Herranótt — Nosferatu: Í skugga vampírunnar
This is the origin story.
At 17, I worked on a school theatre production that sold out its first six shows and added two more to meet demand.
It was Herranótt's 2008 production of Nosferatu: Í skugga vampírunnar (In The Shadow of the Vampire) at Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (MR), Iceland’s oldest upper secondary school.
I was there studying math and physics, preparing to pursue a degree in engineering (like my dad). After successfully raising funds for a previous project, I was asked to lead the marketing department for the school’s annual theatre production.
This was not perceived to be a particularly glamorous role; I was in charge of all the marketing materials, including print, as well as getting press.
I said yes because the year before I had been in the make-up department and they forgot to promote it. I know because us (the make-up crew) made up half the audience for each show. Which broke my heart because it was an incredible original play, with cast that are to this day some of the most noted entertainers in Iceland. To this day it still makes me angry.
We printed over 5,000 posters (see above) and spread them all across the capital; I later heard they’d made it into neighbouring towns. I also produced the official Herranótt programme, commissioning and coordinating its designer, photographer, writers and interview contributors, and overseeing advertising and sponsorship. Published by Skólafélag Menntaskólans í Reykjavík, it had a print run of 2,000 copies.
The production premiered at Tjarnarbíó on 22 February 2008. Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík's annual report later described it as “one of the most spectacular in living memory” and reported that the audience seating was “packed at every performance.”
Coverage
Fréttablaðið “Blóðugir menntskælingar á leiksviði” — Print
Ólafur S.K. Þorvaldsson ásamt leikurum í Herranótt – Online
Production Credits
Nosferatu: Í skugga vampírunnar
Herranótt / Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, 2008
Director & adaptation: Ólafur S. Þorvaldz
Featuring: Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir, Magnús Örn Sigurðsson
Music: Rökkurró
Venue: Tjarnarbíó
Premiere: 22 February 2008
Leikskrá / Programme Credits
Prentun: THINK
Útgáfudagur: 18. febrúar 2008
Upplag: 2000
Forsíðumynd: Ásta Fanney
Hönnun: G. David Terrazas
Ljósmyndari: Hugrún Lind Arnardóttir
Ábyrgðarmaður: Björn Brynjúlfur Björnsson
Útgefandi: Skólafélag Menntaskólans í Reykjavík
Prófarkalestur: Bragi Halldórsson
Ritstjórn: Hrefna Helgadóttir
Myndvinnsla: Hilmar Birgir Ólafsson
