Interview

Name:             Carl Jørn Johansen

Occupation:   Theatremaker, Rogaland Theatre (Norway)


Tell us briefly about your role / job / organisation?

My title is theatermaker at the Rogaland Theater, which means I do stuff so that theater can be created. That can be anything from directing, teaching, organizing, networking, begging for money and so on. From 2009 I will be the one responsible for our international network and establishment of youth theater connections across Europe.
 
What theatre excites you?

Theater that is done for other reason than showing off or selling tickets. Theater that is relevant here and now. Stories that speak directly to the audience. Something we can relate to.

What were your formative experiences of theatre, and how have they informed your practice?

I was a pretty bad actor in our local amateur theater group, the main thing for me was the friendship that we had, i did not really care about the art. Not knowing what to do after school I went to university at the department of Dramaturgy in Århus. That changed my view. Theater was much more that hanging out and having fun. Theater was an arena where you actually could get people to listen to what you had on your mind.

What stands out for you as a highlight or achievement so far in your career?

Getting Nazis, junkies, Hells Angels and refugees to work together for the summershow in a Danish prison. Two of them escaped during the process and the final show was very poor. But the process was the best thing theaterwise that I have ever been involved in. It is the thing I am most proud of.
 
In this current economic climate how can youth theatre thrive?

I do not know, i think the attitude is different in Norway. I think it is important to not devaluate our positions. Theater for us is not a hobby, this is our job, this is how we pay our bills. If we need to find other job lots of young people will lose a very good possibility of expressing themselves. Society cannot afford this.

I also think that we should work with the young people to make them understand that there are more important things at stake than money. There are other values that should fill the minds of young people.

How do you feel youth theatre (in Norway) is viewed by the wider theatre community?

YT is still looked upon as second-rate in some circles, and they might be right some times, bad YT can be really cruel to watch, but no one can deliver like a 17 year old person who really say what she means. The honesty that youth theater can give, the "adult" theater finds harder to reproduce

I think that the establishment of DUS (connections in Norway) has helped a lot. The Rogaland Children and Youth Theatre has a long tradition and people are interested in what we do, and we have the support from the community, the city council and now the government. Not many youth theatres in Norway are as fortunate as us.

What are the intrinsic values of good quality engagement with young people with respected artistic outcomes? 

Respect, honesty, professionalism, necessity.

MORE INTERVIEWS