Here is an article from the production company's homepage:
The pic in it shows Kevin at the end of 'Solidarity'
http://www.scenekvelder.no/blogg/2014/9/en-non
Here's a revised google translation:
MANY MUSICALS HAVE ACHIEVED A STATUS AS CLASSICS AND ARE RELEASED WORLDWIDE IN DIFFERENT THEATRES. LIKE OPERA PERFORMANCES, MANY MUSICALS HAVE BEEN STAGED QUITE LIKE THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
MOSTLY BECAUSE THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS REQUIRE THAT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT IS SAVE FOR PRODUCERS TO RELY ON AN ARTISTIC CHOICE THAT IS APPROOVED TO BE WORKING.
The problem with not being allowed to design their own version of a show, is that it makes it difficult to adapt to local conditions. This could be, for example with regard to the soloists, theatrical possibilities or references in the story that are not appropriate for the region the play will be performed in.
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Traditional theater plays often have the opposite principle. Theatre Producers and directors are usually looking for just special versions of the titles they set up. Thus, the public will always come to the theater with a high degree of curiosity, even though they may already have seen the play elsewhere.
Our opinion at Scenekvelder is that musical tradition would be enhanced by the licensees dared to trust their own intellectual property and allowed the artistic freedom to design classics in a way that attracts attention and curiosity of the audience. We keep trying to contribute to this with productions we have produced or by cooperation with institutional theaters.
It is therefore a pleasure for us, as the first theater production company in Europe, to be allowed to set up a so-called non-replica version (not a copy of the original version) of Billy Elliot at 'Folketeateret'. We see this as a huge vote of confidence by the publisher in London, and we have taken the task and responsibility very seriously.
The musical Billy Elliot is based on the blockbuster movie of the same title. The film is the UK's biggest film success, the musical has played to full houses in London, New York and Sydney for soon 10 years.
One of the world's most successful songwriters, Elton John, has written all the music for the play and Lee Hall has written lyrics and dramatized it for the stage. The play has become a theatrical masterpiece and we are confident that the story will hit the Norwegian audience, allowing us in a few years to refer to Billy Elliot as a musical classic also in Norway.
The musical Billy Elliot requires a large ensemble, talented soloists, actors at a high level and a large orchestra to redeem its theatrical potential. We at Scenekvelder have once again taken the opportunity to engage a large number of stage performers, musicians and theater personnel to provide audiences in Norway a taste of Broadway and West End. We believe that the 'Folketeateret' and its stage here is made for great musical performances, and we wish to redound to our country to get a producer that is able to fill the stage with continuous operation, for the joy of audience and performers.
Billy Elliot grows up under very difficult conditions in northern England in the mid 80s. The economic challenges facing the country are lining up, and the starting point for Billy's future is pretty bad. He chooses to pursue his dream, even with strong opposition from both family and community. The moral of the play can be read as that through hard work and dedication, we all can manage to release our potential. The entertainment industry in Norway trades a greater and greater extent of short-term success through talent shows etc. The story of Billy Elliot shows us that it is laborious to succeed in the long term, and that there are no shortcuts in the artistic field for anyone who wants to live from expressing themselves.
However, talent will always be noticed, and we are delighted that it teems with hard-working talents in the Norwegian musical industry. We are proud that many of them are on the stage here today and help each in their own unique way to our version of Billy Elliot. We thank the audiences who come in such great numbers that we can justify the continued operation of this beautiful theater, and look forward to Billy Elliot and future musicals we will present at The People's Theatre.(Folketeateret)