Theater that includes and touches
Director Øyvind Brandtzæg was behind the anniversary performance Nerbyen – a trip to history during the Jewish Cultural Festival 2025. He talks about how humor, music and strong scenes can engage the audience, while at the same time conveying the story of Trondheim's Jewish quarter with seriousness and respect.
photo and text: Martin Farstad Borg
Engagement through theatre tools
For Brandtzæg, theatre is about making the audience feel like participants in the story. He emphasises that it is not useful to lecture, but to invite in.
“If you are going to tell before you are going to teach people something, for God’s sake don’t tell them. The important thing is to get people involved – by including them, using music, exciting scenes and perhaps absurd things that suddenly happen.”
This was the starting point when he and the ensemble from the Rhubarb Theatre created the travelling theatre in Nerbyen.
The festival as a different arena
Brandtzæg has been attending the festival as an audience member for several years and describes the experience as something truly special.
"You enter a completely different world. It's very exciting and fun to come up to the synagogue – there are different rules, a different atmosphere. That's what makes the festival unique."
He also highlights that both he and his family have had good experiences at the festival, also through the children's theater in which his wife has previously participated.
Art as glue in society
For him, the festival represents more than artistic experiences. It is a reminder of what culture can do for us as people.
"Cultural expression and art can, at their best, help us get to know each other and ourselves better. Then we may become a little less lonely, and more part of a larger whole. We are herd animals – we were not created to be by ourselves."
Brandtzæg therefore sees the festival as an important contribution to the community in Trondheim.
When minority history becomes theater
When Rita Abrahamsen asked him to create a play about Nerbyen, he said yes immediately. He spent time researching, talking and using historical sources to find the right tone.
"I have spoken a lot with Rita, Henriette Kahn, Randi Bookman and several others, and read books like The Jews in Trondheim. The goal was to tell the story both seriously and with a twinkle in the eye – irreverent, but deeply respectful."
He chose to build the show chronologically, focusing on trade, everyday life, religion and family – always seen in light of the fact that the minority was both part of the city and something that stood out.
Optimism as an end point
For Brandtzæg, it was crucial to end the performance with hope. He wanted to show how the Jews in Trondheim had created a diverse society – and leave underlying dark themes as a tacit reminder.
"We could have talked about the war, but that's beside the point. Instead, we chose to end on an optimistic note. It's important to show both humor and seriousness, and to let the audience know for themselves what's important – without pointing fingers."
This is how Nerbyen – a trip to history became a performance that engaged, amused and touched, but which above all made the audience feel like part of history.
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