Stephen King's 1980s thriller about novelist Paul Sheldon and his fan Annie Wilkes is one of the performances on Riksteatern's repertoire this fall – the story that also became known in the film that awarded Kathy Bates an Oscar statuette.
The plot revolves around Paul Sheldon, who becomes seriously injured in a car accident, and his big fan Annie takes him home and cares for him. But when she discovers that Paul has written a novel where he kills off his main character, she becomes furious, and while she has him in her power, she forces him to write a new book.
Annie is completely consumed by this book series and spares no means to recreate it, for it is her entire world, says Maria Kulle, who plays Annie.
Becomes brutal
Annie is an isolated person with a dark past – and portraying her is partly about understanding what drives a violent person, believes Maria Kulle. She sees parallels to violent acts in contemporary times, which raise questions about what humans are capable of.
We read about things and people in our vicinity who are exposed to horrific acts. You start to think that it could happen to any one of us, she says.
Samuel Fröler believes that the play can become quite unpleasant since Annie's brutality "is so monumental". But he highlights that Paul becomes increasingly inventive in his strategies to survive, the more he is mistreated.
It's a struggle for survival and joy in the dark black, he says, and adds:
Paul is probably also willing to become as brutal as her if necessity demands.
Culture saves
Samuel Fröler thinks that the story also describes the power of creation. Like Scheherazade in "One Thousand and One Nights", Paul tells stories to survive, and Annie's fascination illustrates the great attraction of culture.
Here, it's literally creation that saves his life.
Bitter relationships will also be featured in Riksteatern's "Dödsdansen", where Claes Malmberg, Pia Johansson, and Jakob Ericksson interpret Strindberg's classic triangle drama. When Maria Blom writes a new relationship play for the fall, it will focus on humor, "Parmiddag hos familjen Franck" is an interpretation of the modern dinner party.
For children and young people, social problems dominate – with performances about AI-created children, young people on the run, and youth violence.
Elin Swedenmark/TT
Facts: Riksteatern's fall in selection
TTTT
"Lida", directed by Rikard Lekander, a collaboration with Uppsala City Theatre. Premiere 20/9.
"Parmiddag hos familjen Franck", a new drama by Maria Blom, who also directs. Collaboration with Folkteatern in Dalarna with premiere 24/9 in Falun.
"Augustisnö" with a script by Guillermo Calderón, directed by Trinidad González. Satire about class and climate. A co-production with Borås City Theatre. Premiere 3/10 in Umeå.
"Ummikkos". A play about the history of the Tornedalians, directed by Filip Alexanderson. Performed and written in both Meänkieli and Swedish. Premiere 16/10 in Pajala.
"B.U.S – Bedårande Under Stress". Cabaret about being a black woman in Sweden, directed by Josette Bushell-Mingo. Premiere 18/10 in Tumba, Stockholm.
"Dödsdansen" directed by Nora Nilsson. Strindberg's classic drama premieres 27/10 in Motala.
"Framtidsbarnet", directed by Martin Rosengardten. About a child created by AI and longing for love. Premiere 3/10, Gagnef.
"Ancrage" by Senegal's first circus company and circus school Sencirk, inspired by breakdance, acrobatics, and traditional dance. Directed by Modou Fata Touré. Premiere 17/10 in Hallunda.
"Ja må han leva", written by Marjaneh Bakhtiari and directed by Josefin Ankarberg. About living in a country but having one's family in another, more dangerous place in the world – in this case, Iran. Premiere 3/10, Heby.
