Harsh, dear is a site-specific musical theatre performance created by Brazilian born composer Marcela Lucatelli in collaboration with seven performers from Scenatet, who commissioned the work. Described by Politiken as an abundance of impressions, the performance explores the immensely complex social and relational situations that can emerge when art is placed in a public space. Using the harsh industrial architecture of Refshaleøen as its backdrop and driven by eight performers armed with percussion, vocals, and – most importantly – a total lack of restrictions, the audience are allowed into a space where the distinction between order and chaos seems to collapse.

For three hours, the audience are enabled to move around freely between the performers and watch, listen, and interact with the performance from every possible angle. The result is an experience that can only be described as overwhelming: A mosaic-like amalgamation of an austere environment of bricks, steel, and concrete inhabited mostly by heavy machinery, unbridled creativity, and human drive. Throughout, the audience is forced to consider the past and the future of an environment which they otherwise, most likely, would not find worthy of thought.

Harsh, dear is an outdoor site-specific performance where the audience can move freely and come and go as they please.

Duration: 3 hours

Harsh, dear is initiated, commissioned and produced by Scenatet in collaboration with Marcela Lucatelli.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained’, said a wise graffiti on a wall behind Lucatelli, which fit perfectly. She risked it all. It’s great that Lucatelli and Scenatet’s talented musicians will gamble wildly and walk the plank in solidarity with the works they perform”.

Concept and composition: Marcela Lucatelli
Performers: Anne Marie Hjort Christiansen, Gianluca Elia, Katerina Anagnostidou, Marta Soggetti, Mette Hommel, Michael Hope, Utku Tavil and Marcela Lucatelli
Artistic director: Anna Berit Asp Christensen
Sound designer: Gianluca Elia
Lighting designer: Jari Matsi

The Danish Arts Foundation, Augustinus Fonden, Knud Højgaards Fonden, William Demant Fonden and KODA Culture