Day 3. My first day as a volunteer. All volunteers get a festival pass which enables them to see any show if there is space after paying guests have entered. Which is how I financed this writing project. Being self employed in lockdown for 4 months is not fun or financially stable. But it ultimately lead to me going to Iceland to live with my parents for a while and recover financially, which again lead to me being able to attend this festival in the first place.
Im working in Tjarnarbíó, in the box office. My job is to sell tickets but mainly to explain to guests the situation with the wristbands. In order to attend any show at the festival, a festival goer has to purchase and wear a festival pass in the form of a wristband. It costs 1000 Krónur or about 5 pounds and combined with a ticket gives you entry to any show at the festival. A one time purchase that you carry with you throughout the festival. It enables festival goers to recognise one another and also gives you discounts at various places. Most useful is the 20% discount at the bar, Iceland is an expensive country remember. So many people struggled to understand this system. ´Cant I just buy a ticket?´ No you need the wristband as well. ´But I’m only seeing one show?´ And I only use Netflix to watch Drag Race but I still have to pay for the whole thing. Maybe you should use this as an opportunity to see more shows at the festival? That or buy 4 drinks at the bar, then you’ve saved enough money to more than make up the cost of the wristband?
The confusion was real. But most importantly, after the audience was let into the venue, I was able to sneak out of the box office whilst Sindri Sigríðarson, Marketing Director at Tjarnarbíó, offered to guard the office in case of latecomers. It was a rare occurrence. Icelandic people do everything at the very last minute, but not late, we are never late. Thanks to Sindri, I was able to see every show programmed that night.
First I saw Rebirth, which Sindri had a part in creating. Rebirth is an aerial silk show based around the seasons and the theme of rebirth. It is a visually stunning experience. An hour goes by in a blur, I would have seen it again if I´d had the time. Prior to seeing Rebirth, I was unfamiliar with aerial silks as an art form other than, I knew it existed. And what an introduction to the art form it is. Its dance, its gymnastics, its stunning. And the pure athleticism of the performers. As someone who is afraid of heights, I have no choice but to stan.
Following Rebirth is Þriggja rétta, a new Icelandic show. This show is very interesting, there is definitely a lot to unpack here. I could write a whole post just about this one show. It starts in complete silence, a couple enjoying a romantic meal separated by a huge buffet table. They spend probably about 20 minutes in complete mimesis until one of them announces that he wants to become a gay. ´A gay?´ the other says, surprised, ´that’s absurd, gays don’t exist´ And there starts an hour-long surreal journey into being gay and eating food. And how it’s rude to refuse food yet not good to stuff oneself. Privileges are presented in the form of courses one can eat, has the right to eat, or has to eat. It mixes a bunch of references from Icelandic pop culture in with the shows surreal, yet surprisingly thorough storyline. Definately one to watch.
My voices have Tourettes is next up. Having seen Squeak the following day it was save to say I was very excited and well expecting to laugh a lot. The show is good but you tell the performers were tired, understandably probably as they told how they´d just finished a very successful but long tour in Sweden. And then there´s the obvious culprit, Covid. I think thats Covid depression will be an uninvited guest at any arts festival for years to come. 3 mmbers of My Voices Have Tourettes performed that evening, each with a 15 min slot which I personally found rushed. For a first show at the festival I found it good. Everyone knows that opening night at the fringes is pretty crap. My Voices Have Tourettes is anything but crap, it does what it says on the tin. It makes you laugh, whilst raising awareness about what it´s like to live differently.
Jono Duffy - Im tired
This, was arguably the best show of the fringe. Jono Duffy is a known entity in Iceland. An Australian comedian, residing in Reykjavík that performed at a regular basis. He is now heading into what may be a long or a forever hiatus because he, understandably is tired. I mean who can blame him? I´ve only been in this industry ten odd years, only had a degree in it for three. And I am tired too. In between hilarious anecdotes abotu Icelanders and his dehabilitating fobia of Santa Claus, Jono satririses the sturggle that performers have to go through to make a living, what LBTQ performers have to go through to be accepted, or more accurately to just exist in the same spaces as heterosexual white performers. The show is hilarious, emotional and inspiring. It should be recorded and shown at every college everywhere as a part of social studies, life skills and sex ed classes. The section on periods alone debunks so many myths men still have about this event that women go through EVERY MONTH that it would help women for years to come. Jono Duffy, is one of the best comedians that Iceland has every had. He stands up there with the greats. And now he´s retiring. Do not miss any opportunity to see him perform before he leaves the world of comedy, maybe for good. Many worse comedians have netflix specials.
After Jono´s show I am emotionally exhausted, yet hopeful and barely catch the last bus home. Stay tuned for day 4, where we go into the reality of festivals in Covid times and steps towards greater inculsivity.