Serve and Protect

The performance is the culmination of a long series of artistic interventions in public spaces. A central element of this “direct action” is the riot police uniforms, which serve as both the main visual and symbolic feature. Through them, absurd, uncanny, and often unsettling situations arise—provocative moments that, on one hand, challenge the status and authority of the police as an institution of the state or power, and on the other, enact its ideal mission: to serve and protect—people, nature, joy, beauty, love, and life itself.

Direct action theater turns the concept of traditional power roles in society on its head. It engages with the energy of violence and protest in a sophisticated way, playfully exploring themes such as environmental grief, war, uniformity, and mob brutality. Yet even a riot officer is only human at the end of the day. Among the spectrum of experiences, moments of humanity are the most sought-after.

Direct Action Theater (D.A.T.) is an international collective dedicated to artivism—the intersection of art and activism. The group explores the relationship between theater, performance, and protest. They tackle the most pressing issues of our time, and through interventions in public spaces, aim to foster discussion about current social, political, and environmental topics, movements, and causes. Key words in their work include politics, climate, art, beauty, chaos, justice, and protest.

“If there is a hard, high wall and an egg that breaks against it, no matter how right the wall or how wrong the egg, I will stand on the side of the egg.” (Haruki Murakami). Direct Action Theater unapolgetically stands on the side of all metaphorical eggs.

Duration: 90 min
The performance contains realistic scenes of violence – not suitable for children under 15.

D.A.T. performance and creation team:
Jan Husták, Nela H. Kornetová, Øystein Elle, Ellen Røhr-Staff, Björn Honsson, Arnt Christian Hellum Teigen, Per Magnus Barlaug, Guillermo John Magno, Mohammed Ellyas Lehry, Daniel Halvoník, Annalisa Dal Pra, Henrik Olsson, Kristin Honsson, Trym Grønner Flikke, Matthew Rogers, Serafina Wexels-Moore, Felix Noslier, Lukáš Kubičina, Tomáš Florea, Tomáš Janýpka, Johana Schmidtmajerová, Jana Zoubková

The project is currently supported by T.I.T.S. performance group, Projektor Pøblene, Østfold International Teater, Grenland Friteater, Rosendal Theatre, Nová Síť, EEA Grants, Kulturrådet, Performing Arts Hub Norway and Kulturkontakt Nord Performing Arts Hub Norway, Norwegian Ministry of Culture, Fond For Utovende Kunstnere