Love and lust pray for drama at the Book Fair

Already the seminar catalog’s cover gossip about the content; A comic strip where the fair’s logo of mermaids on just nine squares can fall in love, lie with an inverted mermaid, be dumped, despair and then become rosing – to finally find comfort in a good book.

However, Oskar Ekström, program manager and incoming head of the fair, denies that it is an ordering job to tease with Facebook’s owner Meta that earlier this year stamped the logo as « inappropriate content ». The cartoonist Liv Strömqvist has had free hands.

– It is simply a lucky coincidence, he says.

The cover goes hand in glove with one of the two themes of the year: love and desire. Under the theme you will find seminars with headlines like « From the male look to what the hell are you on? » And « relational stress ». In addition, one of the fair’s major international draw patch is Roman star Julia Quinn – author of the success books about the Bridgert family.

– It is a large and very popular genre, but it is also severely affected by the banning that books happen to be in the United States. So in addition to the genre as such, it will also be about which books are banned and why, says Oskar Ekström.

Under the theme of love and lust Also available the already noted program point « Couple therapy live. When love crisis »where two couples participate in couples therapy in front of the audience, under the direction of psychologists. The conversation focuses on both acceptance and change in relationships.

– We did not know how big the interest would be, but there were plenty of couples to choose from. They will have conversations with the psychologists before, to find out what they need help with and what can be valuable for an audience to take part in, says Oskar Ekström.

There will also be couples therapy on the club program Book Fair by Night, then with a so far secret celebrity couple. One clue is that the couple is partly known precisely for their relationship problems.

Drama is to be expected – not least during the book fair’s second theme drama. In short, it is no coincidence that they have chosen to present the seminar program at Dramaten in Stockholm. This year, they want to highlight contemporary drama and its ability to shape the big issues of our time.

– We want to strike a blow to the drama as a literary genre. In other countries, it is common for you to read plays at school, or that you can buy script in book form after seeing a performance. In Sweden it is almost completely missing, which is a great shame. The hope is that the Book Fair’s theme will contribute to an increase in printed drama, says Frida Edman, who is now leaving the post as Book Fair’s manager to become CEO of Gothenburg City Theater.

Swedish and Nordic Dramatics, directors and actors are among the guests. In addition, international top names such as American Tony Kushner and German Roland Schimmelpfennig participate, for a long time one of Europe’s most played playwrights.

– There will be regular seminars, but we also have a new theater room where monologues, shorter pieces and scenes will be performed from larger works, says Oskar Ekström.

Although severalt Of the fair’s program points this year, can be regarded as child -banned, as always, you also have a great focus on children and young people, as well as on school and libraries. Frida Edman is pleased that the fair’s children’s area has been appreciated, and that in recent years it has been possible to see that more and more teachers and librarians pilgrims to Gothenburg.

– They are our core audience and it goes hand in hand with the investment in school, it is the teachers who are out in reality and meet children and young people every day, she says.

This year’s mermaid, which is the fair’s honorary award, goes to the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She visits the fair to receive the award and tell about her authorship. The prize was established as late as last year and then went to Joyce Carole Oates. But that the price would be a way to attract big names to the fair denies Oskar Ekström.

– Dan Brown comes to the Book Fair and Sweden for the first time without getting any price. It also does over a hundred other international guests, he says.

The fair continues this year with its sub -theme text and music, with guests such as Carola, Björn Ulvaeus and Siw Malmkvist. A favorite from last year is the book influences Jack Edwards and Ayman Chaudhary, who this time brings with them a whole bunch of their own guests.

New for this year is the exhibition area the large garden, which lends its name from a poem by Edith Södergren and focuses on petty, independent and niche publishers.

– The smaller publishers are extremely important for literature in Sweden. The area will also have a stage with its own stage program, says Oskar Ekström.

Whether the theme of love and desire will lead to more than usual being met by Amor’s arrows at the fair, Oskar Ekström and Frida Edman cannot guarantee – but the chance is always there.

– We are quite known for being a place where people start both long -lasting and temporary love relationships, says Oskar Ekström.

Read more:

Oskar Ekström New Manager of the Book Fair

The Book Fair is limited by Meta – « Inappropriate » Barbrosted Log

The Book Fair is looking for crisis couples – should receive therapy on stage

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is awarded the Book Fair’s Honorary Prize