Stitches

By Camilla Blomqvist.

A story about the rise and fall of Algots Nord, about friendship, assembly lines and v-jeans.

In 1972, textile company Algots came to Västerbotten to set up three factories. In a matter of days, thousands of women lined up for jobs, many of them housewives who saw their chance to enter the workforce. The government provided millions in support and the plan was to employ over a thousand people in northern Europe's most modern sewing factories.

In the show, we meet four women who all get jobs at the factory: Sari, a young single mother; Britta, who is struggling with marital problems at home; Eivor, who dreams of getting her own driver's license; and Anette, whose salvation depends on having a job.

Conditions on the factory assembly lines are tough and finances are strained. A long and dramatic trade union struggle for better conditions and to save jobs begins, despite the fact that many workers have no experience of organizing. Despite the struggle, the factories are closed down seven years after they started.

In the performance, we follow how the women's view of themselves changes along the way, how they are affected by having their own economy, by being given the opportunity to take their place in society and dare to make their voice heard, or be one of those who choose to remain silent.

The story is an important part of the history of Västerbotten and of women working in an industrial establishment. It also sheds light on questions about the role of people in our economic system today, where conditions can change from one day to the next and where new major industrial investments are being made here in the north. The script written by Camilla Blomqvist is based on testimonies from women who worked at Algots Nord and new music is written for the performance by Frida Johansson. Västerbottensteatern's artistic director Johanna Salander is directing.

Participants and production

PARTICIPANTS: Emil Grudemo El Hayek, Josefine Koskinen, Ellenor Lindgren, Nils Lundqvist, Annika Nordin, Aja Rodas

SCRIPT: Camilla Blomqvist
THEATER PUBLISHER: Colombine
Director: Johanna Salander
Dramaturge: Tora von Platen
Set and costume design: Ulla Karlsson
Mask design: Mika Hedström
Music composition: Frida Johansson
Lighting design: Maria Ros
Choreography, stage movement: Sara Ribbenstedt
Sound: Björn Mårtensson
Lighting: Albin Åkerman
Stage manager/carpenter: Petter Ögren
Carpenter: Jonas Åberg
DECORATOR: Catarina Berglind
DIRECTOR: Nina Muhonen Marklund
CUSTOMER: Ulrica Marklund, Terese Larsson
UPHOLSTERER: Helena Steisel
FINISHER: Maria Asserud
Thank you to all the other staff who worked to make this performance possible!

Poster image: Lisalove Bäckman
PRESS IMAGES: Patrick Degerman
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Johanna Salander
CEO & PUBLISHER: Challa Gustavsson

Production: Västerbottensteatern

Thanks to

THANK YOU to all the fantastic Algot workers in the reference group who so generously shared their stories during our work to develop the script and performance:
Margareta Rönnegard, Maria Widerlund, Anki Wikström, Sonja Stenlund, Sinikka Lindquist, Birgit Stenman, Eva Bovin Nordmark, Lena Nilsson, Monika Simu, Annalena Smitt, Ulla Andersson, Wiveca Ögren, Solveig Olsson, Ulla Bergström, Pia Brännström, Eva Rickardsson, Solveig Andersson, Eivor Schönfeldt, Eivor Holmkvist, Annika Pettersson, Lena Nygren, Marieann Eklöf, Sara Marklund, Maj Gran, Ulla Eriksson Bergström, Märta Bovin Johansson, Marianne Holmqvist, Doris Lindgren, Hans-Erik Persson, Elisabeth Häggkvist, Arianne Buhr, Astrid Karlsson, Marianne Risén.

Thanks to:
Monika Simu
Folk movement archive in Västerbotten
Skellefteå Museum
Norrlandsoperan
Johanna Overud, Umeå University.

Images used in the performance: Skellefteå Museum archive. Photo: Martin Lindqvist and unknown photographer.

Tour in fall 2025

8/10 Umeå, Vävenscenen at 19:00. - Tickets >>

9/10 Umeå, Vävenscenen at 19:00. - Tickets >>

10/10 Umeå, Vävenscenen at 19:00. - Tickets >>

11/10 Umeå, Vävenscenen at 16:00. - Tickets >>

25/10 Lycksele, Medborgarhuset, Aspen, at 18:00. - Tickets >>

28/10 Sundsvall, Teater Västernorrland, at 19:00. - Tickets >>

29/10 Sundsvall, Teater Västernorrland, at 19:00. - Tickets >>

30/10 Sundsvall, Teater Västernorrland, at 19:00. - Tickets >>

8/11 Norsjö, Medan at 19:00. - Tickets >>

Reviews

"If anyone ever needs an argument to save regional theaters, Stitches is a gift
All the more commendable is the historical deed that Västerbottensteatern is now doing, and if anyone ever needs arguments for the need for strong regional performing arts institutions, this investment presents itself as a pure gift.
A piece of industrial history, but also, and perhaps more so, a piece of women's history, labor history, is what we get to take part in and a heavy follow-up to the now artistic director Johanna Salander's previous directing assignment at Västerbottensteatern with Handbook for housewives in the spring of 2023 ...
Britta, subtly and nuanced played by Ellenor Lindgren, is the one who gets the fullest context through how family life with her husband PO, one of Nils Lundqvist's roles, is also given space - the rifts that arise in the marriage when the convinced socialist and professional is faced with and fails to live his equal ideology, ..." - Sara Meidell, Västerbottens-Kuriren

Press and TV clips

Stitches highlight human stories in failed million-dollar investment - preview report in Västerbottens Folkblad

When the hope of thousands of jobs turned into sadness - preview report in Norran

The story of algots in Skellefteå - a gigantic failure that opened doors to working life - preview in Megafonen

Algots textile factory becomes theater - conversation in Go'kväll in SVT Play