SUKKER
A satirical comedy about cultural diversity and institutional tokenism. The story follows a young black artist hired by an art museum in crisis, who discovers a hidden portal that takes her on a time-traveling journey through 400 years of Afro-Norwegian history.
Moving between 2025, the colonial past, and a future beyond time, she encounters historical figures, forgotten stories, and different versions of herself. Sukker is a wild, time-bending theatrical journey populated by afronauts, historical characters and surreal encounters, where past and present collide in a kaleidoscopic mix of sharp satire, comedy, music, dance and fantasy. As the journey unfolds, the story rewrites the familiar narrative of Norway and asks who gets to belong, who gets remembered, and who gets to tell the story.
Det Norske Teatret 2025
Concept, written and directed by Linda Gathu
Original cast: Ameli Isungset Agbota, Iselin Shumba, Mariama Fatou Kalley Slåttøy, Natalie Bjerke Roland, Gjertrud Jynge, Lasse Kolsrud and Khalid Mahamoud
Scenography and costume by Eli Mai Huang Nesse
Light design by Randiane Sandboe
Music and sound design by Emily Adomah
Artistic Association and Coordination by Ingrid Askvik
Dramaturgy by Siri Løkholm Ramberg
Choreographic assistance by Mariama Fatou Kalley Slåttøy-Gjessing
Photo: Ole Herman AndersenFor Sukker, Gathu won the National Ibsen Award for Best Script and was also nominated for the Norwegian Critics' Prize and the Hedda Award.
Photo: Siren Høyland“En av de sterkeste scenene er da skuespillerne danser til rapmusikk som om de var i en musikkvideo. Nærmest umerkelig beveger de seg fra å være objekter til subjekter. Det er mesterlig gjort. Lyddesign, regi, scenografi og kostymer smelter sammen og er noe av det vakreste jeg har sett på en scene.”
- Nazneen Khan-Østrem, Aftenposten 13.10.2025