Jeg er en Hedde In I Am a Hedde, we meet Sara Hedde — a young woman who has never known a sense of belonging. The audience encounters her in the visiting room of a prison, where she gradually unfolds her story. It is a portrait of a young person who has fallen through the cracks of society and is continuously pushed further and further away. She experiences being rendered invisible by the majority society’s attempts to solve her problems on her behalf. Sara Hedde becomes an example of someone marginalized — but who refuses to be erased. The true measure of a society should not be how it treats those within it, but how it treats those who are left out. The actor carries the story in close interaction with both the musician and the audience. The music is instrumental and based on the Håvard Hedde waltz by Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa. It is further blended with traditional fiddle music from the Agder region, especially emphasizing the rhythmic drive found in gangar tunes from the area where Håvard Hedde originated. It is performed on a quint-tuned baritone guitar, creating an immersive surround sound with the help of four strategically placed speakers around the performer and audience. At the end of the performance, a conversation is opened between the performers and the audience, providing space for reflection. The artists share the background of the story, its connection to the life of Håvard Hedde, and their visits with inmates at Froland Prison.

This project received development support from Tvedestrand Municipality, the Norwegian Directorate for Culture, and DKS-Agder. The rehearsal and production period was supported by the Fund for Performing Artists, Sparebanken Sør, and the Audio and Visual Fund. Fritt Ord has supported the production’s work toward a prison tour.

Performed by: Nora Svalheim

Music composed and performed by: Åsmund Solberg

Directed by: Sullivan Lloyd Nordrum