After more than two years of developing We’ll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse, with:
- one residency in New York’s Dixon Place where the premiere was cancelled due to it being in March 2020
- a pivot to a Covid virtual run in English at Reykjavík Fringe Festival 2020 with the American cast
- a beautiful Icelandic translation by Urður Norðdahl made in 2021
- a six week long winter workshop with the Icelandic cast, translator and composer in 2021-22
- a staged reading cancelled at the Library of Hafnarfjörður but pivoted to a virtual staged reading in 2022 due to the Omacron boom
- a lack of funding for two years (we probably sound depressing with a play about global warming and political turmoil in times of global warming viruses and political turmoil!) only giving us two weeks of intensive rehearsals before our Reykjavík Fringe Festival 2022 run…
- …where I got Covid four days before premiere……!
But! Somehow….! It all sparked into magic last night at beautiful Iðnó where the atmosphere was filled with joy, anticipation, laughter, tears and goosebumps. I myself kept a distance due to my Covid out of respect to our audiences’ health, but was inundated by beautiful messages of support and praises and pictures of the filled seating at the intimate venue, and tonight: we’re set to be sold out.
This is not how I envisioned watching the final run through…! #Covid
I’m so proud. Although I am heartbroken — absolutely shattered, not to be able to be there myself to join in the celebration and reward after all this hard work for two years — I’ve been so warm seeing the other women in my theatre company step up and help with everything needed: Speaking volume checks? Urður! Fine tuning and okaying the lighting? Marjo! Cues for the actors on their entrances? Marjo and Anna! Photographing rehearsals? Anna brought in her talented husband Louis! Adding extra seating? Anna, Tinna and Marjo! Creating a buzz on social media? Outi! Knowing that you’re not alone, that your work is supported and will be in safe hands in its final push across the finish line is everything when something like this happens. Finding women who lift and empower you in this volatile industry is everything. And Spindrift is composed of some of the most hard working, empowering, funny, playful, joyful, resourceful, resilient, multi-talented women, who carry their moral compass at heart centre.
Photo by Louis Crevier. Featuring Bergdís Júlía Jóhannsdóttir and Arnar Hauksson in their role as the Young Couple.
“The chemistry between the actors!” “I had tears in my eyes!” “The laughter in the room!” These messages warm my heart so much, and I’m so proud of the story we’re telling, about global warming and women’s rights over their bodies. About taking action. That losing heart due to fear and exhaustion is alright, and how we must find the community of people who can patiently, gently but firmly lead us back to our values. That the fight for our future is never over. That we have the power to improve the lives around us. That there is hope, and action we can take.
The play is by Melissa-Kelly Franklin
Translation by Urður G. Norðdahl
Director Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir
Actors Bergdís Júlía Jóhannsdóttir and Arnar Hauksson
Radio Broadcaster Tinna Þorvalds Önnudóttir
Musician Hallvarður Ásgeirsson
Photographers Louis Crevier (Iðnó run) and Kristín Edda Gylfadóttir (R&D)
Filmographers Andrew Sim (Iðnó premiere) and Kristín Edda Gylfadóttir (R&D)
Lighting Designer and Technician Juliette Louste
Stage Hands Anna Korolainen Crevier and Marjo Lahti
Sponsors The Community Fund of Landsvirkjun and Composer Fund of RÚV and STEF
— Sólveig Eva