Yngvild Aspeli, the new artistic director of Nordland Visual Theatre (Stamsund, Norway)

Yngvild Aspeli, Plexus Polaire’s artistic director, has been nominated as the new artistic director of Nordland Visual Theatre – Figurteatret i Nordland in Norway.

Nordland Visual Theatre has, under the artistic direction of Preben Faye-Schjøll, become an important international landmark for puppetry and visual theatre, and it is a great honor to be appointed to be Nordland Visual Theatre's next artistic leader. Nordland Visual Theatre has been significant for me as an artist and it feels important to now be able to contribute to the continuation of the unique value that this theatre brings to the artistic field. Nordland Visual Theatre is one of the rare places where the artist’s and the company’s needs are at the heart the project, without losing the comprehension of the importance of reaching an audience. In an increasingly more efficient world where also art has become a consumer goods, the values that Nordland Visual Theatre represents are worth protecting and fighting for.  
When in August 2022, I will move to Stamsund in the Lofoten Islands in Norway to start the four-year mission of being the artistic director of Nordland Visual Theatre. My French-Norwegian theatre company Plexus Polaire will continue to tour through its self-governing administrative structure. I will also maintain my profession as an artist, since I believe that it is as an active and creating artist that I can offer the most as an artistic director of Nordland Visual Theatre. Plexus Polaire and Nordland Visual Theatre will work independently, but have close dialogue, since the goal is that the collaboration can strengthen the position of Nordland Visual Theatre as a reference for innovative puppetry. 

For an artform to exist, live and develop, it is crucial to have a place dedicated to strengthening and defend this artform. To actively work for a better understanding of what puppetry is and can be means defending the chore of the profession and at the same time let the artform evolve. By producing and touring works that represent the diversity of visual theatre and puppetry, Nordland Visual Theatre can continue to be a place where innovative and engaged theatre is made."

Yngvild Aspeli