Time for Joy
A bench. A mother waits for her two children. Her son tells her that he wants to disappear for a while. As she struggles to come to terms with the emotions his decision stirs in her, the bench becomes a meeting place for a fascinating array of passers-by: a neighbour, his ex-wife, a widow and her grown-up stepchildren. Before long, they interrupt the intimate family moment with their own stories and disagreements. In their search for connection, this diverse group of people becomes increasingly entangled in each other’s lives. They share a profound desire to be happy together…
Duration tbd
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch
Surtitles English, Thu June 12
Opening Night Sat, June 7
Time for Joy
Time for Joy (Tid for glede, 2020) by Norwegian writer Arne Lygre leaves no one untouched. In two acts, it explores relationships, patterns, and the longing for togetherness, despite the burden of pain and loss.
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Time for Joy
is a comedic, sometimes absurdist, yet deeply emotional play that gently compels us to reflect on who we are to one another, on loneliness, loss, and our relentless pursuit of happiness.
Eline Arbo about Time for Joy
"Time for Joy is an extraordinarily beautiful play about the search for connection and how difficult that can sometimes be. I can think of no better moment, no greater need, to create this production than right now. In a time when we struggle with feelings of alienation, we seek meaning through our connections with others—not only in the world around us but also much closer to home. As a company, as a theatre, we have been searching for new shared values and have rediscovered our desire to return to what theatre means to us: an exercise in empathy. Deeply rooted in this house, created with all the talent both in front of and behind the scenes, we bring Time for Joy to life. An unmistakable ITA sound, theatre in its purest form; our celebration of togetherness."
Arne Lygre
Norwegian playwright and novelist Arne Lygre (1968) is acclaimed for his minimalist, emotionally intelligent, and profoundly human works. Through his distinctive writing style, he dissects the banality of life. With sharp, witty, recognisable, and at times outright humorous dialogues, he captures the intensity of our fears, desires, loneliness, loss, and freedom. His plays often take place in an undefined time and space, highlighting the universality of our existence. They explore the individual as part of a larger whole, influenced by a network of lives that continually intersect.
Eline Arbo is Artistic Director at ITA since September 2023. From 2022 she was already linked to ITA as Associate Artistic Director. From January 2023, Arbo was appointed Ibsen Artist in Residence, an initiative of the Philip Loubser Foundation, which gives directors with an international ambition the opportunity to develop themselves artistically.
In season 24|25, she will create Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin), The Wall (Marlen Haushofer) and Time for Joy (Arne Lygre); re-make The End of Eddy (Édouard Louis) and The Years (Annie Ernaux), which she previously directed elsewhere; and her stagings of The Laws (Connie Palmen), Prima Facie (Suzie Miller), Penthesilea (Heinrich von Kleist) and The Hours (Michael Cunningham) will be reprised.
Credits
by Arne Lygre
directed by Eline Arbo
musical direction and composition Thijs van Vuure
translation Tom Kleijn
assistant director Daniël ‘t Hoen
This production is made possible by all the staff at ITA. Through everything that connects us—a shared commitment of talent, both visible and invisible during the performance.
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private producers Helga Lasschuijt and Dirk Raes, Therese van Schie and Marc Staal, Peter Dorsman
made possible by the members of the Culture Club
supported by KPMG
This production is supported by
