Theatre, 1992

Madame de Sade

Bergman's hit production of Yukio Mishima's play.
'Starkly ascetic regarding the physical effects, yet vibrating with sensibility.'
Carlhåkan Larsén, Sydsvenska Dagbladet

About the production

That Mishima's play depicts a decaying world was suggested in Bergman's production by a changing color scheme, which remained in orange and rose tones during the first act, in bloody red colors in the second act and in grey and black in the final act. Kristoffer Leandoer described it as 'a fire that was lit and flared up but left nothing but ashes behind'.

Bergman's production of Yukio Mishima's play Madame de Sade was not the first work by the Japanese playwright to be performed in Sweden. In 1959, The Royal Dramatic Theatre had produced some of Mishima's Noh plays and in 1970, the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki visited The Royal Dramatic Theatre with a version of Madame de Sade. Mishima had been nominated several times for the Novel Prize in literature but was passed over in favour of his mentor Kawabata (1968).

An enthusiastic critical corps focussed on Bergman's ensemble of actresses and on the concentration and musicality of his staging.

Sources

  • The Ingmar Bergman Archives.
  • Birgitta Steene, Ingmar Bergman: A Reference Guide, (Amsterdam University Press, 2005).

Collaborators

  • Barbro Forsgårdh
  • Stina Ekblad, Renée
  • Anita Björk, Madame de Montreuil
  • Marie Richardson, Anne
  • Margaretha Byström, Baronessa de Simiane
  • Agneta Ekmanner, Countess de Saint-Fond
  • Helena Brodin, Charlotte
  • Irene Wiklund, Picture engineer (TV version)
  • Kjell-Inge Stevensson, Conductor
  • Ulla Åberg, Dramaturgy
  • Jacob Bjelfvenstam, Electrician (TV Version)
  • Olle Jungesäter, Electrician (TV Version)
  • Pelle Norén, Camera operator (TV version)
  • Bo Johansson, Camera operator (TV version)
  • Raymond Wemmenlöv, Camera operator (TV version)
  • Bengt Wanselius, Stills photographer (Dramaten)
  • Yukio Mishima, Author
  • Ulla Cederlund, Stage manager (Dramaten)
  • Sylvia Ingmarsson, Editing (TV version)
  • Maggie Strindberg, Costumes (TV version)
  • Helvi Treffner, Costumes (TV version)
  • Donya Feuer, Choreography
  • Charles Koroly, Costume design
  • Mette Möller, Costume design (TV version)
  • Jan-Eric Piper, Sound (Dramaten)
  • Björn Lönnroos, Sound (Dramaten)
  • Curre Forsmark, Sound engineer (TV version)
  • Sven-Eric Jacobson, Lightning (Dramaten)
  • Börje Berglund, Lightning (TV version)
  • Rudi Schuster, Lightning technician (Dramaten)
  • Benny Grün , Lightning technician (Dramaten)
  • Britt Falkemo, Make-up woman (TV-version)
  • Monica Kilpiö, Make-up woman (TV-version)
  • Gunnar Frisell, Mixing (TV version)
  • Ingrid Yoda, Music
  • Futurumensamblen, Orchestra
  • Sofia Ranow, Make-up and wigs
  • Eva Maria Holm-Katzeff, Make-up and wigs (Dramaten)
  • Katarina Sjöberg, Producer
  • Måns Reuterswärd, Producer (TV version)
  • Christina Hörnblad, Project leader (TV version)
  • Ingmar Bergman, Director
  • Richard Looft, Assistant director
  • Stefan Lundgren, Props (Dramaten)
  • Jan-Erik Savela, Props (TV version)
  • Bertil Sahlén, Props (TV version)
  • Bengt Larsson, Master carpenter (Dramaten)
  • Maj-Britt Vifell, Script girl (TV version)
  • Rolf Granquist, Carpenter (TV version)
  • Eva Norde, Studio manager (TV version)
  • Gun Nilsson, Floor manager (TV version)
  • Lolo Amble, Prompter (Dramaten)
  • Jan Forsberg, Upholsterer (TV version)
  • Hans Rydström, Technical manager (TV version)
  • Jan Askelöf, Video editing (TV version)
  • Gunilla Lindberg-Wada, Translation
  • Per Erik Wahlund, Translation
  • Sylvia Ingemarsson