The first theater play about electrical sensitivity tells a good story
What might be the world’s first theater play about electrical sensitivity was performed in April 2024.
Keywords: electrical sensitivity, theater, performance
The story
Lotta is a high school teacher who becomes electrically hypersensitive. The people at her workplace treats her poorly and accuses her of hypochondria. Further abuse comes from a notorious radio talk-show host and when she has to apply for disability.
Unable to tolerate the electrosmog she flees to a refugee camp in a deep forest, where other people with the same disability live.
Eventually, Lotta becomes radicalized and wants to take revenge on the society that has become so focused on technology that it treats people like her so badly.
The story is told with sarcastic humor, to make it easier for the audience to grasp what for many is a totally new disease.
The performance was well received by the electrosensitive people who watched it.
In the forest camp, Lotta lives without electricity and instead uses a kerosene lamp.
Kind gestures
The theater encouraged people with electrical sensitivities to watch the play. They even let them in for free.
The audience was kind enough to power down their electronics, so the electrosensitive people could be there also.
Producing the play
The play was performed six times in April 2024 at Profilteatern in Umea, Sweden. It is a small regional theater with a small crew. There were only three actors on the stage.
The play is based on the fictional novel Högspänning, (which translates as “High tension” or “High voltage”) by Henrik Bromander. The book is currently not available in English.
Original music for the play was composed by Anna Levander.
None of the people involved in the play had electrical sensitivities themselves, but they met with the local support group two times prior to setting up the play, so they could learn what living with the disease was actually like.
Sources
A review of the play was in the 2/2024 issue of the newsletter Ljusglimten, published in Sweden.
The website for Profilteatern provided additional information.
Two people who viewed the play in person provided input as well.
Pictures are credit Andreas Nilsson.
More information
Reviews of film about electrical sensitivities on www.eiwellspring.org/filmreviews.html.
2024