Sjiraffen Produksjoner: The History of Idiocy, Chapter 1

The History of Idiocy, Chapter 1 is the result of a unique process in which three people with cognitive variations have immersed themselves in the history of the treatment of people "like them" together with performing artist Aksel Langum Øien. These are powerful stories that are little known, most often hidden or forgotten. The performance is filled with both humor and darkness, and is suitable for those curious about what it is like to live with a functional variation, those with a historical interest, or those interested in socially relevant and innovative performing arts. Through various collective processes, historical sources, both from Trondheim and the world at large, have been examined and staged. Together we gather and immerse ourselves in little-known material that - for all we know - has never been presented in this way in Norway before. The project is important to us, and to our participants who initially requested their own history. A powerful and diverse history, full of questions because the depictions are incomplete and the material fragmented. That is why an artistic language is also fitting, because it can encompass more than pure information. The History of Idiocy is, in other words, not documentary theatre that provides clear answers and concepts about what the history is, because we do not have all the answers. Participants: By: Sjiraffen Produksjoner Co-creating actors: Halvard Damm Laupstad, Ingerid Trætteberg, Christoffer Bratseth Production assistants: Ørjan Eiken, Thea Eide Concept, direction and script development: Aksel Langum Øien Costume: Leo Thörn Music: Håvard Tanem Producer: Mari Moe Krysinska/Åsa Thalinsson Photo: Aksel Langum Øien/ Leo Thörn