The Utopia tour begins in London on May 27th
Margrét Bjarnadóttir - choreography
Heimir Sverrisson - stage design
James Merry: masks
Edda Guðmundsdóttir: styling
Hungry: makeup
viibra flute ensemble: Melkorka Ólafsdóttir, Áshildur Haraldsdóttir, Berglind María Tómasdóttir, Steinunn Vala Pálsdóttir, Björg Brjánsdóttir, Þuríður Jónsdóttir and Emilía Rós Sigfúsdóttir - flutes
Bergur Þórisson - electronics and trombone
Manu Delago - drums and percussion
Pictures by Santiago Felipe from rehearsal shows in Reykjavík on April 9th and 12th
2017
A ballet for eight dancers and eight guitars.
By Ragnar Kjartansson and Margrét Bjarnadóttir
with original music written by Bryce Dessner
photos: Jónatan Grétarsson
An evening with the Bel-Air Glamour Records gang.
Ragnar Kjartansson and Friends.
Barbican Theatre, July 19th. 2016
Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson surrounds himself with musicians who share his open and eclectic approach to art and performance. Here he invites talents affiliated with his record label to perform and collaborate together.
A name that instantly conjures up a sense of the theatrical, Bel-Air Glamour Records brings together a community of musicians who don’t feel restrained to one art form. From Kristίn Anna Valtýsdóttir (formerly of Múm), to Kjartan Sveinsson (formerly of Sigur Ros), Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National) and more, expect enveloping ambient music, performance poetry and everything in between.
‘Bel-Air Glamour Records is the megalomaniac dream of how I want the music industry to be… very relaxed and about making good arty records.’ Ragnar Kjartansson
Performers:
Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Aaron Dessner
Bryce Dessner
Halldór Laxness Halldórsson
Davið Þór Jónsson
Ragnar Kjartansson
Kjartan Sveinsson
Gyða Valtýsdóttir
Kristίn Anna Valtýsdóttir
Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir
photos: Michael Wilkin
2015
An event curated by Matthew Barney and Brandon Stosuy at the studio of Matthew Barney, Long Island, NY.
Artists:
Zia Anger
Gabe Bartalos
Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Michael Lucas
2015
Gamla Bíó
The opening performance of Reykjavík Dance Festival and Lókal´s Everybody´s Spectacular festival.
2014
The National Gallery of Iceland.
A performance lecture in the Group show PIANO, curated by Tinna Þorsteinsdóttir for Reykjavík Arts Festival.
by Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Performers:
Gunnar Þorri Pétursson
Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir
Kara Hergils
Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Tinna Grétarsdóttir
Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir.
2013
by Margrét Bjarnadóttir and Saga Sigurðardóttir, in collaboration with
the graduating students at the Dance department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts.
A room full of mattresses, nine females, a drummer and a drum kit. A pile of leftover objects which are brought to life. The mattresses become a springboard for the dancers´ impulses. The piece is about a leap into the void. It is highly energetic, driven by playfulness, wild joy and humour. And guts. Original music score by Icelandic electronic/acoustic duo Good Moon Deer.
Set and costumes: Eva Signý Berger
Music and sound: Good Moon Deer (Guðmundur Úlfarsson and Ívar Pétur Kjartansson)
Performers:
Anna Kolfinna Kuran
Arna SIf Gunnarsdóttir
Arndís Benediktsdóttir
Berglind Ýr Karlsdóttir
Birkir Benediktsson
Elín Signý W. Ragnarsdóttir
Elísabet Birta Sveinsdóttir
Gígja Jónsdóttir
Guðrún Selma Sigurjónsdóttir
Halla Þórðardóttir
Ívar Pétur Kjartansson
2011
by Me And My Friends
A group devised theatre piece examining the rituals and neuroses of social gatherings.
Be my Guest was the second production by the Icelandic theatre collective, Me and My Friends, which consists of ten artists - actors, dancers, a musician and a designer.
Me and My Friends are:
Álfrún Helga Örnólfsdóttir
Dóra Jóhannsdóttir
Friðgeir Einarsson
Friðrik Friðriksson
Gísli Galdur Þorgeirsson
Jörundur Ragnarsson
Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Rósa Hrund Kristjánsdóttir
Saga Sigurðardóttir
Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson
2010
Produced by K3 – Tanzplan Hamburg
Premiered at Kampnagel Theatre, Hamburg.
Concept and direction by Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Performed by Margrét Bjarnadóttir, Dani Brown and Saga Sigurðardóttir
Set and costume by Elín Hansdóttir
Sound by Alessio Castellacci
When understanding collapses, confusion follows, and in the mess new discoveries can be made. On Misunderstanding looks into the nature of misunderstandings, into how communication can break down, into behavioral malfunctions, into illusions, distortions and parallel realities. Is it all a question of perspective? A bad translation? Or is reality the most basic misunderstanding of all?
On set photos by Florian Thiele
2009
by saga & magga (with Úlfur Hansson)
Performed by Saga Sigurðardóttir and Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Music by Úlfur Hansson
A choreographed concert for two performers and two bass guitars.
PRETTY BASSIC was created in and inspired by the elemental surroundings of the deserted Galtarviti lighthouse in the Westfjords of Iceland. It premiered in Reykjavik Dance Festival in September 2009.
2009
by Me And My Friends
Humanimal is a kaleidoscopic look at human behaviour: our drives, our hungers, our malfunctions, and our excesses. We playfully dissect the humanimal. How did this strange species evolve? What are its customs? What does it long for and how does it go wild?
Humanimal was the first production by the new Icelandic theater collective, Me and My Friends, which consists of ten artists - actors, dancers, a musician and a designer.
Me and My Friends are:
Álfrún Helga Örnólfsdóttir
Dóra Jóhannsdóttir
Friðgeir Einarsson
Friðrik Friðriksson
Gísli Galdur Þorgeirsson
Jörundur Ragnarsson
Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Rósa Hrund Kristjánsdóttir
Saga Sigurðardóttir
Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson
2007
A dance piece for radio.
by Margrét Bjarnadóttir
A collaboration with The Icelandic Dance Company and the Icelandic National Radio.
Performed by Aðalheiður Halldórsdóttir, Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir, Tanja Marín Friðjónsdóttir and Friðrik Friðriksson
Sound engineer - Páll Sveinn Guðmundsson
Broadcast live from the studios of RÚV (Icelandic National Radio.)
2006
by Margrét Bjarnadóttir
Performed by Dani Brown & Margrét Bjarnadóttir
With The Band & The Embarrassed Army
A psychosomatic thriller.
Everyone has experienced embarrassing moments, but for some people these embarrassing moments become a continuous state of being. Under the steady gaze of the ever-present Embarrassed Army and a calm rock band, two female characters genuinely celebrate embarrassment.
