By Dag Thelander after Sara Lidman's novel suite with music by Per Wickström and directed by Bobo Lundén.
In 1894, Didrik Mårtensson from Lillvattnet is sitting in a private cell at Långholmen Fortress. For many years, he was the hero of his hometown: a merchant, chairman of the municipal assembly and champion of the construction of a railroad through Norrland. Now all that is over.
In solitude, he goes through the whole story again, holding trial over himself to prove his innocence. Around him crowd the people who have played crucial roles in his life. His wife Anna-Stava, his parents and siblings, the wonderful Consul Lidstedt, the deadly Hagar and all the others. Sometimes they obediently play the roles they have in Didrik's memory. Sometimes they come to comfort. More often to accuse.
In connection with Sara Lidman's 100th birthday in 2023, Västerbottensteatern, in collaboration with Östfronten, is staging the author's masterpiece Jernbanan (parts 1-5). The book suite is inspired by both her own family and the history of Västerbotten and was praised and awarded when it was published between 1977 and 1985. The theater's artistic director Bobo Lundén directs again - after the success of Musikanternas uttåg - and the musical dramatic stage version is signed Dag Thelander and Per Wickström, the duo behind the acclaimed performances The Wizard of Chicago and The History of Madness.
This will be musical theater in a way that has not been done before at Västerbottensteatern. Dag Thelander has in a playful and inspiring way boiled down Sara Lidman's five books to two and a half hours of musical theater with newly written music by Per Wickström.
- More than half of the text is sung and woven together by seven singing and storytelling actors in a way that I hope will make Sara smile in heaven," says the show's director Bobo Lundén.
Read more in our press release.
Press photos in the press room.
TIP: OCTOBER 11. BEHIND THE SCENES - THE RAILROAD.
THE RAILROAD
Musical theater based on Sara Lidman's novel suite "Jernbanan". About the struggle to get a railway to the northern parts of Sweden in the early 20th century.
The year is 1903. Didrik Mårtensson from Lillvattnet sits in a solitary cell at Långholmen's fortress. For many years he was the hero of his hometown: director of commerce, chairman of the municipal assembly and leader of the construction of a railway through Norrland. Now all that is over.
