When what I really want is for you to stick around me

Is there really a core to being a man that we can all agree on? Or is it just an ocean of paradoxes and differences? Is it as simple as we think, or is it much more complicated? And why do we talk about "roles" when none of us really want to be defined by them?

“When All I Want Is You to Hold Me” gives us an honest look at what it means to be a man today. Instead of giving you ready-made answers, the performance takes you on a journey through personal stories from men of different ages and life situations. We simply take a “deep dive” into what today’s male role is really about. In the performance, we get everything from symbolism, pop culture memes and open, honest conversations about being a man. All of this takes place within the framework of a reality show – imagine a “mancave” full of clichés, with three male actors living their lives under the watchful eye of a female leader. She sits in a control room next door and communicates with the men through a screen. The stage becomes like a research laboratory where we get to study how the men handle the pressure from each other, the woman and the audience.

What happens is a mixture of humor, warmth and vulnerability. Through the performance, we are reminded of how complicated it can be to be a man - the norms and ideals are many, and expectations come from all sides. The performance allows men to be seen - and that can be both challenging and liberating.

– I was left with the idea that other people would understand what I had been through. There were some scenes where they literally said from my brain, sort of. It hit me so hard. High school student

Did you know that 80% of what is said in this performance is direct quotes from interviews with 23 different men? In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on representation, minorities and how power works in society. It has made us think more about how we ourselves and the groups we belong to fit in with others. But even though there has been more talk about men and mental health, it seems that the challenges men face are often overlooked, trivialized or create conflicts. Now that the government has worked with the Men's Committee to look at the state of equality between boys and men in Norway, this topic has never been more relevant. Maybe it's time to take a closer look at what it really means to be a man today?

Contributors – workshop leaders: Saila Hyttinen (text work), Taneli Törme and Jannik Elkær (choreography work) and Katinka Steensgard (workshop in drag)
Co-producer: Rosendal Theatre and Black Box Theatre
Partner: Dansit
Supported by: Arts Council of Norway, Fund for Sound and Image, Fund for Performing Artists, Fritt Ord, Seanse, Trondheim Municipality and Trøndelag County

Duration:
90 minutes

Max capacity:
200

Upload:
240 minutes

Download:
150 minutes

Stage size:
Playing area: Width: min 8.5 meters Depth: min 8 meters Height: 5.5 meters

Room or area specifications:
Cultural center or similar. There must be a pull in the ceiling to hang 2 spotlights in the middle of the playing area and 3 spotlights in the ceiling above the audience area.

Audience location:
The audience is seated in the amphitheater.

Carrying help:
4

Must be blended:
Yes

Technical equipment (must be rented or brought along):
The production brings its own technical equipment (lights/video/sound). The equipment consists of 17 spotlights, PA and mosquito nets for performers, as well as a video setup with a projector and cameras.

Power:
-

Other equipment:
The scenography consists of (brought by the company): Modular wall frames, dimensions: W: 8m D: 3.5m H: 2.4m when assembled. A bar A sofa A football table A fatboy Props

Workshop:
Yes

Comments on the workshop:
A pedagogical plan has been prepared with suggestions for pre- and post-work for teachers in connection with the screening of the performance. Can be forwarded if desired. In addition, the Gender Equality Center ONLY offers a workshop on gender equality and gender based on the performance, which can be ordered as an addition to the performance itself. OFFER OF A WORKSHOP ON GENDER AND EQUALITY BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE "WHEN WHAT I REALLY WANT IS FOR YOU TO STAY AROUND ME" LEAD BY THE GENDER Equality Center ONLY The workshop will be held the day after the screening of the performance "When what I really want is for you to stay around me." Short text about the workshop: Based on the performance, we will discuss in what ways gender roles affect us and the lives we live. The workshop will use interactive methods to create a space where students have the opportunity to discuss topics that are otherwise widely discussed in closed online forums. What expectations do we experience from the society around us, how are gender norms expressed and how are we influenced by them? The workshop is led by a process manager at the Gender Equality Centre KUN, with extensive experience in facilitating joint conversations on topics related to gender and gender equality. Number of participants per workshop: 10 – 40 participants Duration of the workshop: 1.5 hours Up to two workshops per day Number of workshop hosts: 1 Contact person at KUN: Marte Taylor Bye, mtb@kun.no Price: Fee for a workshop host + travel/board/accommodation KUN has offices in the counties of Nordland, Trøndelag and Vestland and it may therefore be cheaper in terms of travel and accommodation in these counties. Website KUN: www.kun.no The Gender Equality Centre KUN works for inclusion and against discrimination in Norway and internationally. KUN has broad expertise and committed professionals with an interest in people and society. Justice and equality are KUN's core values. The Equality Centre KUN works for a society where all people have equal opportunities and rights in all areas of society, such as politics, family life, work life and leisure. KUN has offices in Steigen, Steinkjer and Bergen, and knows the special strengths and challenges of the districts. The Equality Centre KUN has broad experience and uses various methods, research and statistics to improve the equality situation and to create a broader diversity in society. The Equality Centre KUN shall also be a bridge builder between the research and practice fields. According to the foundation's statutes and mission letter from the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir), KUN shall: • Work to promote equality between the genders. • Be a visible and profiled actor for equality regionally, nationally and internationally. • Participate in the social debate and spread knowledge about equality work. • Make other grounds for discrimination such as sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity and religion visible. • Develop, document, systematize and analyze knowledge about and integration of gender equality in both the public and private sectors. • Participate in international collaborations.

Katja Brita Lindeberg
Artistic Director, Director, Actor, Producer

Benjamin Lønne Røsler
Actor

Joakim Thrane
Actor

Per Magnus Barlaug
Actor

Eirik Brenne Torsethaugen
Lighting design, Photo/animation/film, Technician

Christopher Johnsen
Technician

Jenny Hilmo Teig
Costume

Arnfinn Killingtveit
Composer

Jorgen Sellevold
Scenography

Guro Hustad Stugu
Other

Teaser made by Ragnarok

1728407360_offer-for-workshop-on-gender-and-equality-based-on-the-performancepdf.pdf