OT Northern Lights Season
Our Northern Lights series of script-in-hand readings on a Nordic theme continues with a journey through the European night, inspired by true events, by one of Sweden’s most innovative contemporary playwrights.
Somewhere in the depths of Europe, a photographer boards a sleeper train. The journey is quiet enough, with barely any company, other than the on-board usher. But on an empty field in no-man’s-land, hundreds of people stand waiting. Most of them are carrying bags. Some of them are carrying children. They stand in square formations, 40 people per square. Like the photographer, they are also on their way. Waiting for the night train.
Following productions at the Kulturehuset Stadtsteatern in Stockholm and the Teatro Conde Duque in Madrid, and originally performed in three languages, this English-language translation by Lisa Wollter marks the UK premiere of Astrid Menasanch Tobieson’s riveting play exploring migration, bearing witness, and happens in a world controlled by suspicion.
The play is presented by arrangement with Colombine Teaterförlag AB, Sweden. Playwright Astrid Menasanch Tobieson will also be joining us for a post-show Q&A. This appearance at the Orange Tree Theatre is kindly supported by the Swedish Embassy in London.
Showcasing rediscovered classics, modern revival, contemporary drama and a specially commissioned new play, Northern Lights continues every Friday lunchtime until November 21.
Directed by Sam Woof
Astrid Menasanch Tobieson is a Spanish-Swedish playwright, director, writer, and actor, based in Stockholm. She is best known for writing poetic, existential, and often funny political plays, and for reporting on Spanish and European politics and democracy for a number of Swedish newspapers.
In 2021, her play När Baba faller i poolen är klockan 23.47 was commended by the Spanish Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música and in 2022, her one-man musical Club Janzon was selected for the Swedish Performing Arts Biennial. In 2024 her touring production Gustav Vasa – the Musical, co-created with Tiffany Kronlöf and Thom Gisslén, drew a record-breaking audience of over 5000 people to the open-air theatre Parkteatern in Stockholm and was subsequently filmed and broadcast by Swedish national public service broadcaster SVT.
Astrid has also translated four plays by August Strindberg into Spanish, for the theatre company Teatro de la Reunión in Madrid. As a playwright, she is currently under commission by the Swedish National Touring Theatre, the Stockholm City Theatre and House of Culture, and Gothenburg City Theatre.
Lisa Wollter is a Swedish translator and production manager with a background in acting who splits her time between her sheep farm in the north of Sweden and New York. She and Astrid met during a production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party at Stockholm City Theatre in 2010 and have worked together on many of Astrid’s projects since. Their shared history as well as their artistic and personal bond provides Lisa with a unique pathway into and profound understanding of Astrid’s renowned writing.
Sam Woof is a director, writer and composer based in London. They were the resident assistant director at the Orange Tree in 2023. Since leaving, Sam won the JMK’s inaugural August O’Neill Award in 2024 and was named one of The Stage’s Fringe Five for their work as artistic director of GOYA Theatre Company.
They are currently writing commissions for Anthology Theatre and Elpis Productions. As writer/director, credits include: Four Felons and a Funeral (Birmingham Hippodrome and Tour); Actually, Love (Tour including Orange Tree Lunchtime – Playbill Pick of the Fringe); Sex with Friends (North Wall and Tour – Musical Theatre Review Award Winner). Assistant/associate director credits include The Swell (Orange Tree – Olivier Nominated); Blizzard (Soho Theatre, 59E59 NYC); The Circle (Orange Tree and Theatre Royal Bath).
