Astrid Saalbach

Astrid Saalbach was trained as an actress at the Danish National School of Theatre from 1975 to 1978.  She made her debut as a dramatist in 1981 with the radio play Tracks in the Sand (Spor i sandet) she continued to write more radio plays, as well as the television play A Fading World (En verden der blegner). She commenced her career as a novelist with The Face of the Moon (Månens ansigt), as a series of confident, dense short stories. This body of work was followed by four novels, all about women who live alone or in relationships with no strings attached. Saalbach’s style is porous and suggestive with a gentle, undaunted ability to bring forth some of the most delicate problems of our time.

Saalbach continued her innovative writing with additional radio and television plays, for which she received the Nordic Radio play Award in 1983, as well as her dramas for the stage including The Invisible City (Den usynlige by) and The Dance Hour (Dansetimen). Her trilogy Morning and Evening (Morgen og aften); Blessed Child (Det velsignede barn); and Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust (Aske til aske støv til støv), has made her the most popular dramatist of her generation. 

Saalbach is a dramatist that challenges the audience with fundamental questions about the modern way of life. Using extremely sophisticated and often surprising theatrical forms she expands the naturalistic structure with succinct and aesthetically astute dialogue. In her later plays, she also works with absurd and grotesque scenes as the reasons for her characters’ actions become increasingly ambiguous. The audience’s task is to answer for themselves the questions raised in these dramas. Saalbach’s work forces the viewer into the role of active interpreter. 

Saalbach has received several awards and bursaries including the Danish dramatist’s honour award and the lifelong grant of the Danish art fund. With her play The Cold Heart (Det kolde hjerte) she received the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation Award for Best Drama. The play The End of the World (Verdens ende) won Saalbach the Nordic Dramatist award in 2004, as well as the Reumert Award for Best Dramatist. Her latest play Pieta has been performed in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Artists

Featuring: Mary Anne Bowman, Carley Cornelius, Irene Kapustina, Ed Kuffert, Austin Oie, Gabe Omana, Amanda Reader, Nick Staten, Meghann Tabor, Quinlan Winkler

Director: Christine Lin
Lighting Designer: Ellen Moore
Costume Designer: Emily Nelson
Sound Designer: Antonio Bruno
Production Stage Manager: Amanda Frechette

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