Fright and delight are keywords for this year's festival program, writes the Festival Director, Per Boye Hansen.
Children love being frightened: ‘Where’s baby gone? Boo!’ Then they scream in delight, shouting ‘Again, again!’ This mixture of delight and fright seems to fulfill a basic human need. We are fascinated by what scares us, what disturbs us and what challenges us.
The relationship between fright and delight has also inspired many artists. The devil himself was traditionally regarded as a master fiddler, and when the best folk musicians strike up a tune, you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Old Nick. The circus artist without a safety net makes us quiver in excitement and scream with joy. What pushes limits and disturbs our equilibrium is magically enticing. It may be a matter of feeling the fright but successfully mastering it. Or perhaps it reminds us of the fine line between control and chaos.
This year’s Bergen International Festival programme invites you to some frightfully delightful experiences which only theatre and music can provide.
Per Boye Hansen