Danish playwright unveils play based on Anders Behring Breivik's manifesto
The play, which will be staged as a monologue, will use Breivik’s own words — his manifesto — to examine “how and why an apparently quite normal Norwegian man gives up on democracy and chooses to discard democratic values, isolates himself, and prepares this slaughter. “The terrible actions committed in Oslo and on Utoya were his alone but the excruciating set of thoughts and radical views behind these actions are not unique — at all,” Lollike said.
The artistic director and playwright isn’t mounting the production for shock value or to make money. He says he sincerely wants the audience to use the play as a piece of social commentary and begin to understand how and why Breivik committed such a terrible act — and develop a deeper understanding of right-wing rhetoric. “I think they will see him, not as mentally ill, but as a political racist. He started out as a member for a nationalist, right-wing party in Norway but gave up politics in the normal sense,” Lollike said.
“During the last decade, Muslims have been stigmatized as a people who cause problems,” he explained. “This again has contributed to a negative attitude towards immigration and integration of immigrants. Large parts of the political views in Breivik’s manifesto are copy/pasted from elsewhere or at least backed up by referrals to several European political party programs — it is a fact that Breivik wants Muslims out of Europe. “His way of reasoning and thinking is not unique — he does not stand alone in that respect — and that is terrifying.”
Lollike scoffs at critic suggestions that he shouldn’t use Breivik’s manifesto or the killings as a topic for a play. “In the media he is getting so much attention already, that the fact that we are staging a critical play speaking out about Breivik, by putting his own words in a subjective, critical context, will not instigate further action. It is my belief that speaking about the radical right-wing populism is the better solution than keeping silent.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1125313--danish-director-unveils-anders-behring-breivik-manifesto-play?bn=1
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