Bench of the week (19)

Some may say that this week's bench is not a bench, but a seat - indeed a row of seats. But is not that the definition of a bench? However that may be - this is what I have chosen to present today. It may at the first glance look like an ordinary row of seats at some kind of ordinary sports arena. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as will become clear as you scroll down.

It is in fact from an outdoor theatre: Agder Teater-Fjæreheia.

This theatre is situated outside the town of Grimstad, Norway. One unique feature is that it is built in a closed quarry, where a characteristic red granite was mined. Before WW2 there where several small quarries here, but Albert Speer, Hitler's infamous "Minister of Armaments and War Production", dedeceided after the Nazi invasion of Norway to use this granite to build a new gigantic stadium in Nuremberg. Thus a new quarry was opened and much stone was mined, but none of it reached Germany before the war was over. Instead it was used in various local constructions after the war.

Agder Theatre bought the quarry in 1995, and in the summer of 1999 built a new amphitheatre with 1000 seats. Since the opening in 1999 there have been many different types of arrangement at Fjæreheia. There has been everything from musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar to film presentations and readings of the poem "Terje Vigen" and rock concerts. (Wikipedia) .

If you look closely at the photos you will see actors and dancers practising on ledges and ladders before a performance. You really have to look before you leap in this theatre.

And that the granite is red is obvious from these steps.

My own interest in benches stems from the site published by PERBS and Kerri and the site published by Malyss. Also, others have shown an interest in the subject, so I have started to take photos of benches when I "stumble" across one and post them on Fridays. It is not a "proper" meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays, they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting - summer permitting :-)