The enormous garbage mountain, which among other things hid around 500,000 ancient texts, was discovered in the late 19th century, in the city of Oxyrhynchos. Karl Dunér heard about the discovery when he put up "Prometheus" at Dramaten a few years ago. Now he has gone through all the texts that are available deciphered, about 6,000-7,000 pieces, and selected a hundred of them.
There is such thing as what is not otherwise preserved from antiquity, everyday voices. Purchases, private letters and complaints - everything that has to do with private life that has not been found anywhere else to that extent. It gives such a clear picture of life in the city, says Karl Dunér, who also publishes the selection in a new book.
Best preserved
Orionteatern has been filled with 40 tons of sand, where the audience can now walk around freely among 29 sculptures with sound installations during the work's eight hours. For four hours, there will be readings, then actors will interpret the texts with readings, scenes and shadow play.
If you go to Pompeii and Herculaneum, it's completely quiet, there are no signs of people except for the plaster casts. Here it's exactly the opposite, says Karl Dunér, who calls Oxyrhynchos the worst preserved ancient city - because it no longer exists.
But thanks to the garbage heap, it's at the same time the best preserved by far. That's where you hear the voices.
Immediate drama
Karl Dunér has primarily selected texts that have not been heard before, by unknown poets. But there are also lost texts by Sophocles and Euripides, and the first known Christian hymn. In addition, there will be satyr plays - the burlesque, folk theater was often thrown away, emphasizes Karl Dunér.
Unknown dramatists have written small, vulgar sketches that are so crude that you almost have to write "not for children".
He thinks the texts say something about how we remember, in fragments. In addition, he appreciates that the voices often feel contemporary.
It becomes like drama immediately, with voices crossing each other from different times.
