Letter Performance: The Journey (reenactment)
Experience the reenactment of unique, adventurous and homesick travel letters from important cultural figures in Scandinavian cultural history brought to life by a number of fantastic actors.
My own friend. Why am I starting to write to you today, when for so long you have sworn me to burning hell because I never wrote a line? I had decided all along that I would write to you today – when all the Hubbub was finally over and the 'Journey' had begun.
This is what Herman Bang wrote in a letter on January 6, 1912, thus putting ink to paper on exactly what this autumn's letter performance is about: The Journey. Experience a number of fantastic actors presenting, reading and bringing to life a number of adventurous, homesick, beautiful, funny, moving, terrifying and deeply personal letters from Royal Danish Library's collection. It's all set in a musical frame that sends us out into the world.
Note
Some historical letters include language that is considered offensive or derogatory.
The letters are presented as historical evidence in their original wording.
Historical letters from near and far
Hear letters from, among others, Søren Kierkegaard, who tells of his first trip to Berlin, where he lives with "extraordinary precision" and drinks his water at exactly ten o'clock in a specific corner of the city.
Or the film star Asta Nielsen on tourist class to Malaga. You can also hear Ingeborg Stuckenberg's desperate letter to her sister written from Australia a few months before she commits suicide far from Denmark.
With the theme of travel, we gain a unique insight into historical events from near and far through the most private correspondences of individuals. This is exemplified by the harrowing travelogue of the 18th century physician Paul Isert aboard a slave ship bound for the old Danish West Indies. It will be an evening where we travel by land, by sea and in the air – and through time. To foreign cities and across national borders through words from some of the most significant figures in Nordic history.
The entire letter performance is musically framed by the singer Katinka, who, in addition to being a soloist, is also a songwriter, composer and author.
Participants
Actors: Iben Hjejle, Laura Müller, Andreas Jebro, Mikkel Arndt, Lotte Andersen and others.
Musician: Katinka
Part of Letters in The Black Diamond
Photo: Origin unknown
Royal Danish Library contains a collection of over two million letters from great personalities, artists and writers.
The event is part of the series Letters in The Black Diamond, where we awaken Royal Danish Library's large letter collections through letter writing concerts and themed letter performances.
