a different kind of church service

a different kind of church service

Free the Worship
Aarhus Cathedral and Svalegangen Theatre
2017

Free the Worship
Aarhus Cathedral and Svalegangen Theatre
2017

The event Befri Gudstjenesten (Free the Worship) was held seven times for 350 audience members at a time at the Cathedral of Aarhus as part of Aarhus 2017, as well as the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. The event was a re-thinking of the service as we know it. Torden & Lynild’s scenography consisted among other things of large, rotating and glowing word reels as well as long passageways of glowing half arches and a giant anatomical heart, which hovered above the altar. Among the performers was a “proper” priest, the dance company Don Gnu, the rapper Per Vers as well as a 150-person gospel choir.

The event Befri Gudstjenesten (Free the Worship) was held seven times for 350 audience members at a time at the Cathedral of Aarhus as part of Aarhus 2017, as well as the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. The event was a re-thinking of the service as we know it. Torden & Lynild’s scenography consisted among other things of large, rotating and glowing word reels as well as long passageways of glowing half arches and a giant anatomical heart, which hovered above the altar. Among the performers was a “proper” priest, the dance company Don Gnu, the rapper Per Vers as well as a 150-person gospel choir.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

aarhus stifttidende

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

mortehede.dk

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

ungt teaterblod

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aarhus stifttidende

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

mortenhede.dk

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

ungt teaterblod

“Incredibly liberating to experience the words of the bible in such a well-thought-out event situation. “

“Incredibly liberating to experience the words of the bible in such a well-thought-out event situation. “

“Expressive and dyed-in-the-wool culture and society debating site-specific performance”

“Expressive and dyed-in-the-wool culture and society debating site-specific performance”

“An utterly unique experience of being part of a shared whole - whether you believe in the Christian god or not”

“An utterly unique experience of being part of a shared whole - whether you believe in the Christian god or not”

COOPERATING PARTNERS

Samarbejds-partnere

Torden & Lynild

Torden & Lynild

photos, website

photos, website

Mikkel Berg Pedersen og Montgomery

Mikkel Berg Pedersen og Montgomery

Per Smedegaard (director)
Nanna Graugård Jessen (dramaturge)
Theatre Svalegangen production department (construction and lighting)
Theatre Svalegangen sewing studio (costume production)

Per Smedegaard (director)
Nanna Graugård Jessen (dramaturge)
Theatre Svalegangen production department (construction and lighting)
Theatre Svalegangen sewing studio (costume production)

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes

It was a different type of challenge to establish the scenography in the large, protected cathedral. We weren’t allowed to attach any construction anywhere, so everything had to be self-supporting.

It was a truly unique experience to establish our scenography in this large, protected cathedral. We couldn't fasten our structures anywhere, so everything had to be self-supporting.

The costume design was based on the priest being the central figure. The geometrical ray shape was based on the heart and went from here and out to the other costumes. 

The costume design was based on the priest being the central figure. The geometrical ray shape was based on the heart and went from here and out to the other costumes. 

Each costume was sewn from scratch. Here, Svalegang’s tailors are working to draw up the ray shape on the sketch costumes in cotton before the real costumes were sewn.

Each costume was sewn from scratch. Here, Svalegang’s tailors are working to draw up the ray shape on the sketch costumes in cotton before the real costumes were sewn.