In old theatres – and still in some today – a single light remains on when the stage is plunged into darkness. In English it’s called ‘the ghost lamp’, in French ‘la servante’ – the housemaid. Placed at centre stage, its practical purpose is to prevent accidents. But it is also said to ward off evil spirits or guide the ghosts believed to haunt the theatre. Like an eerie sentinel, it keeps watch over the stage.
In this work, Mette Edvardsenis working with long-time and lighting designer Bruno Pocheron. Together they try to bring out the voice of the ghost lamp – letting her speak and tell us what she has to say.
● Mette Edvardsen has been creating her own works since 2002, spanning choreography, books and performative exhibitions. With a background as a dancer and performer, her practice consistently explores the relationship between language, time and space within the situation of performance. Her works have been presented internationally, including at Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels, the Sydney Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale and MACBA in Barcelona. She received the Norwegian Ibsen Award in 2016 for We to be, has held long-term residencies at Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers in Paris, and is currently completing a PhD in artistic research at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts.
