Espen Hjort

I see theatre as a space where we investigate how to live and how we create the world we live in. I often depart from the encounter with the unknown, the other, that which is radically different from ourselves. The body, landscapes and 'spatial music' are returning points of interest. My work often deals with the relationship between human beings and nature (whatever that might be) .

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I grew up in Oslo, Norway. In 2016, I graduated from the directing department at the theatre school of the Amsterdam University of the Arts, and I work both in the Netherlands and in Norway. I produce my own work (with the Skorpetind Foundation) and collaborate with relevant partners.

From 2016-2020 I was part of the artistic team at Theater Utrecht, and from 2018 to 2021 I was artist in residence at Het Huis Utrecht, a workspace for experiment and research in the performing arts. In 2022 I was invited to direct a new work at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen (NO), and in 2024 I will be directing at Teater Ibsen in Skien (NO).

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Together with performance artist Mees Borgman, I create work under the name LANDMARKS. We aim to develop works that go beyond the human.

Our first work, Stonework, was a collaboration with a stone from the Hallingskarvet mountain range. It premiered at the Gaudeamus festival in Utrecht (NL) in september 2022. Following a tour in the Netherlands and Norway, the work is selected for Heddadagene 2023 (through Black Box teater). It will appear in multiple countries the coming years. Our new work Treework, is an experimental opera written and composed by and with trees. It will appear in 2024.

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I am also a playwright. Zwarte lente ('Black spring', 2020) has been published in Dutch by De Nieuwe Toneelbibliotheek. Currently I am developing a production based on my new play witchmacbethforest, a radical rewriting of Shakespeare. And in the meanwhile I am supported by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund in writing Landscape with Radioactive Dogs.

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My work has received generous support from the Dutch Performing Arts Fund, the Norwegian Arts Council, the City of Utrecht, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Stichting Melanie, Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, KF Hein Fonds, the Dioraphte fonds, the LIRA fonds and Dramatikkens Hus.