Journey to the center of the Earth with «Radio Barents 111»

People of the Barents region - who are they? Unlike many others, creative, open-hearted…with their unique dreams. In a new multilingual project 2012 on the waves of «Radio Barents 111» we set off for a journey to small towns in the region, get acquainted with local people learn about their problems and joy. Radio station – what can be closer to life?

A story told in terms of one radio station is a complex picture of life across the Barents borders. Here we meet people who search for meaning of life at «the back of beyond» from different sides of the border – from Vadsø until Prirechny. And listening to «Radio Barents 111» people create their own identity, feel included into the big foul of a multicultural world. They feel different and alike at the same time. «We are official citizens of the Barents region but we didn’t realize it in the days of my youth. We tried to highlight likeness of people in our performance» – commented the manager and actress of «SamovarTheater», Bente S. Andersen.

Performance starts with documentary and immediately dips you into the atmosphere of a local radio station broadcasting in 5 languages. The plot is set in present days at the cross-border territory of Norway, Russia, Finland and Sámi settlements. You get involved into life of the radio station, enjoy their way of presenting information, feel inspired by their interest and work infatuation when suddenly scolt-sami programs are closed. Does really no one listens to them? Many other questions come to your mind while plot develops and you never get borred.

At the same time future of the Barents region being a matter of animated debate in mainstream policy answers the question: «Why do we live here?» The performance is an intricate jigsaw made of video, music, dance – all revealing the Barents soul. «The vitality and courage here is inspiring, the humor and self irony is liberating and thought-provoking. I hope to bring some of this to the audience by this story. I want to make theater giving people a desire for life». – said writer and director, Franzisca Aarflot.

We must confess that a newly written political drama with its own especially composed music is a rarity on Norwegian stages today. As an unusual project «Radio Barents 111» got support from «BarentsKult» program, Finnmark Fylkeskommune, Sør-Varanger Kommune, Culture Department together with Spare Bank 1and Sami Parliament and made its main ideas heard in Tromsø, Oslo, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

«As a person with 20 years experience of work as a film director and 10 years experience of video-staging today I look at participation in this cross-border joint work as a fabulous experience » – said film director, Sergey Zhigaltsov.