Theatre, 1955

Wood Painting

Bergman's second direction of Wood Painting, which served as the basis for The Seventh Seal, having previously produced it for radio.

'Love is just another word for lust plus lust plus lust plus a whole lot of deception, betrayal, lies and all-round scams.'
Jöns, from the play

About the production

Bergman originally wrote the play for his students at the Malmö City Theatre, but he decided to stage a full production of it at Intiman in Malmö. The play was part of a triple bill alongside The Ends of the Earth by Sigvard Martenson and Feather Ball by Lars-Levi Laestadius. This was the last time that Bergman directed one of his own texts during his time as head of the Malmö City Theatre (1952-1958). The premiere was 18 March.

Sources

  • The Ingmar Bergman Archives.
  • Per Arne Tjäder, Fruktan, medkänsla och kritisk distans: Den västerländska dramateorins historia (Studentlitteratur, 2000).
  • Margareta Wirmark (red.), Ingmar Bergman: Film och teater i växelverkan (Carlssons Bokförlag, 1996).
  • Birgitta Steene, Ingmar Bergman: A Reference Guide, (Amsterdam University Press, 2005).

Collaborators

  • Gunnel Lindblom, The girl
  • Gunnar Björnstrand, Jöns
  • Oscar Ljung, The knight
  • Nine-Christine Jönsson, The witch
  • Åke Fridell
  • Berit Gustafsson, Maria
  • Rune Turesson, The actor
  • Birgitta Hellerstedt, Lisa
  • Naima Wifstrand, Karin
  • Folke Sundquist, Narrator (Death)
  • Ingmar Bergman, Author
  • Stig Nelson, Costume design