The Visit from Little Death

Sissela Benn as the girl Elsewise in The Visit from Little Death. Photo: Johan Sjövall

 

Lars H Gustafsson

Author, paediatrician and former member of the ALMA-jury Lars H. Gustafsson went to see Unga Teatern’s play The Visit from Little Death this week. We asked Lars if we could translate his blog post (published in Swedish here) for the ALMA blog, which he gladly approved of:

Today I’ve been to the theater. The renascent theatre Unga teatern in Malmö gives as its first production La Visite de la Petite Mort (approx. The visit from Little Death), based on Kitty Crowther’s picture book with the same title.

Kitty Crowther received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2010, and La Visite de la Petite Mort is one of her finest books. Talking to children about death can be an experience, enriching for both the child and the adult. Kitty Crowther does it in a tender, playful and surprising way. She really takes children seriously, and I too, as an adult, get warm inside by this story. I have previously written about the book here on my blog, as well as in my book Leka för livet (approx. Playing for life).

The theatre’s version is close to the original but has at the same time, with simple means, been given a free theatrical form that rather enhance both the depth and the playfulness in the story. The three actresses Sissela Benn, Susanne Karlsson and Ellen Norlund portray the girl, the lady and the Little Death accurately and with feeling. I saw the play together with a group of six year olds from Rosengård, who clearly were engaged in what took place on stage. I also want to mention scenographer Erika Magnusson, who found a way to take advantage of the room in an unusually clever way. As well as the thrifty but effective music features autographed Stefan Johansson.

I almost wish that Kitty Crowther could see this show! I think she’d be happy. For director Ada Berger has really captured both the message and the atmosphere of the story. On October 20, at 7 pm, Ada Berger and I will talk about the play and the issues it raises (location: The Studio Hipp, more information here). How can adults help children to grasp ideas that are both staggeringly huge and quite menacing? How do we talk to children and to each other about all this and how can literature, art and theatre be a help on the way?

Cover of Lilla döden hälsar på. Berghs förlag.

Kitty Crowther.

Preparing for Gothenburg

Heads up for Göteborg Book Fair! Starting on Thursday with heaps of so many interesting topics on children’s and young adult literature.  Why not visit us in Swedish Arts Council’s stand nr C03:02?

On Thursday September 27 at 2:00 pm, paediatrician and former member of the ALMA jury Lars H Gustafsson discusses children’s rights and Astrid Lindgren’s speech Never Violence! with Kjell Åke Hansson, Managing Director of cultural centre Astrid Lindgren’s Näs.

On Friday September 28 at 11:30 am, journalist Gunilla Kindstrand discusses Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award during 10 years with jury chairman Larry Lempert. This seminar is a retrospect of the award and the previous award recipients. At 5:30 pm Larry Lempert and Helen Sigeland, director of award office, give a presentation the 2012 recipient Guus Kuijer.

Looking forward to meet you!

ALMA to Göteborg Book Fair

The Swedish Arts Council and ALMA stand during the 2011 Göteborg Book Fair. Photo: Anna von Brömssen.

Göteborg Book Fair is coming up, and we will participate as usual, this year with a stand program closely conneced to the ALMA anniverssary.

On Thursday September 27 at 2:00 pm, paediatrician and former member of the ALMA jury Lars H Gustafsson discusses children’s rights and Astrid Lindgren’s speech Never Violence! with Kjell Åke Hansson, Managing Director of cultural centre Astrid Lindgren’s Näs (in Swedish).

On Friday September 28 at 11:30 am, journalist Gunilla Kindstrand discusses Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award during 10 years with jury chairman Larry Lempert. This seminar is a retrospect of the award and the previous award recipients (in Swedish).

Swedish Arts Council will present further seminars on children’s literature and reading promotion (all executed in Swedish). Link to Swedish Arts Council’s seminars at our stand here.

Please join us in Swedish Arts Council’s stand no C03:02.

ALMA at LitteraLund

Photo: Stella Michelet

Lars H Gustafsson, author, senior children´s medical officer and member of the ALMA jury since many years, held a very appreciated lecture at the Swedish literature festival LitteraLund today.

The topic was of course this year’s award recipient, the Dutch author Guus Kuijer.

LitteraLund is a book festival for children and young people, which takes place every year. Have a look at this year’s program here.

The world remember Astrid Lindgren

Photo: Astrid Lindgren's Näs

On Saturday, Januari 28, it was ten years since Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) passed away. Astrid Lindgren’s Näs in Vimmerby, her childhood home and visitor’s centre, arranged a beautiful public program. Author and pediatirician (and member of the ALMA jury) Lars H Gustafsson spoke about the situation of children today and tomorrow. Astrid Lindgren’s Näs also has done a reprint of Astrid’s famous speech against violence and corporal punishment of children, Never Violence from 1978.

Lars H Gustafsson

National and international media have drawn attention to this memorial day, for instance daily newspaper in Bosnia Hercegovina Dnevni List, and German paper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.