Sælueyjan

Sælueyjan (The Island of Bliss) explores the world of genetics. A man is found in the highlands who, despite his youthful appearance, seems ancient. Investigation reveals that for some reason he cannot die, and scientists become interested in the idea that he may hold the key to eternal life. At the same time, ethical questions arise about how far one should go in the name of science. The play was inspired by the public debate surrounding the founding of deCODE genetics.

María received the play in a very raw state and developed it further with Hirdwall and the dramaturg Gréta María Bergsdóttir. They ended up writing their own adaptation and asked set designer Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson, lighting designer Björn Bergsteinn and video artist Gideon Kiers to open a way for the audience into the human body and its genes. To this end, the stage in the National Theatre’s Kassinn was turned lengthwise to make room for large screens onto which this visual world was projected. María then worked with the company through improvisation around the material, mainly using Viewpoints, which became the storytelling style of the production. The young composer Ólafur Björn Ólafsson wrote a striking score for the production.