A humorous chamber opera about paradoxes in the welfare system.
The system is the cornerstone of the social democratic social contract, but it doesn't quite work as it should. Users get help, but not the help they need. They are trapped in the waiting room, where they circulate between job-seeking courses, work assessments and threats of being reported for benefit fraud.
In the Opera Collective's new chamber opera, the caseworker is in the centre of the firing line. He tries in vain to help the users while decoding cryptic and contradictory commands from the System, a mysterious welfare phantom with no physical presence. The opera culminates in the caseworker rebelling and becoming more loyal to the citizens than to the system.
But was it really a good idea?
Welcome to the waiting room. Please draw your cue card.
Artistic team:
Music: Gísli J. Grétarsson
Text and direction: Oda Fiskum
Scenography consultant: Annika Bromberg
Producer: Patrick Egersborg
Musical direction: Knut Erik Jensen
Stage design: Annike Nieminen Bromberg
Lighting design: Steinar Bolstad Skålid
Costumes: Kjersti Eckhoff
On stage:
Case manager (baritone): Patrick Egersborg
User 1 (mezzo-soprano): Nina Sætherhaug
User 2 (tenor): Mikkel Fjeld Skorpen
Bandmaster: Knut Erik Jensen
Trumpet: Marie Agnethe Pihl
Clarinet: Marthe Sofie Hansen
Percussion: Kjetil Birkeland
Pensioners' choir/System:
Kari Schønberg, Per-Arild Lyng, Terje Halvard Juul, Finn Kortner, Marit Konstanse, Elen Cath Hopen, Jorid Kvalvik, Jørn Olav Johnsen, Åge Røe
The opera collective is an independent Nordic opera company run by the artists themselves. We write text and compose contemporary opera with socially relevant themes with a satirical edge. Our aim is to develop opera that is accessible, relevant and engaging. The opera collective consists of opera singer Patrick Egersborg, librettist and playwright Oda Fiskum and Icelandic composer Gísli J. Grétarsson.
The system is supported by: Arts Council Norway, The Audio Visual Fund, Fritt Ord, Bergesen Foundation, Nordic Culture Fund, Nordic Culture Point, Norwegian Directorate for Culture and Dramatists' Union.
Opera Trøndelag organises the performances in Trøndelag.
