DUS – ‘Den Unge Scenen’ and International Connections

A NEW PLATFORM FOR YOUTH AND DRAMA FIRMLY ESTABLISHED
DUS PROJECT 3 (2008/9) NOW IN PREPARATION

A network of ten theatres across the country develops and promotes youth theatre in Norway. Young adults, from 13 to 19, present works specially written for young people. For the first DUS project (2004/5), we commissioned works from five Norwegian playwrights; for the second (2006/7), we were able to offer youth theatre groups five new works, three written on commission in Norway and two, in translation, from the NT-Connections project in England. The new pieces were then performed by 35 youth theatre groups across the country.

The idea and model for DUS stems from the “Connections” project in England, established in 1994, and based at the Royal National Theatre in London. Internationally, the Connections model has been adopted in the USA, Finland and Germany, and countries with Connections projects in 2007 include England, Italy, Portugal and Brazil.
DUS plays an active role in developing this international network, which provides tremendous opportunities for exchange projects.

Project Manager Eirik Nilssen Brøyn.

35 NEW YOUTH THEATRE PERFORMANCES

Six regions took part in the initial DUS project, Hedmark Region first participating in DUS 2006/7.
The DUS project partners are:

Det Norske Teatret and Det Åpne Teater in Oslo, Figurteatret in Nordland, including the regional Stage Director Project, Brageteatret in Buskerud, Nord-Trøndelag and Trøndelag Teater in Central Norway, Rogaland Teater in Stavanger, Teatret Vårt in Molde and Hedmark Teater

These professional theatres act as coordinators and hosts for youth theatre groups in their respective regions, providing guidance and advice during the study phase. Between February and April 2007, seven regional festivals were arranged. Eleven groups were selected for participation in the National DUS Festival at Det Norske Teatret from 10th to 12th May 2007.
The planning of DUS 2008/9 is now under way.

DUS opens up completely new lines of communication in the Norwegian cultural landscape, providing a meeting place for playwrights and young people, and for youth groups and theatres. Between participating regions, a new network of young people now exists. The name of the original project, “Connections”, says it all. In Norway, we have our own way of putting it, but what it adds up to is this: Norway has a new arena for youth drama: DUS – Den Unge Scenen.