Authenticity and image face off in the cracks of our mirror 

Following sold-out performances in Gothenburg and internationally, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani presents their seminal work Hammer by Alexander Ekman, a story in two-acts of what fulfilment means – and how it looks – in the modern era.

Performed by a 31-piece ensemble from twenty different countries, a community lives in harmony, sharing joy as they run, play and dance. Then, enter: the modern age – and with it, surveillance. As the community grows vain and fractures, a new landscape of isolation takes shape.

Under the artistic direction of Katrín Hall, with music by Mikael Karlsson, Ekman’s third work with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani bursts with boldness and a razor-sharp wit. From order to chaos, from the individual to the collective, from the 1960s to the present day, Hammer questions as much the role of technology as that of ideology.

Header image © Tito Stengel
Header image description: A large ensemble of performers runs toward the audience. The group wear vibrant patterned costumes in a variety of colours and textures, with arms linked and hair and clothing flying, creating a sense of energy, movement, and celebration