[Strek] [Strek]

The 'Ekeberg group'

'Nordjordet' above Oslo

Ingeborg and Birgit bought and restored "Nordjordet", an old house on the Ekeberg cliff, in those days a peaceful spot outside of Oslo. The house soon became a meeting place for artists. Painters, musicians, sculptors came to experience music and literature. Birgit was a good reader, and started teaching the young enthusiasts dramas of Wergeland and Kinck. Soon Ingeborg and Birgit had a small ensemble of amateur actors, and in 1926 they managed to stage a drama by the contemporary Norwegian author Hans E. Kinck, Bryllupet i Genua.

The critics were mercilessly attacking the "experimentation" of the theatre troup, but "The young ones" or "the Ekeberg colony" as they were known continued staging Henrik Wergeland's Spaniolen in 1930. The critics didn't change their tune, the famous journalist Paul Gjesdahl even labeled the performance "immoral"!

In spite of advice from frightened friends, Ingeborg decided to challenge his statement in the court - and won! Below is one newspaper's article on the case.

Dandelion drawn by Johanne L. G. Michaelsen. Dandelion drawn by Johanne L. G. Michaelsen. Dandelion drawn by Johanne L. G. Michaelsen.

"The Kinck-Wergeland-theatre
vs Paul Gjesdal.

A performance in court today with Sigrid Søyland and Gjesdahl as leading actors.

The expressions complained about were withdrawn

 

Paul Gjesdahl, journalist. Drawing: Arbeiderbladet.
Paul Gjesdahl, journalist.
Drawing: Arbeiderbladet.
Statement withdrawn.

About 1:30 today, the court ruled that the normal interpretation of the expression "an immoral performance" complies with the theatre group's interpretation - as an "immoral" performance at odds with common sexual moral sense.

Sigrid Søyland, actress. Drawing: Arbeiderbladet.
Sigrid Søyland, actress.
Drawing: Arbeiderbladet.

Gjesdahl's intended meaning that the abuse of a great poet was immoral, and not the performance itself, was not clearly expressed in his review and can not be taken into account. The expression "an immoral performance" is found to be unfounded."



(article from Oslo aftenavis , July15th 1931)

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Rewised July 20th 2000.
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