Welcome to an Artistic Encounter with Vibeke Flesland Havre and Jeppe Kristensen - a profound conversation with two performing artists who both work with "real people" on stage, but with different methods and approaches. In this conversation, we will learn more about how they have used their expertise in theater to explore how genuine human experiences can come to life on the stage. This Artistic Encounter will be moderated by Kjetil Kro Sørborg.
In this conversation, Vibeke Flesland Havre will share her knowledge about citizen's theater. She will discuss techniques and exercises that allow you to transform authentic life stories with non-professional performers, into professional theater of high artistic quality. Havre will also shed light on the ethical considerations and challenges associated with this work. Havre trained as an actress at the ArtsEd in London and has had various engagements at DNS and other institutional theaters in Norway. She also runs VFH Productions, where she has directed numerous productions. Since 2014, she has also been at the helm of Bergen Borgerscene, where she has created performances with young and old, people with mental challenges and with neuro divergent people in Bergen, performed at DNS during Bergen International Festival.
Jeppe Kristensen, who holds a degree in dramaturgy from the Department of Dramaturgy at Aarhus University, served as a dramaturg at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen for several years. Kristensen has been employed at The University of Agder since January 2014 and is also active as a playwright and stage director in Kristiansand. With Tue Biering, he founded the theater company Fix&Foxy. For decades, they have created social experiments, events, video theater, and other surprises. He has a passion for pushing the boundaries of theater and bringing diverse voices from society onto the stage. In Fix&Foxy, Kristensen has worked with individuals experiencing mental challenges, children, sex workers, refugees, and the homeless. At times, they stage performances with professional actors – sometimes both. Jeppe also teaches at the National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen and at the Department of Aesthetic Studies at Aarhus University, in addition to his work at UiA.
In today's event, we will gain insight into their unique approaches to the theater, where authentic life stories become living artworks. Following this conversation, we will open the floor to the audience for questions and discussion about reality-based theater.
