Gammelstad opens Monday 17th August at the Hen & Chickens Theatre, inviting audiences into this coming-of-age story. Learn more about what you can expect:
1: What specific moment in your visit sparked the idea for Gammelstad?
As part of the visit, we had the opportunity to step inside of one of the church cottages, reconstructed as it would have been in the 19th century. The temperature was -25℃ outside, and yet inside, it felt so cosy and comforting. We heard stories of how Gammelstad was a social hub for people from very isolated communities, and even got to listen to the traditional courting poem! I began to feel a sense of escapism in Gammelstad, from both its quaint storybook appearance, and the physical and emotional warmth that the cottages offer.
2: This is a co-written play. How was that creative process?
It’s been a lot of fun to work together, and having both visited Gammelstad, we both understood the sense that we wished to capture. I wrote the first draft of the play, and then Niall worked on editing it. We then made some changes together, as well as having made some in rehearsal in collaboration with our director, Luke! We have also done a couple of scratch nights (The Cockpit and Greenwich Theatre), as well as a rehearsed reading and taken feedback, so it’s been an ongoing labour of love to realise the version we have today.
3: Different family members react differently. How did you shape their individual journeys?
Part of what I was interested in exploring were potential gender differences in how people react to trauma. I imagined that these differences would have been even more pronounced in the 19th century, with such a rigid, hierarchical society. In the play, Birgitta internalises, and Bror externalises. Their birth order is also an important factor in shaping their reactions: Birgitta, as the eldest, feels a sense of responsibility for her younger brother, and Bror has more freedom to express himself. As he becomes a man, however, he begins to become constrained by the weight of societal expectation.
4: How are you anticipating audiences to react to the piece?
The play deals with difficult subject matter in places, so I imagine that it may challenge the audience, and yet there is hope to balance the suffering presented. I think the play is fairly clear in its theme of chosen family and I would love for the audience to take away the message that through forming a supportive community, we can make a tangible, positive difference to each others’ lives.
5: How has your background in Psychology influenced the production?
A key takeaway from my education in Psychology was the appreciation that the same events can be experienced differently, based on individual differences such as age, gender, personality and social support. Studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences, such as experiencing abuse (in the case of Birgitta and Bror, emotional abuse), can have deleterious effects on both mental and physical health. We see that without intervention, these harmful effects can often continue well into adulthood, shaping romantic attachment styles, self-esteem
and mental health, and trauma can continue to be passed down through generations. In the play, we see Birgitta and Bror grapple with the trauma that they’ve inherited and the patterns that they’ve learned from their parents begin to repeat themselves.
6: What has been the most enjoyable part about creating Gammelstad?
Working with such a fantastic team to bring the play to life. It’s been an absolute joy to see how they’ve all believed in, connected with and interpreted the play, and we can’t wait to share our work with the Camden Fringe! Writing and filming a Gammelstad version of Old Town Road by Lil Nas X (Gammelstad means old town) would also be up there.
Gammelstad opens Monday 17th August at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. Many thanks to Arabella Jacobson for answering our questions. Book your tickets here!
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