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En kvinna står blöt med orange regnjacka och en blå ikeapåse på axeln. smuts flyger runt henne

I went down to see my brother

Jana returns to her childhood village to find a home reminiscent of trauma, a brother on the verge of drinking himself to death, a John she can't remember, and more questions than answers. Childhood creeps up on her as she tries to sort out her relationships, but time has distorted both memories and narratives. What really happened? Who has blood on their hands?

This is the big story of the small community and the people who populate it. We move across time and space to piece together this drama of a woman coming to terms with her own history.

Teater Västernorrland presents the stage premiere of Karin Smirnoff's acclaimed trilogy about Jana Kippo.

ENG:
Jana returns to her childhood village and encounters a home that reminds of traumas, a brother who is about to drink himself to death and more questions than answers. Teater Västernorrland presents the stage premiere of Karin Smirnoff's acclaimed trilogy about Jana Kippo.

PRESS QUOTE:

Review in SVT Kulturnyheterna of JAG FOR NER TILL BROR - "Tasteful and ingenious transfer to the stage" "With the help of the music, a great script and these actors, it becomes theater magic" "A very nice game. This both sad and tough humor that is present in Karin Smirnoff has Julia Marko-Nord and the ensemble managed to capture." "Go up to Sundsvall and see for yourself.", says Anna Hedelius, theater critic. 📺 Watch the full feature (from 3 min 15 sec): https://www.svtplay.se/video/89d15Zo/kulturnyheterna/ikvall-18-17

REVIEW IN AFTONBLADET for I went down to see my brother.
"Dark and violent Smirnoff on stage" "There are sobs in the auditorium when "I went down to brother" gets a theater premiere in Sundsvall." "There are so many plays based on family secrets that are brought to light. In the stage adaptation "I went down to my brother", interestingly enough, the longing for community is also a truth that must be kept secret. In this way, the performance is emotionally complex, violent and rough and full of underlying longing.", writes Barbro Westling, Aftonbladet.
REVIEW IN SVD of I went down to my brother
"Powerfully moving to follow Jana Kippo on stage " "When Karin Smirnoff's successful trilogy becomes theater, it is both deeply moving and challenging to the mind." "Sven Haraldsson's set design is restrained and precise, as is Julia Marko-Nord's direction. In addition, there is a very harmonious and nuanced ensemble."
"Helena Svartling skillfully switches between the roles of a terminally ill childhood friend, Modren and Jana's missing daughter." "Amanda Jansson makes Jana Kippo a person with many faces. A competent adult in constant forward motion or a wreck, both stemming from the child's necessary crisis preparedness."
"The tension in the unpredictable family dynamics is superbly captured." "It is deeply moving, while challenging the mind and getting down to a fundamental question about life choices." Writes Malin Palmqvist, SvD
REVIEW IN ST of I went down to see my brother
"Acting so powerful that you shudder " "What it all boils down to is the acting, the fruit of the work of director Julia Marko-Nord and the ensemble. Martin Pareto who is as nasty as Fadren as he is warm and sympathetic as Jussi"
"Helena Svartling, who gets to play both mother and daughter to Jana and makes both equally believable." "Victor Wigart's brother; completely defenseless, broken, somehow a shadow of a human being; uncared for like his sister and who only blossoms briefly in happy childhood memories or in drunkenness."
"Amanda Jansson's facial expressions alone are an art form in themselves. And her despair when the most important bond of life breaks, the only thing she cannot live without, goes so straight into you that you hardly dare to look.", writes Susanne Holmlund, Sundsvalls Tidning.
REVIEW in DN for I went down to my brother
"Formidable and so staggeringly strong that it takes your breath away". "In the hands of director Julia Marko-Nord, "I went down to brother" has become a furious, eruptive performance. With a play that charges every void, Teater Västernorrland's ensemble creates incomparable theater",
"Here on set designer Sven Haraldsson's almost empty stage, something of a masterpiece takes place. A play so artistic and emotionally strong that it charges every void " "I have rarely witnessed such seamless role changes, an acting so staggeringly good by an ensemble"
"An eruptive act with sad edges and nothing but brilliant theater." writes Pia Huss, DN.

Press:
"I went down to see my brother" becomes theater with Amanda Jansson in the lead role

In the spring of 2024, Teater Västernorrland will stage "I went down to brother" after Karin Smirnoff's novel trilogy. In the lead role of Jana Kippo, we will see Amanda Jansson from SVT's police series Tunna blå linjen. "I hope that Teater Västernorrland does its own thing with the story, without being too literal or loyal to the original. Art is usually best then", says Karin Smirnoff.

On stage for the production we will see Amanda Jansson, who is best known for her leading role as the northern police officer Sara in the SVT drama Tunna blå linjen. She has previously had roles in Vår tid är nu, Beck and was seen as late as this fall in Nattryttarna.

It is directed by actor and director Julia Marko-Nord.

- The story of Jana touched me deeply already when I read the books. How love, trauma, abuse/addiction affects the whole family, a whole system - where no one goes free. I hope that our staging of this story, where we dare to look at family secrets and let the light in, can be a healing force for the audience," says Julia Marko-Nord, director.

Karin Smirnoff made her debut in 2018 with "Jag for ner till bror" and the book was nominated for the August Prize the same year.

- The fact that the books about Jana Kippo are getting a new life in the form of theater feels great. Almost even more fun than seeing my own books in print because it's about a reinterpretation of my works; that is, how other people read and interpreted them," says Karin Smirnoff.

Teater Västernorrland's production of "Jag for ner till bror" will premiere in March 2024. Other roles include Helena Svartling and Victor Wigardt from Teater Västernorrland's permanent ensemble.

Performing April 24 & 25, 19.00, stage 2, Sara kulturhus

PRICES
Ordinary: 355 kr.
Stage pass price/group price (min 20): 315 kr.
Youth/student (up to 26 years): 215 kr.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes incl. break

PARTICIPANTS
Amanda Jansson
Martin Pareto
Helena Svartling
Victor Wigardt
PRODUCTION
By: Karin Smirnoff
Screenplay: Ivar Waldemarson
Directed by Julia Marko-Nord
Set & costume design: Sven Haraldsson
Lighting design: Magnus Stolpe
Composition: Martin Hederos
Mask design: Jessica Hedin
Sound design: Henrik Heinrich
Dramaturge: Alexandra Loonin
Rec from 15 years
2 h 30 min incl. break

    Pictures from the show

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