Dance performance “The Loft” | Norway
Creators: Jo Strømgren Kompani
Direction, choreography, stage design, text: Jo Strømgren
Music: Bergmund Waal Skaslien
Costumes: Bregje van Balen
Lighting: Jo Strømgren, Jan Harald Ovrum
Sound Design: Hans Skogen
Cast: Henriette Hamli, Nora Svendsgård, Malika Berney, Anna Benedicte Andresen
Producer: Jo Strømgren Kompani
Co-producer: The Norwegian Opera and Ballet
Premiere: March 28, 2022
Date: August 23, 2025 | Saturday
Time: 7 pm
Place: Stage, Art Factory in Łódź, 3 Tymienieckiego Street
Tickets: 40 PLN - early bird / 50 PLN - reduced / 70 PLN - regular
Ticket sales: kicket.com portal / online payment
Early bird tickets: on sale until July 13, 2025
Regular and reduced tickets: on sale from July 14, 2025
Duration: 60 minutes
Age Restrictions: 18+
Language: non-verbal
After the performance, around 8:30 pm, we invite the viewers to a meeting and discussion with the artists.
The discussion will take place in the Foyer of the Art Factory in Lodz.
The discussion will be led by Tomasz Domagała.
The discussion will be held in English and translated into Polish.
The discussion will be interpreted into Polish Sign Language (PJM)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFORMANCE
“The Loft” bathes in gallows humour - showing it to be a true human coping mechanism, that enables folk to laugh at the twin faux pas of evil and error.
Four female co-workers sneak into an attic during their lunch break, where the friction between them sets in motion a series of conflicts. Feelings of unrequited love and surreal dreams hinting at unspeakable wants, allow the women’s repressed instincts to emerge, revealing a caustic existential grey zone full of alarming questions that seem to add to the bubbling cauldron.
Friction between people in a confined space is a timeless problem that has afflicted our species since we began living in caves. ”The Loft” reminds us that in modern life we’re still grappling with that same ancient problem. In many cases, the aspect of psychological strain is more problematic than the situation itself, and people can quickly lose sight of what is trivial, what is important, and what is “merely” existential.
“The Loft” shows women in chaos and in control, impassioned and struggling at the bonds of temperance.
REVIEWS
“An exceptional experience in the form of the best contemporary movement theatre.”
(“Taneční Aktuality”, Czech Republic)
“Fascinating physical dance.”
(“Klassekampen”, Norway)
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Jo Strømgren Kompani / JSK - is an acclaimed Norwegian repertory company with large global distribution. Over one hundred shows are performed worldwide every year, both in large national theatres and small alternative venues, from the Sydney Opera House to Greenland. The overall touring list covers about sixty countries. JSK’s home stage in Oslo is the Norwegian Opera House, where Jo Strømgren is house choreographer. JSK’s artistic style is a unique mix of dance and theatre, with a distinct humoristic touch typically combined with darker, political undertones. Another trademark is the extensive use of nonsensical language, and in recent years a playful use of voiceover. JSK offers a standing repertoire of 10-12 different performances, covering a broad range of genres. Variations of dance and theatre are their most typical form, but they also have pure theatre performances and puppet performances. JSK also offers performances for young audiences. No matter what form or genre, JSK performances are designed for smooth and flexible worldwide touring and can be adapted into any language. Jo Strømgren Kompani is also known for inspiring workshops, and offers a wide range of workshops, for all levels, in dance or theatre.
Jo Strømgren - one of the most internationally renowned Scandinavian choreographers, theatre director, dance filmmaker, winner of many prestigious awards, resident choreographer of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and founder of the independent dance theatre Jo Strømgren Kompani based in Oslo. His performances have been shown in more than 60 countries. He has created more than 150 performances. As an independent choreographer, he is often engaged by different ballet companies, among them: Wiener Staatsopernballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, Staatsoper Nürnberg Ballet, Gothenburg Ballet, Ballet de l'Opera National du Rhin, Royal Swedish Ballet, and others. He is currently affiliated with the National Ballet of Norway. Jo has created many contemporary dance productions for companies such as: Cedar Lake Dance Company, Danish Dance Theatre, Carte Blanche Dance Company, Cloud Gate Ensemble, Scottish Dance Theatre, Helsinki Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre Utah, Iceland Dance Company, Bern Ballet, Staatsheater am Gärtnerplatz München and Staatstheater Braunschweig. Performances choreographed by Strømgren combine theatre and dance, and are characterized by a strong physical language of movement and a sense of humor with political overtones. The most important and award-winning works are: “A Dance Tribute to the Art of Football” (1998, Den Norske Dansekritikerprisen Award, Norwegian Critics Association Award), “There” (2002, Hedda Award, Norwegian Theatre Award), and “The Door” (2018, Lithuania's prestigious Golden Cross of the Stage Award). As a theatre director, he has a special love for Henrik Ibsen's dramas and mainly works in Scandinavian theatres: The Norwegian National Theatre, The Royal Danish Theatre, Reykjavik City Theatre, The National Theatre of Bergen, and Malmö City Theatre. On the international stage, he has worked with Philadelphia Live Arts and the Pushkin Theatre in Moscow, among others. He is also involved in film directing.
Financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, as part of the “Dance” programme, realized by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
