Østfold Internasjonale Teater’s main stage production for autumn 2023 will be Don Quixote – in a rewritten version set in Østfold.

– As Østfold is becoming a county again, what better than to introduce our own knight, asks theatre director Thomas Østgaard.

Miguel de Cervantes’ The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha is considered the first modern novel and one of the greatest achievements in world literature. It tells the story of the unrealistic idealist Don Quixote and his shrewd henchman Sancho Panza.

– We will create a humorous and moving performance about living one’s dream, about friendship – and about the grand narrative and the little man, says director Ivar Furre Aam, who will also be responsible for the novel-to-stage-adaption.

Coming to a stage near you

In the theatre performance will be starring Terje Brevik as the eponymous knight Don Quixote, and Patrik Stenseth as his more down-to-earth squire Sancho Panza: Two actors who will undoubtably be well known to the theatre’s audience.

In Aam’s version of the story, the two characters will not travel around Spain, but in Østfold, i.a. Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Moss, Tomter, Rakkestad and Ørje. Members of the artistic team are already familiar with most of the locations:

Both director Aam and scenographer Alice T. Vanini have studied at Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College. Jpining them in the artistic team are: Sound designer William Kjeldsberg, lighting designer Mathias Lundgren and costume designer Marianne Stranger, who lives in Fredrikstad.

Living one’s dream

In the original story, the main character has read too many chivalric novels, the kiosk literature of the time. In his desire to defend “truth and good moral”, he insists on becoming a knight himself. Because he is so uncompromising, and at odds with his contemporary time, Don Quixote becomes as much a comic figure as a hero.

–Nevertheless; Don Quixote sticks to his own dream, and thus he experiences great adventures, says director Aam.

The story of the two anti-heroes insisting on living their dream is a good opportunity to raise questions about different perceptions of reality, he believes.

The performance will tour in Østfold in September and October 2023!
Tickets and the final tour route will be published on oit.no during April.

Credits

Terje Brevik, actor (Don Quixote)
Patrik Stenseth, actor (Sancho Panza)

Ivar Furre Aam, director and playwright
Alice Vanini Tomola, scenographer
Marianne Stranger, costume designer
William Kjeldsberg, sound designer
Mathias Langholm Lundgren, lighting designer
Siri Løkholm Ramberg, dramaturg
Lillian Thorbjørnsen Greni, masks/wigs

Malin Østli, producer
Andrine Pedersen Sandvær, stage manager
Daria Melnyk, costume and prop maker
Ida Fredriksen, stage manager
Øyvind Andresen, technician
Hilde Marthinsen, marketing
Ida Willassen, communications
Anette Tømmerholen, front of house
Sana Nazir, front of house

Photo, in front: Actors Terje Brevik (Don Quixote) and Patrik Stenseth (Sanch Panza). Behind, from left: Director Ivar Furre Aam, theatre director Thomas Østgaard, scenographer Alice V. Tomola, sounddesigner William Kjeldsberg.

Press photos