Barrikad

In 'Barrikad,' we meet three women who have experience with both perpetrating violence themselves and being victims of violence and abuse. They all seek therapy to help them articulate their traumas. We follow their stories, which are based on real-life experiences of several young women in Umeå. The three of them represent many, several, all.

They... we like to express it that way, because it somehow makes it easier. It's not about me, it's about others, but in 'Barrikad,' the pronoun 'I' ceases to matter, and instead, it is replaced with 'we.' Because it's about us, our society, our city, and our present time. It's our story. When we know our history as a collective, we can write a new future. So, we lay a rope along the floor. It's our timeline. One end is the beginning, when we are born. Now, we continue to build our lives. From the start to present. Stones are placed along the rope for difficult events that have left their mark. Flowers for beautiful memories when everything felt good. Candles for when someone has passed away. Sticks for when we have harmed others. Now, our story begins.

Barrikad is based on real therapeutic conversations within NET (Narrative Exposure Therapy). NET is a method for trauma processing developed in field settings during wartime, serving as a form of psychotherapeutic first aid for addressing post-traumatic stress. Placing objects along a lifeline is one of the tools used to narrate one's experiences. An essential part of the healing process is formulating one's story and subsequently sharing it with society.

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Emil Nilsson-Mäki
ON-STAGE PERFORMERS: Josephine Wistedt, Karin Malmberg, Magnus Nilsson-Mäki, Rosanna Santacruz Lindmarker
SOUND RECORDING CONTRIBUTORS: Albin Grenholm, Love Ersare, Rosanna Santacruz Lindmarker
VIDEO RECORDING CONTRIBUTORS: Jason Nemor Harden, Niklas Larsson, Pascal Crépault Wibe
COSTUME, SET DESIGN & PROPS: Frida Allberg
LIGHTING DESIGN: Jonas Olsson
SOUND DESIGN: Anton Teljebäck
MANUSCRIPT TRANSLATION FOR ENGLISH SUBTITLES: AI, Love Ersare, Rosanna Santacruz Lindmarker
ENGLISH SUBTITLING SOFTWARE: YNK
PRODUCER: Elenor Nordström
OVERALL ASSISTANCE: Love Ersare
POSTER IMAGE: LisaLove Bäckman
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY: Elin Berge

"Barrikad" is a collaboration between Skuggteatern and the Trauma Support Resource Center at Vårsta diakonigård. The performance is presented in partnership with Umeå Teaterförening & Studiefrämjandet Västerbotten and is supported by Umeå Kommun, Region Västerbotten, and Kulturrådet (The Swedish Arts Grants Committee).

Please feel free to take part of the reflection material prepared by Linda Arnell at Umeå University and Susanne Axelsson at the Resource Center for Trauma Support. The material contains information about violence and its various forms, as well as questions for discussion after the performance. This material is intended for those who wish to further reflect, and for those who are teachers or school counselors watching the performance with their school class.

The material is in Swedish.

Reflective Material as PDF →

The Resource Center for Trauma Support, in collaboration with Skuggteatern, would like your thoughts and reflections to reach decision-makers and contribute to a better society. Write down your thoughts on our digital bulletin board here →

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Participate in an Interview
Do you work with issues related to violence, trauma, and mental health, or with adjacent social matters? Are you a political decision-maker at the municipal or regional level? Do you work in social services, law enforcement, education, corrections, or with non-profit organizations? Researcher Linn Egeberg Holmgren at the Department of Social Work, Uppsala University, is evaluating the project of which Barrikad is a part. She would like to get in touch with you for an interview regarding NET as a method for trauma processing and Barrikad as a violence-preventive societal intervention. If you are interested, please reach out to: linn.egeberg.holmgren@uu.se

Is your situation urgent or do you need protection?

Contact the Social Services reception unit by phone:

Office hours: 090 - 16 10 02
After-hours: 090-16 30 50

In case of immediate danger, call: 112

Other support helplines:

Swedish Church in Umeå: 090 200 25 00, weekdays 8-16

Children's Right in Society (BRIS): 116 111, open 24/7

Center Against Violence: 020 42 04 20, open 24/7

National Women's Helpline: 020 50 50 50, open 24/7

Men's Support Line: 020 80 80 80, open every day 7-21

Transgender Support Line: 020 55 00 00, open every day 11-19