HOW DO YOU LIKE ICELAND?

The players

The Theatre of the Republic

The actor and director

Darren Foreman has a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University in New York. He has studied privately with such prestigious teachers as John Kirby, Steppenwolf Theatre founder Jeff Perry, Charles Nelson Reilly, William Traylor, Richard Fancy, Howard Fine, and Arthur Storch. In both New York and Los Angeles, he has acted on stage, film, and television, including roles on The West Wing, Sports Night, Unsolved Mysteries, and The Last Winter.

Darren lives in Iceland where he directs for the stage and teaches acting. He has also appeared in several Icelandic films and television commercials, and his extensive voice-over work includes being the voice of Icelandair's inflight program.

The actress

Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir / Anna Kolbrun graduated as an actress from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff, Wales. Since her graduation in 1998, she has worked in Iceland. Among her recent roles are Cécile Volanges in Les Liasons Dangereuses, the Princess in An Ordinary Miracle, and Laufey in the childrens play Lineik and Laufey.

The playwright

Benony Ægisson has worked as a musician, actor and director in various theatre productions. Around twenty of his plays have been produced in theatres, television and radio and he has won several awards for playwriting. His first book was published in 1974 but his first play, the musical Sour Puss, was produced in 1979. Among his works are the historical play Water of Life (National Theatre 2001), the musical Sweet Life (City theatre 1997), the childrens play Magic Wand (City theatre 1989) and the teleplays No Mercy and Further Action (Icelandic Broadcasting Company 2000).

Benóný has worked as a craftsman, dabbled in arts, played in bands and written songs. To keep himself in beer he works as an event manager, website builder and copy writer.

More about Benóný Ægisson and his work here.