The Basement

The Basement is on one level a delirious tribute to the millions of women throughout history who have been condemned to a fate of untimely death and oblivion, guilty of nothing more than being women. On another level, the performance is a perplexing fable about reincarnation. If we wake up from death like someone else, are we able to fully represent that person, or do we just allow ourselves to be confused by strange outfits? As the men continue the party on the floor above, the four women search for a logic in their new reality. Or diverse realities.

The Basement is an independent sequel to The Attic (2022) where the theme was love between women. This time it's about love for women who are long dead and forgotten to the world. The knowledge of their sufferings, on the other hand, has given them eternal life. Perhaps they can also remind us how patriarchal the world still is.

Love between women is an underrepresented theme in Norwegian performing arts, and although the theme is not perceived as sensational or dangerous here in Norway, it is important to highlight it. It is of great importance both for society in general and the individual individual.

Jo Strømgren Company

Jo Strømgren Kompani is one of Norway's biggest cultural exports, with a tour list that includes more than 60 countries. The company's artistic style is a unique blend of dance and theatre, large doses of humour combined with dark, political undertones. The shows often ask global, contemporary-relevant questions, but are shrunk down to a microuniverse with a small group of people. Regardless of the form of genre, all the shows are tour-friendly and can be adapted to multiple languages. Jo Strømgren is a versatile and award-winning choreographer, director and playwright with over 100 productions on her CV, both from home and abroad. Since 2013 he has been associated with the National Ballet at The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet as a house choreographer.

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