Summer Talk brought to life with a touch of Lynch

Actress and icon Anita Ekberg had a lot to say when she appeared on the radio program *Sommar i P1* in 2005. Her unique approach to the assignment captivated performing artists Philip Berlin and Sophie Augot, who have listened to the program together countless times—and very carefully at that!

They were so captivated by Anita’s distinctive language and husky voice that it took root in both their bodies and their imaginations. This became a catalyst for embodying and choreographing Anita’s enchanting soundscape. Unpredictable whims branched out through associations, and in the interplay between intense presence, physicality, and babbling, a universe took shape with its own internal logic.

In the program, Anita talks about how she ended up in Hollywood, her encounters with Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and other figures, some well-known and others less so. The program also explores topics such as wine, animal cruelty, olive trees, and “Swedish royal jealousy.”

You are invited to a performance in which the cast, with great love and boldness, navigates Anita’s life story to bring out more characters and nuances.

More about the performance

By listening to the program over and over again, the artists allowed Ekberg’s language and tone of voice to seep into their bodies and imaginations, resulting in a physical and comical performance that embodies the summer talk and allows the audience to step into a new universe where reality blends with dreams and memories.

We are presented with a dreamlike portrayal of the summer program, in which Anita—channeled through Berlin and Augot’s quirky and comical stage personas—tells the story of her life: from Miss Sweden to Miss Universe and on to Hollywood, where she rubbed shoulders with celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Amid the torrent of staged thoughts are reflections on olive trees, animal cruelty, “the royal Swedish jealousy,” but also a longing for a “companion.” The experience is enhanced by a dynamic soundscape featuring music from Anita’s films, Italian pop, and contemporary pop.

MISS is something as unique as a summer talk show brought to life, filled with original turns of phrase taken to their physical extreme. The performance is entertaining, absurd, moving, and unpredictable—with an atmosphere reminiscent of David Lynch. We are introduced to episodes from Ekberg’s life as her thoughts and feelings are woven into the hypnotic flow of dialogue, movement, and music.