Experiencing the 2022 Theater Festival by Eliot Losnegard

The Theatre Festival in Fjaler 2022 has been the biggest festival in Dale to date. Countless hours of work and talent condensed into a four-day festival means that this time of year more than tops days like May 17.

After the last couple of corona-filled years, where not even ghosts walk the streets in the city center, an event like this is quite nice to say the least. As I said earlier, I believe that the theater festival has been the most important event of the year in Dale. For something like this to happen in a place like this is something I don't think happens in many other places in the world.

The technical work was top notch this year, and the plays had some very creative uses of light and sound. One thing I have noticed is how theater as a form of media creates a completely different perception of the effects used than media made for the screen. In other words, I feel that a play with maybe two characters, where the whole world has to be shaped by the actors and the sound and light technician, creates a special experience that only theater can provide.

I got the impression that in the plays aimed at young people and adults, the theme was growing up, and how choices and events can shape a person. This was evident in plays such as Superkid or In This Life or the Next, where we saw various consequences of a childhood with many failures.

Of the four days of the festival, Saturday was the most eventful. The first half of the day consisted of food stalls, circus, walking theater through the village with students from Khio in collaboration with the local secondary school, and more.

Young Voices, the project I was thrown into before the festival started, is and has been a program where I and other young people with an interest in writing, theatre and free tickets to concerts have been able to practice media criticism and develop our writing. Going deeper into the meaning of theater and discussing with my friends who participated has given me new knowledge.

For someone who is used to watching movies and video games, theater is a completely different, and therefore surprisingly demanding experience. Beyond the festival, I felt completely emotionally burnt out by all the impressions and feelings the festival brought. What a weekend!

In conclusion, I think theater is great, and would recommend more young people to get more out of the festival.