulous music theatre. World class … an unexpected gift for the Danish cultural heritage.”
Information, daily Danish newspaper
“A wondrous musical interpretation, rich with strong images … provides warmth and humour to the dark story”
Berlingske Tidende, daily Danish newspaper
"A performance for young people, strongly moving and full of imagery … Impressive, considering that the young spectators hardly ever have heart opera singing or modern music before. But when one meets the sublime, one can only be silent and experience.”
Jyllands Posten, daily Danish newspaper
Duration: 75 min.
AGE GROUP: From 10 years
THE CAST
Helene Gjerris (mezzosoprano)
Lotte Faarup (actor)
Jacob Bloch Jespersen (bass baryton)
Jørgen Carlslund (dancer/pupeteer)
Anna Klett (clarinets)
Jesper Egelund (double bass)
Frans Hansen (percussion)
IDEA, CONCEPT and DIRECTOR Marc van der Velden
MUSIC Steingrímur Rohloff
SET DESIGN Johan Kølkjær
LIGHTS Michael Breiner
PUPPET DESIGN AND CONSULTANT Hanne Sørensen
COSTUMES Hanne Mørup
The play is supported by:
Sonning-Fonden and Statens Kunstfonds Klassiske Tonekunstudvalg