By: Björn Thalén
Love – Pressure – Theatre
Scenario format: Larp
Duration: 4 hours
Number of players: 4-12 (Even numbers and 6-10 is preferred)
A chamber larp freely based on Strindberg’s play of the same name. We follow romantic couples who have all applied to audition together for the role of a lifetime. Two young actors, one stage, and the demand to bring the raw feelings of Julie and Jean to life in front of the people judging them. What happens to their love when they fail, or when they succeed?
Every couple brings its own complications into the audition room, and the larp puts them under a spotlight. Expect jealousy, ambition, tenderness and doubt, played out on two levels of reality: the roles on stage, and the relationship behind them. There is no need to know Strindberg’s play to take part and might even be a nice introduction to some Swedish theatre history. The playstyle is naturalistic, but we use game mechanics to help preventing off game stage fright. Most scenes will feel like simultaneous two-player larps, giving each pair room to go deep. The workshops beforehand will pair you up and help you build the relationship of the roles, but it is also possible to show up with having decided who you want to play with before hand.
About the authors
Björn Thalén has a double Master in Mathematics and History of Ideas which he puts to use both in his art and in his job in the public transport sector. He has written a handful of chamber larps before and are known for pushing concepts and restrictions into the extreme as a relationship larp with no coplayers, a hostage larp without conflict or a larp completely void of emotions. He has earlier appeared on SSF with The Last Movie.