For Coelacanth (2013), winter guests and Alan Lucien Øyen pushed the boundaries of theatrical form. A six-hour-long epic, co-written with Andrew Wale, the work earned the Hedda Award for Best Original Play — as well as nominations for Best Production of the Year and Best Director at the Norwegian Theatre Awards. Among the ensemble, Yvonne Øyen was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this immersive work.
Fantastic! I didn't want it to end...


















As ancient as time itself is our desire to tell stories. In Coelacanth we follow two playwrights in desperate pursuit of a good story. In Williamsburg, New York, they come across Frank, a struggling alcoholic who drinks himself to death, leaving behind an incomplete manuscript in the hands of his young daughter…
We follow the development of the script and the rehearsals of the play in parallel with surprising, emotional displays of human destinies in a story that travels from Boston to LA, Tokyo in the 90s, to contemporary Bergen and New York.
The show offers a unique, but also wild and humorous insight into the life behind the scenes of the theater. Conflicts arise as the script nears completion and the rehearsals commence…
Presented over 6 hours, with 12 musicians on stage and a strong international cast, Coelacanth will see you absorbed in moving performances, exquisite dance, beautiful music, and a visually stunning set design.
Touching and extremely funny!
Trailer
Year: 2013
Duration: 400min (Two intervalls)
Premiere Bergen International Festival, May 23rd 2013
Director
Script
Andrew Wale and Alan Lucien Øyen
with
Kate Pendry, Suzie Davies, Yvonne Øyen, Andrew Wale, Anton Skrzypiciel, Daniel Proietto, Huy Le Vo, Alan Lucien Øyen
Music
Jørgen Knudsen, Bjørnar Habbestad
Musical director
Bjørnar Habbestad
Set design
Light design
Sound design
Costume design
Video design
Martin Flack and Alan Lucien Øyen
Production manager
Production coordinator
Gunn Hernes
Costume
Sunniva Østebø
Lighting
Silje Grimstad
Stage
Gro Gjengedal
Orchestra
Flute: Bjørnar Habbestad
Percussion: Ane Marthe Holen
Piano: Eivind Austad
Viola: Bendik Foss
Violin: Christiane E. Dahl
Violin: Isa C. Holmesland
Bass: Jo Berger Myhre
Cello: Kjersti Rydsaa
Bass clarinet: Kristine Tjøgersen
Trombone: Kristoffer Kompen
Guitar: Ole Andre Farstad
Drums: Per Oddvar Johansen
Co-producers
Bergen International Festival, The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Carte Blanche The Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance, BIT-Teatergarasjen
Funded by
The Norwegian Touring Theatre (Riksteateret) and funded by The Norwegian Arts Council
The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Oslo
23—29 October 2013
Bergen International Festival
23—25 May 2013