I am! – Unge Viken Theatre

One day, as Erlend and Alma celebrate that they are alive (they exist! Think how wonderful!), they suddenly receive a message from the King. The message is: “Congratulations on your existence! Welcome to life! I command that you must be yourself for real! Greetings from His Majesty the King.”

So Erlend and Alma try their best! But what on earth does it mean to be themselves? Is there a thing that you are? Is there a core within them? Is there something they can create? Something they can decide? A special outfit? A quality they have? What does the King mean??

"I am!" is a playful performance that celebrates identity and self-worth. The performance will encourage the young audience to use their expert skills as players, to become people who can handle a lot! We can take on many different roles and costumes, play to be more than we thought we were and dared to be - while always being ourselves. And we can be all of this without having a shining core inside us that shows the way. Only by groping, trying, playing can we be ourselves, always.

I can be just me.
Think of a hundred nice ways
Not finding, not searching
We are all beautiful riddles
Quite similar, completely unique
You are you
I am me
You are you and I am me.

– Lyrics by Mariko Miyata-Jancey, to a melody by Marte Røyeng –

The material for "I am!" was collected from kindergartens in Akershus and Oslo and together with researcher Johanne Ilje-Lien at the Institute for Kindergarten Teacher Education at OsloMet. An extra thank you to the children and adults at Etterstad kindergarten and Kjeller kindergarten.

Playwright and choreographer Mariko Miyata-Jancey has also written the children's book "Mieko Dances" which revolves around the same theme.

A visual guide with more information about the performance can be found here !

Target group: From 3 years old

Venue: Pilotscenen

Duration: About 25 minutes

Cast:

Playwright: Mariko Miyata-Jancey

With: Erlend Auestad Danielsen, Alma Bø

Direction and choreography: Mariko Miyata-Jancey

Set design and costumes: Frankie (aka Ida-Marie Højris)

Dramaturge: Lina Killingdalen

Researcher: Johanne Ilje-Lien

Composer: Marte Røyeng

Artistic consultation: Karstein Solli

Produced by Unge Viken Teater

Thursday, February 20, 2025

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