The Chameleons - Unge Viken Teater
"Let me be wild, let me be laughing
In my own language
What you hear is not noise
It's my soul that moves"
"Kameleonene" is about growing up and cross-cultural identity. About groping to find yourself, to find your place and where you belong. About sending heart emojis to grandma in Tunisia because you don't speak the same language, about blending in, sticking out, about love that is like candy, about "skin-colored" pencils, about racism and prejudice, about secret codes, about adapting so well that you lose yourself and about finding your group of friends and how you are allowed to change throughout your life.
When you grow up between two cultures, as a chameleon you are an expert at adapting to different environments, people, languages, cultures and codes. You possess a chameleon competence that not everyone has.
"The Chameleons" is a physical performance where text, dance and music are equally important. The soundscape is composed by 18-year-old Tayza Naing. The performance is based on interviews and texts from young people in Oslo and Viken, conversations with people with cross-cultural backgrounds and the artists' own experiences.
"Seriously! Don't call me a minority language speaker when my language has 100 words for love!"
"I blend into my surroundings like a chameleon. It's quite a useful skill. The best place to hide is in open places no one will look"
"I'm a chameleon when I'm at school. I feel adapted. Tired, but adapted"
"The chameleon is hiding. I run and cycle from the tanks. As a chameleon you have to drift and adapt to everything, one of the worst things I know"
Target audience: From 13 years old
Venue: Pilotscenen
Duration: 45 minutes
Cast:
An idea by Zezé Kolstad developed with Sarah Camille Osmundsen and Lill Salole
Playwright: Sarah Camille Osmundsen
Performers: Mariko Miyata Jancey, Victor Amel Olivares Pedersen and Hawa Janlo
Director and choreographer: Zezé Kolstad
Scenographer and costume designer: Silje Sandodden Kise
Composer: Tayza Naing
Lighting design: Håkon Karlsen
Makeup: Gisella Francisca
Dramaturge: Lina Killingdalen
Costume designer: Line Jeanette Antonsen
Technical consultant: Lill Salole
Mentor/ facilitator composer: Balita Serge Buhendwa
Vote on recordings: Naimo Abdulkadir Shiiq Omar
Technician: Eirik Mikkelsen (SHOWLAB)
Dramaturg idea development: Øystein Ulsberg Brager
Producer: Sandra Sandbye
Produced by Unge Viken Teater
Performance photo: Tale Hendnes
Many thanks to: Åsne at Rommen Scene for invaluable help in putting us in contact with the young people we have met in the process. Thank you for inspiration, conversations and contributions to the text from: 9.trinn ved Kjeller Skole (22/23), Rommen skole, Oslo voksenopplæring Skullerud, Fanny Edvarda Bjørn, Lasse Bjørn, Thomas Gandi Ekeberg Nilsen, Lorita Ineza, Leo Hutchinson Wagbø, Tayza Naing, Ting Malin Lloyd, Naimo Abdulkadir Omar, Heran Zeresenay Teklu, Mandeeq Said Osman-Roble, Balita Serge Buhendwa, Nordic Black Express (NBX) by Farqaleet Iqbal, Anna Trindade Eriksen, Khadeeja Ahmed, Hanna Ocide Kidula , Mahdi Bilal Abusalah , Cesilie Geanina Jørgensen , Mieri Joak , Yara Emilie Bjaarstad Medina, Franklin Mukadiv, Jawad Aziz and Tobias Halle Furunes.
Friday, December 1, 2023
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