When two young people plan their suicide

In an internet forum, a young man explains his intention not to live anymore. He is looking for another person who wants to commit suicide together with him. Just a few days later, two young people in Norway jumped to suicide from the over 600 meter high price of price on the Lysefjord. That was in 2000.

Today, 25 years later, suicide is still a taboo subject. But it is important to break. This is one of the reasons why a piece is listed in the Escher Ariston this week, which is just the true event of these two young people who have agreed on the Internet for suicide.

« Norway.Today » is the name of the two-person drama of Igor Bauersima, which can be seen this Saturday in a production by Nickel Bösenberg. The « Luxembourg word » was there in one of the rehearsals in the Ariston and spoke to the director about the play, social media and the pressure in today’s society.

Remove prejudices using theater

« We will talk about suicide today, » Maja Jurić shouts into the hall. A kind of trigger warning that prepares the viewers for the upcoming. As soon as 20-year-old Julie and the Luxembourg-Spanish actor Étienne Halsdorf, you will be accompanied as a 19-year-old August on her trip to the planned suicide.

The piece enables a direct insight into the heads of two young people who no longer want to live and explores their motivation – without pointing their fingers to someone.

« In the anonymity of the audience, both people who are depressed or who have themselves suicidal are recognized and understood. But also viewers who have no access to this topic at all can succeed in opening up and understanding how people are doing, » explains Nickel Bösenberg.

As the actor and director emphasizes, direct access to this taboo subject and an identification option with the players is created here. In the Medium Theater, he sees the opportunity to reduce prejudices regarding suicide and people at risk of suicide.

« You can trust this text »

But how do you approach a text like that of Igor Bauersimas? « It’s the great thing about the play: you don’t have to sew it on, » says Bösenberg. The text does not give the problem with dealing with this difficult topic.

« It illuminates the motivation for this suicide in such a different point of view, and Igor Bauersimas wrote this with such great ease that you don’t really have to worry about this. Of course, if you start with the project, you have exactly these concerns and ask yourself how to deal with it. But during reading and rehearsing, we have determined: You can trust this text. »

As Bösenberg explains in conversation with the « Luxemburger Word », he attaches great importance to teamwork in his productions and wants the acting and all other participants to have a say. When we meet the director in the Ariston shortly before the start of the rehearsal, the final preparations for the next run will be made.

A light hustle and bustle and tension are noticeable. The goal is to push down the duration of the piece so that the term falls under two hours at the end.

Although « norway.today » dates from 2000, it has been decided to update the text – because on the one hand it was not necessary and on the other hand it might have raised more questions. « Actually, all topics that occur in the play have become more topical. » Access to the Internet is also different today than 25 years ago.

Nevertheless, it makes no difference for the viewers whether the two young people take their farewell message with a camera or a smartphone shortly before their planned jump. Another reason to stay with the original text.

Growing pressure to perform

When asked whether today’s social media could have a negative impact on the well -being of young people, Bösenberg replies: « My fear is simply that in the media environment in which young people grow up, the social pressure and pressure to perform grow. The ideal images are no longer available. This is not a completely new phenomenon, but a pressure that increases. »

The risk of being exposed to a large mass because you made a small mistake or even behaved clumsy with these media was not the same 20 years ago. « I think this is a new big problem that you don’t really have under control. »

During the rehearsal visit, the fact that « norway.today » is not a heavy food despite its core theme. Because the piece even offers moments of smile, even laughing. At the same time, suicide (in young people) is by no means taken lightly. Rather, Nickel of Bösenberg enables new perspectives to be seen – without being instructive.