Two men from different countries explore identity, theatre and politics to find the common ground between them
Performance makers Andy Smith (UK) and Amund Sjølie Sveen (Norway) present their new show Commonism at the Burton Taylor Studio on 20 March as part of a UK tour.
Commonism is a meeting of two people from different countries in search of some common ground. It’s a performed conversation – a dialogue that asks questions about nationality, internationality, theatre and politics, capitalism and democracy, future and hope, and the need for change.
8 individuals in the world now own more than the poorest 50%. 8 people – 8 men of course – have more money than 3.5 billion people together.
The Berlin Wall came down in 1989. It was when the great philosophical unification of Europe could have begun but instead, we just took it as a great opportunity to get better at Capitalism.
We need to train ourselves to imagine possible futures. We need to begin by doing some utopian thinking. Let’s go!
Andy Smith and Amund Sjølie Sveen are established theatre makers. Andy is originally from the North of England (Lancaster) and teaches at Manchester University; Amund is from the North of Norway. They have known each other for about fifteen years. Andy lived and worked in Oslo between 2006 and 2010, and in 2008 they collaborated on a project for young people called Hvor er du? (In English: Where are you?). Commonism is their new collaboration.
In Commonism they talk about who we are – and who we could be – in the times we live in. They think about who we are and where are going and make some suggestions for the future – for our common future.
Smith & Sveen: ‘We have written a narrative of power for the mostly white, mostly male - led, hierarchical and patriarchal societies in which we live. We need to dismantle them. We are all involved in the discrimination. ‘
Tickets for Commonism at Burton Taylor Studio are available from the Oxford Playhouse Ticket Office on 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com