Winnipeg/Reykjavík

The Island (2011)

Icelanders Friðgeir Einarsson and Ingibjörg Magnadóttir and Canadians Arne MacPherson and Freya Olafson, intend the Island to cross continents and link together Icelanders and people of Icelandic origin in opposite corners of the world. But more importantly this work higlights different performing methods, aiming to create a single platform for visual art, dance, theater and performance. The Island focuses on social isolation in modern society. It investigates the borders between people, loneliness and the desire to share time and space with other people.

Freya Björg Olafsson is an interdisciplinary / dance artist who works with video, audio, painting and performances and her creations have been presented and exhibited nationally in Canada as well as internationally. As performer and creator, Freya blends 6 years classical training in the Professional Program of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with the contemporary facility achieved through her completion of a B.A. degree in dance from Winnipeg’s School of Contemporary Dancers in affiliation with the University of Winnipeg.

Ingibjörg Magnadóttir has developed several theatre related works that stand on the verge of performance art, traditional - and experimental theater. She graduated with a B.A. degree from Icelandic Academy of the Arts in 2000 and later Figuratif Teater Skolen, Fredrikstad, Norway in 2002. She has taken part in various performance projects including Performance Kunst Nacht, TV from Afrika, Ballhaus Ost, Berlin, Germany (2007), I'm crying everyons tears, King of Sorrow, performance, Lilith Performance Studio, Sweden (2007) and at Safn, during Sequences real-time art festival, Reykjavík (2006).

Friðgeir Einarsson is a theater-maker working in Iceland as a director, performer and writer. He graduated from the Icelandic Academy of Art in 2008 with a B.A. in Theater: Contemporary Theory and Practice. He has since worked independently and collaborated with several Icelandic theater ensembles, including  "Me and My Friends". In 2009 he composed, along with Margrét Bjarnadóttir and Ragnar Ísleifur Bragason, „Disturbance - a piece for seven chairs", performed at the National Theater of Iceland and at international festivals in Giessen and Mainz, Germany.

Arne MacPherson is a Winnipeg-based director and actor. Saskatchewan- born and Edmonton-bred, he moved to Winnipeg in 1991 and has worked as an actor extensively in Winnipeg. Arne’s work as a director includes productions for the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Projects Manitoba, Prairie Theatre Exchange and the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. He also teaches drama at the Prairie Theatre Exchange School and has directed the Young Company for seven years.

The project is a collaboration between:  Arne MacPherson, Freya Olafson, Friðgeir Einarsson and Ingibjörg Magnadóttir

Lighting design: Hugh Conacher

Dramaturgical assistance:  Margrét Bjarnadóttir

Produced by LÓKAL Theatre Festival Reykjavík and Núna/Now Arts Festival Winnipeg

Performed in English

Duration:  1 hour

Created with the generous support of the Canada Council, the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Council and the Ministry of Education- and Culture (Iceland).

Venue:  Gamla bíó, Ingólfsstræti 3, Reykjavík

Schedule 3.9. – 19:00 / 4.9. – 18:30

Price: 3.200.-

Tickets: Tjarnarbíó, Tjarnargata 12, midasala@tjarnarbio.is / 5272102 and

Gamla bíó, Ingólfsstræti (by the door)

The Island