Optimist | Chateau Neuf, Oslo, 2019
World premiere musical built on the songs of Jahn Teigen, Norway’s beloved pop icon who represented the country at Eurovision three times and became a national cultural figure. The musical comedy featured book by Øystein Wiik and was directed by Mattias Carlsson, with choreography by Simen Gloppen and lighting design by Anders Busch. Produced by StarWorks, Taran, Teigen Total, and Eventyrlie.
takis designed sets and costumes that captured the spirit of Teigen’s career—spanning decades of Norwegian pop culture, from the glam rock 1970s through television fame. The production wove together 20 of Teigen’s most famous songs into a narrative celebrating his irrepressible optimism and enduring influence on Norwegian entertainment. The design needed to serve both the musical numbers and the storytelling, creating worlds that reflected the evolution of Norwegian popular culture.
Chateau Neuf, Det Norske Studentersamfund’s historic venue at the University of Oslo, provided an intimate setting for this tribute to a performer who defined Norwegian pop music for generations. The production sold out its run.
Creative Team: Music: Jahn Teigen | Book: Øystein Wiik | Director: Mattias Carlsson | Designer: takis | Choreographer: Simen Gloppen | Lighting: Anders Busch