Klassekampen's theatre critic, Amund Grimstad, has published a review of "Veien mellom huler og tårn”.
http://amund.info/2018/06/veien-mellom-huler-og-tarn/
"Som alle produksjonane til Cirka Teater, er også denne særs visuell og fantasirik. I tillegg er musikken, som er komponert og blir framført av Sissel Vera Pettersen og Martin Smidt, ein integrert og viktig del av totalopplevinga. For denne framsyninga er meir ei oppleving enn ei tradisjonell teateroppsetjing. (...) Ved hjelp av kreativ scenografi, sinnrik lysbruk, faktisk også i scenografien og rekvisittane, og ikkje minst med særs stemningsskapande musikk og vokallyd skapar dei situasjonar, undring, fabulering og draumar. "
A spectacular happening during “Hendelser på Nyhavna 2018” (Events at Nyhavna 2018). Cirka Teater arranged an auction staged as a live performance with numerous actors and musicians. Scenography from 30 years of Cirka Teater Productions was displayed and sold. Musicians: Ole Jørgen Melhus, Erlend Smalås, Ragnhild Faanes, Martin Smidt. Excerpts of theatre music by Martin Smidt, Nils Petter Molvær and Eirik Hegdal
The Chamber choir A Cappelllissimo has commissioned a work of 10 new movements to the choir work "Luften makar sig mödosamt", composed by Martin Smidt (1969-), based on poems by Smidt's twin sister, Torill Smidt (1969-2003).
Premiere for the Complete work (45 minutes, including the 3 movements from 2015) will be in a concert with A Cappellissimo, 7. October 2018 18:00
Barut did a concert tour in Finnmark February 2018. The new Barut lineup is: Hildegunn Øiseth (trumpet, goat horn), Audun Eriksen (didgeridoo, flutes, jew´s harp), Asbjørn Berson (guitar), Svein Schultz (bass), Martin Smidt (drums). Barut played in Karasjok, Kautokeino, Alta, Mehamn and Kjøllefjord. Thank you, Finnmark, for a very warm reception in a great winter weather!
Billuca Ensemble on tour in Piemonte, Italy, 1.-4. December 2017. Presenting excerpts of the Production "Vivaldi - the pasta pesto road show": Vivaldi Music recomposed by Martin Smidt, Tone Sand and Frode Dyrli Angelsen. Supported by Music Norway and Fund of Performing Arts. The tour is arranged by the festival Gli Invaghite, who also invited Billuca to the region in summer 2016.
The two Cirka Teater Productions "Garage" and "The Road between Caves and Towers" are headliners at this year's SHOWBOX festival - a show case for Norwegian performing arts.
The whole Cirka Teater team, including the composers and musicians Sissel Vera Pettersen and Martin Smidt, will be on stage.
Cirka Teater´s innovative and interactive theatre performance for children had premiere this week. The music is composed and performed live by Sissel Vera Pettersen and Martin Smidt.
After several weeks of touring in Norwegian primary schools the autumn 2017 (Den Kulturelle Skolesekken) the production will have its open premiere in spring 2018. It will also be presented at the show case Showbox at Black Box Theatre Oslo 30. November 2017
The choir work "Luften makar sig mödosamt" was performed in the Norwegian Championship for Choirs, October 2017. The chamber choir A Cappellissimo achieved 91 points from the jury and reached the final with their performance of this music by Martin Smidt (lyrics Torill Smidt).
The work was published by Norsk Musikforlag AS in Swedish and English versions in spring 2017 (see link). A Cappellissimo has commissioned an extension of the work into more movements (total 45 minutes) for a premiere in 2018. The Norwegian Composer´s Fund has granted support for the production.
The premiere for Cirka Teater´s Garage was on the opening day for the new theatre house "Turneteatret i Trøndelag". The critics were excited about the performance, and the Adresseavisen critic threw Dice 6, which is rare for theatre performances!
Music by Martin Smidt. Studio musicians: Bendik Lund Haanshus (guitars, bass, banjo), Vegard Lien Bjerkan (Hammond B3, Rhodes, synth), Vebjørn Mamen (vocals), Martin Smidt (drums and sampling)
Composing music for Cirka Teater's spectacular performance "Garage". Together with: Gilles Berger (stage design and actor), Paal Viken Bakke (actor) and Espen Dekko (director). The project is a cooperation between Nord-Trøndelag Teater and Cirka Teater. Premiere at Nord Trøndelag Teater, autumn 2017.
Read more: http://cirkateater.no/#/garage/
https://www.turneteatret.no/forestillinger/garage
An innovative and interactive theatre concept for children.
Composers and musicians: Sissel Vera Pettersen (vocals, saxophone, electronics) and Martin Smidt (drums, percussion, electronics).
The performance will be touring Norwegian schools 2017-2018.
Read more: http://cirkateater.no/#/veien-huler-tarn/
New choir works published by Norsk Musikforlag AS spring 2017. Presented at international music exhibitions in USA and Germany March-April 2017. The lyrics are poems written by Martin Smidt's sister, the Swedish-Norwegian poet, Torill Smidt. The music is published in Swedish and English versions. More music in this series is to come: The Norwegian chamber choir A Cappellissimo has commissioned more movements to this work, with support from The Norwegian Composers’ fund (Det Norsk Komponistfond).
Just finished the initial preproduction week in Cirka Teater´s exciting, new project involving spaces like the Cave, The Tower and the Journey. Together with: Anne Marit Sæther, Sissel Vera Pettersen, Janne Britt Rustad, Marte Stolp and Per Emil Grimstad
Billuca Ensemble spent the last week in Øra Studio recording their new CD. The repertoaire is classical chamber music recomposed and mixed with folk music from Norway, Ireland and England. Composers and arrangers are Tone Sand. Frode Angelsen and Martin Smidt. Thank you, producer Jo Ranheim, for great session days in Øra!
September 24-25 2016: The interactive children´s theatre performance "Fargene på Nyhavna" (The Colours of Nyhavna) with Cirka Teater (Composer/musician: Martin Smidt)
Under "Hendelser på Nyhavna" gikk mange glipp av "Fargene på Nyhavna" på grunn av begrenset plass. Derfor inviterer Cirka Teater til en ny runde nå i høst.
Her kan barn og voksne bli med på oppdagelsesferd i Fyringsbunkeren på Nyhavna, gjennom merkelige rom og møter med skikkelser som hører til i havneområdet. "Rustmannen" har samlet skatter på Nyhavna i mange år. "Østersdamen" har hundrevis av skjell. "Pinnemannen" har verdens fineste samling rekved og røtter. Alle tre leter etter fargene på Nyhavna.
