„Jeanne d’Arc” – Juni Dahr, Visjoner Theatre NORWAY

„Jeanne d’Arc” monodram by Juni Dahr, Teatre Visjoner from Norway

October 18th (Saturday) 8:30 PM  / Stage in Granary

Joan of Arc / Jeanne d’Arc was born during the Hundred Years War between England and France (1337-1453). When she was 13 she began hearing voices which she believed to be calling her to a formidable task: to help Charles VII be crowned King of France. These voices were to follow her through the rest of her life.

Joan of Arc still speaks to us today; her life is a challenge to us all. This is a drama of boundless passion; a drama about a woman who is faithful to her own burning message, and who is willing to sacrifice everything for what she believes in.

“Joan of Arc – Vision through Fire” is based on original texts and Joan’s own words, recorded at her trial. She was accused of being a witch and a heretic and condemned to burning at the stake in 1431, aged 19.

The performance was developed and created by Juni Dahr and John Morrow in N.Y. in 1987-88 and was first performed at the Wallenboyd Theater in Los Angeles in January and February 1988.

Performed by: Juni Dahr

Music created and performed by: Chris Poole

Theater production: Marianne Roland

Juni Dahr is a leading Norwegian actress who has been a member of the repertory company of the National Theater of Bergen for 12 years. Classically trained at the State Academy of Performing Arts in Oslo, she has played many of the great classics – from Shakspeare to Ibsen and Chekov – as well as modern experimental drama. In 1980/81 Juni was awarded a State scholarship to Poland to study at Grotowski’s Laboratory Theater. 

In 1986 she studied film and theater at New York University and at the Actors Studio in New York with Shelly Winters. In 1989 she received a Fullbright fellowship centered on the project «Female Legends» and formed her own company, Visjoner Teater, in order to explore the lives of legendary female characters and create independent theater and film productions.

Chris Poole has composed music for several of Visjoner’s productions, including Jeanne d’Arc – Vision through Fire and Ibsen Women – Put an Eagle in a Cage…. Abroad, Chris and Juni have worked together on performances in San Francisco (The Lady from the Sea) and in Barcelona (A Doll’s House in Catalan), for which Chris composed and recorded the music.
Marianne Roland is a theatre scholar and producer, educated at the University of Bergen with a master’s degree in Theatre Studies. She works at the Norwegian Actors’ Union, providing professional support to its members. She has been active as a producer since 1989, and since 2002 she has been the permanent producer for Juni Dahr and Visjoner Teater.