Riva Theatre and ZAVA Productions in collaboration with Arcola Theatre presents

Utoya

By Edoardo Erba
Translated by Marco Young
Directed by Sarah Stacey

“Erba’s razor-sharp script […] and Sarah Stacey’s direction provides the perfect mix of crystal clear and mildly disorienting storytelling.”
★★★★★ Always Time for Theatre

July 2011. A far right terrorist has just massacred sixty-nine people, most of them students attending a Norwegian Labour Party Youth’s summer camp on the island of Utoya.

Gunnar and Malin have sent their daughter to the island, and desperately seek contact. On the farm next-door to the perpetrator’s, Petter and Inga realise their suspicions about him are well founded. At Central Command, Alf and Unni must decide on the best course of action in response to the attack.

A searing reflection on the domestic effects of societal trauma, Utoya offers a timely consideration of how tragedy can both bind people together and pull them further apart. This production is a UK Premiere from leading Italian writer Edoardo Erba.

“This fascinating, multi-layered play by Edoardo Erba is crisply directed by Sarah Stacey and beautifully performed by Kate Reid and Marco Young” – The Spectator

“Sarah Stacey, ratcheting up the tensions between the blackouts that move us from one pair to the next”

★★★★ Broadway World

“Utoya is well-crafted, well-produced, well-acted. It asks some important questions.”
–Green Room Review
Content warnings: Strong language, reference to terrorist attack and death, racist and islamophobic attitudes.

Thursday 22nd August: Translations Shaping Theatre Across Borders – Post Show Q&A

The talk will be chaired by Sophie Stevens from the University of London and Out of the Wings. The panel includes Margherita Laera, a Senior Lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the University of Kent; Dimitri Scarlato, a Com.It.Es Councillor and Composer; and Marco Young, a Translator and Actor. The discussion will delve into the transformative role of translation in theatre, exploring how translated works bridge cultural gaps, enrich storytelling, and foster connections beyond language barriers. It will encourage conversation on the impact of cross-cultural exchanges and the nuances of adapting plays for diverse audiences.
Monday 26th August: Nordic Culture Authenticity in Theatre Representation – Post Show Q&A
Join the Utoya team for an engaging Q&A session aimed at fostering discussion and raising awareness about the Nordic context of the show and the authentic representation of cultural characteristics in international theatre. Our distinguished speakers include Dr. Will Coles, a trustee of the Anglo-Norse Society, Sarah Stacey, the show’s director, and Runa Røstad Augdal, Norwegian Cultural Consultant for Utoya. Together, they will share their insights and experiences, offering a deep dive into how Nordic culture can be faithfully and creatively portrayed on the global stage. This session promises to be an enlightening exploration of cultural authenticity in theatre.

Supported by: Supported by: Sue Whitley OBE, Guy Stobart, Sue Heathcote and Bill Heathcote, Buvini Kularatne, WellTax, Anglo-Norse Society, Maria Bjӧrnson Memorial Fund, Com.It.Es di Londra, Italian Cultural Institute, Unity Theatre Trust, Cambridge Online Tutors, Marc and Rachel Polonsky and Sir Ian McKellen.

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