Heretic; in three acts (2014)

The performance looks at the story of King James I of Scotland and his bride Anne of Denmark. It follows their fated and cursed marriage, where after marriage by proxy in Copenhagen the couple delayed on route to Scotland meet in Oslo Ladegården (the site of the performance) to formally marry. James influenced by Danish demonology believed that Anne’s delay by storms on her way to Scotland was caused by witchcraft. Shortly after returning to his country James embarked on a reign of terror on witches, resulting in the North Berwick witch trials where Agnes Sampson was executed for creating a storm to kill the King and Queen on their return from Oslo.

The performance sees the story of James, Anne and Agnes played out in three acts, or actions, which symbolise three key moments; first the marriage of James and Anne, second the torture of Agnes, and third the braking of the spell. Each act used a series of props and symbolic gestures to illustrate the historical account.   

Photography: ​Daniel Slåttnes