1974 is an anachronistic theatre performance where the artist duo Jensen/Petrén, with the help of a magical stick they found in the forest, transport themselves back to the year when Sweden was at its peak. The year we got a national cultural policy, won Eurovision and it was considered immoral.

Sweden’s relationship with foreign powers is good.

Significant negotiations are underway to limit the arsenals and armed forces primarily in Central Europe.

The international oil crisis may bring great strains upon our country. To protect employment, production, and important societal functions such as schools, hospitals and communications, energy rationing has been introduced.

A statutory reduction of the general retirement age to 65 is proposed.

Education for immigrants is being improved through increased efforts in the upper secondary schools and outreach activities organized by study associations.

Proposals will be submitted to you regarding guidelines for state interventions in the cultural field.

Invoking God’s blessing over you and your work, I declare the 1974 parliamentary session open.

(Excerpt from the King’s speech at the opening of the Riksdag.)

In 1974, Sweden received its first unified cultural policy through the cultural bill 1974:28. Art and culture were at the service of society and a path towards equality and democracy. In 2024, culture is described by the Minister of Culture as a new “basic industry” where “the end product is experiences.” When are you from?

Jensen and Petrén have worked for 15 years within their respective performing arts collectives, playing an active role in shaping the professional independent performing arts field in Sweden. This field was shaped by the politics of the 70s and is now changing. 

In their first joint work, they move in a world where events and fantasies from the 70s era merge into the present.  With a mixture of fear and delight, they dive into acoustic guitars, political theatre, coherent thoughts, fiery discussions, optimism, free love, beer, cigarettes and disco, viewing the present with old eyes.

1974 is presented as a part of the collaboration between Intercult and Konträr as one of the Theatre in Palm Roadshows 2024. Theatre in Palm brings together 12 partners from all over Europe to collaborate and co-create around an intercultural platform. In addition to supporting emerging artists within performing arts to navigate ahead in their career, the project also aims to help the European theatre scene to recover from the pandemic by creating a new European theatre network.

The performance is in Swedish with English subtitles.