7 minutes past twelve / The silent theater
On stage are two canvases, a dance mat and the top of a spring box. Thea Skallevold plays Conor. The other roles and environments in the play are back-projected onto the screens. These are controlled live by Håvard Steensen, who will be both technician and "digital puppeteer". The gaming technology makes it possible to create a real interaction between actor, animations and audience. The projections are composed of photography, hand drawing, watercolor and other analog illustration methods (Showbox.no)
"You've thought about it, but have you ever acted?"
"7 minutes past twelve" is about being young and the next of kin to someone who is seriously ill. About anger, imagination and vulnerability. About Conor, his mother and an ancient yew tree, and the worst possible nightmare.
Conor is 13 years old. His mother is seriously ill. His father moved away a long time ago and has a new family. No one at school speaks to him anymore, Conor feels invisible. The only one who sees Conor is the monster, who uses his violent physical powers and fantastic stories to get through to Conor (The Silent Theater).
Conor is a frustrated, lonely, scared and mentally sad boy. His mother is in hospital and is unlikely to come home. Conor refuses to believe that. He lives with his grandmother in the meantime. His grandmother goes to the hospital and Conor is not allowed to go with her. Seven minutes past midnight, he hears someone whispering his name. The ancient yew tree in his garden is stirring. It grows. It twists and turns. Slowly the tree turns into a fearsome, humanoid character as Conor watches. The monster opens its mouth and speaks to him. He tells him that they will go through 4 stories together. The tree will tell 3 stories, and Conor will tell the last one. He refuses and says he doesn't know any stories, but that changes during the performance. Perhaps everyone has one or more stories that are either dirty or public?
Conor hits the yew tree at seven minutes past twelve, five nights in a row. The tree tells him about egoism, dark forces, goodness, evil and the human mind. Conor becomes less afraid, more interested and listens to the tree. The stories affect him. Conor becomes stronger mentally, but there's still one thing he doesn't dare to do. To tell the truth. Is it possible to want two completely different things at the same time? Is it possible to love someone so much that you want them to die?
The play was both unrealistic and realistic. Unrealistic because the animations didn't look very believable, but still gave a sense of reality. It is perhaps more realistic for those who are or have been in a similar situation. Young people who experience parents being divorced, not present in life or dying/dead may feel a stronger bond with the play.
The set design was realistic and well thought out. Good interaction between the actor and the digital actor. The use of visual effects, interesting animations and gaming technology made the action exciting and coherent. Lighting, music and sound helped to create a strange, real and at times uncomfortable atmosphere. "7 minutes past twelve" is highly recommended for young people who feel in the same situation, are curious or simply want to see a play out of the ordinary!
Cast:
Script, director, producer, actor: Thea Skallevold
Visual design, animation, digital puppeteer: Håvard Steensen
Composition, sound design: Kristine Tjøgersen and Lars Skoglund
Programming: Eyvind Nielsen
Animation: Ørjan Hillestad
Credits: Nils Ole Oftebro, Hanne Dieserud, Janne Langaas, Ole Jansen Ulfsby, Felix Magnusson, Jason Onsrud Buan, Leon Tiscornia Bians, Lars Skoglund and Simon Kirk.
Target group: from 13 years
Initiation of the project and guidance along the way: Tour organization for Hedmark
Co-production: Teater Innlandet
Supported by: Turnéorganisasjon for Hedmark, Kulturrådet (Free performing arts, Art and new technology), Kunstløftet, Fond for lyd og bilde, Teater Innlandet, Fond for utøvende kunstnere, Vestfold Fylkeskommune, Viken Filmsenter, Spenn.no