STYGN Premiär

By Camilla Blomqvist.

A story about the rise and fall of Algots Nord, about friendship, assembly lines, and v-jeans.In 1972, the textile company Algots came to Västerbotten to start three factories. Within days, thousands of women queued for jobs, many of them housewives who saw their chance to step into the workforce. The state provided millions in support, and according to the plan, over a thousand people would work in Northern Europe's most modern sewing factories.

In the production, we meet four women who all get jobs at the factory: Sari, a young single mother, Britta who struggles with marital problems at home, Eivor who dreams of getting her own driver's license, and Anette, whose salvation hinges on having a job.At the factories' assembly lines, conditions are tough and the economy is strained. A prolonged and dramatic union struggle for better conditions and to save the jobs begins, despite many employees lacking experience in organizing. Despite the struggle, the factories are closed down seven years after their inception.

In the performance, we follow how the women's view of themselves changes along the way, how they are affected by having their own economy, by being given the opportunity to take up space in society and daring to make their voices heard, or being one of those who choose to remain silent. The story is an important part of Västerbotten's history and about women's work in an industrial establishment. It also sheds light on questions concerning humanity's role in our economic system today, where conditions can change from one day to the next and where new large industrial investments are being made up here in the north. The script written by Camilla Blomqvist is based on testimonies from women who have worked at Algots Nord, and new music for the performance is being composed by Frida Johansson. The artistic director of Västerbottensteatern, Johanna Salander, is responsible for the direction.