Details

In the Northern Lands uses extensive physicality to tell traditional stories from Norse mythology, with strong themes of bravery, loyalty and courage. Hartzell and McDonald workshopped the script extensively to build the physicality, including aerial rope work and stage combat, into the storytelling, bringing to life the Gods of Asgard, including Odin, Thor, Loki and Freya, on and above the SCT stage. Of the development process, McDonald says, “We wanted to do justice to the epic nature of these stories, and to develop the balance between words and movement as organically as possible.”

“Myths passed from generation to generation help to form and shape our cultural mores, ethics, and moral compass. As we watch the great characters create the world in which they live, we are shown that honor, courage, justice, and fidelity are traits worth emulating. There is always much to be learned from our ancestors, from all parts of the world, and there is no better way to pass on those messages to our youth than by wrapping them in the thrill of a good old-fashioned story.” -SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell

Location
Charlotte Martin Theatre

Age Recommendation
For Ages 8+

Performances

This production has past.

“An action-packed colorful retelling of old legends”

Tom Keogh (Seattle Times)

More Info

Cast and Design Team

This physically-demanding production will challenge the cast of SCT regulars, all of whom have been deeply involved in the play’s workshops. The cast includes Hans Altwies (last at SCT in The Neverending Story), Emily Chisholm (Peter Pan), Rafael Untalan (A Tale of Two Cites) and David Quicksall (also A Tale of Two Cities). Tim Gouran and Amy Thone understudy.

The large scope of In the Northern Lands: Nordic Myths will also challenge the production team. Joining Hartzell are SCT Resident Sound Designer Chris. R. Walker, Scenic Designer Matthew Smucker, Costume Designer Cathy Hunt, Aerial Choreographer Lara Paxton and Fight Choreographer Geoffrey Alm (who both appeared in and did the fight choreography for SCT’s Peter Pan).

Synopsis

Mythology has always allowed men to understand the world in which they live, given them reason behind the forces of nature. Using incredible physicality and grand theatrical scope, we bring to life a series of Norse myths through which we travel to long, long ago…

…In the misty ages at the beginning of the world, when men and the Gods had not grown so distant, when the way to Asgard was not a lost thing, as it is now, the Gods of Asgard—Odin, Loki, Tyr, and the rest—had given men gifts, for they found in men attributes that reminded the Gods of themselves. They had given men skill with tools, grains, and domestic animals, and so men lived in simple ways. But they did not live at peace, for there were wild animals (and now and again, a troll would come marauding and kill people), and men have always been, and will always be, men. There were those who had treachery and deceit in their hearts. But there were also men of much honor and bravery, and a great value was placed on the keeping of oaths. This is well, for in the end, a man’s honor is all he has, and it is his reputation, the tale of how he has dealt with others, that lives after him. There were mighty deeds to be done, and bards to sing of them.