In the fall of 2024, we in Kattas Figurteater have produced the performance Nullrikken. The show is written by and performed by Anne Helgesen. This fall, the show has been performed several times in Tønsberg and it has visited the festival Figur i Fossekleiva and received brilliant feedback from the audience. In 2025 we are planning a new tour with the show. Would you like to book Nullrikken? Get in touch at anne(at)kattas.no.
Nullrikken is based on performer Anne Helgesen's childhood memories of her friendship with a grandfather who was a war sailor. The performance is about how the war continues inside the people who are affected, even after peace has come. This affects entire families for several generations. Still - loyalty, humor and righteous indignation relieve pain.
Nullrikken is performed as a mixture of storytelling theater and games with objects and is also interspersed with furious doses of glove puppetry with the fantasy character Nullrikken. It turns out that the Jack-in-the-Box is quite similar to Pulcinella - the father of all glove puppets. The traditional Pulcinella character originates from Naples and was performed as street theater.
The show is suitable for everyone between the ages of 6 and 100.
"I haven't been to the theater in well over a decade, but after seeing Nullrikken I really think I need to do it more often. It was a touching story about a six-year-old girl and a grandfather who was an old war sailor and all the difficulties that entails. The whole thing was incredibly nicely balanced with both the perspective of the child and the adults. I had tears in the corner of my eyes several times during the performance."
- Audience feedback
"Very nice performance! Had my 6 year old son with me. The performance opened up many conversations afterwards, about anger, family and the war."
- Audience feedback
"The story is not just sad, thanks to Anne Helgesen's sober performance. It has a
sincerity and warmth that makes us understand why she has carried her grandfather with her through
her whole life, which may be the reason why she herself has never completely let go of Nullrikken."
- Reviewer in Tønsbergs Blad who gave the performance a dice roll of 5
The project was supported by the Arts Council Norway, Fritt Ord, The Fund for Performing Artists, Anders Jahres Humanitære Stiftelse, Lyngaas legat, Dramatikkens Hus, Dramatikerforbundet and Bergesenstiftelsen.