Culture News in Brief: New DR show rejigged following viewer complaints

Elton John is saying goodbye, Thomas Vinterberg is showing is new film, and Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven wants the Danes to lighten up and stop living in fear

When DR decided to replace ‘X Factor’, producers presumably thought they had a good replacement. It’s doubtful, though, whether that show is ‘LIVE’.

Viewers have complained  … a lot in fact. First of all, they got angry that the contestants only got 30 seconds to perform. And then they got angry they didn’t have enough time to vote (the monetary aspect takes priority over all others, remember).

DR has now raised the performance time from 30 to 60 seconds, and overall the show has been extended by 25 minutes, broadcast from 20:00-21:00 and then from 21:25 every Friday.


Vinterberg’s new film ‘Kurst’ opens film festival
Thomas Vinterberg’s new English-speaking film ‘Kurst’ is opening the Toronto Film Festival, which runs from September 6-16. The plot is about the Russian submarine accident in 2000 in which 118 crew members lost their lives. Among the cast are Leá Seydoux, Colin Firth and Lars Mikkelsen.

Horsens is also getting a festival 
On September 7 at 14:00, the two-day festival Wall of Sound is opening its doors on the lawn by Horsens Statsfængsel to 7,500 visitors. What makes this festival stand out from others are its good vibrations, according to festival head Michala Mellson, who wants the visitors to smile and hug each other. With help from 200 volunteers the festival has put together 20 concerts and over 200 activities. Among the artists performing are Scarlet Pleasure, Alex Vargas and Benal. Tickets cost 450 kroner.

Danes criticised by controversial artist
Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven is firing barbs at the Danes in his new exhibition ‘Phobiarama’ at Bispetorvet in Aarhus. “It is the media and politicians that make us scared, not reality,” he has said. “We are afraid of what is different from us and there is no need to be.” The exhibition ends on September 9.

Last chance to hear Elton John live
Elton John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour is visiting Royal Arena on 18 May 2019, where the flamboyant singer-songwriter will sing all his hits for the last time in Denmark. Ticket sales started today at livenation.dk. Check internet forums if there aren’t any still standing.




  • The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    English-Australian writer and theatre director Stuart Lynch contributes a monthly column titled “The Lynch Interviews”. In this series, he engages with prominent internationals residing in Denmark or Danish individuals with a global perspective. For April, he interviews Irish playwright and writer Fergal O’Byrne, fresh from an acclaimed season of a new English-language play in Copenhagen.

  • Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

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    Many internationals find it difficult to advance in their new workplaces, and some quietly leave. It’s not because they lack talent. In Denmark, careers are shaped not only by skills but also by cultural understanding, informal networks, and social signals. However, internationals may not be familiar with this system or know how to navigate it

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  • World Cup in Ice Hockey will face off in Herning

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    As in 2018, Denmark will co-host the Ice Hockey World Championship. And once again, Herning and Jyske Bank Boxen will be the hosts. Denmark is in Pool B and starts tonight with a match against the USA, which, given the political tensions between the two countries, may be an icy affair.

  • Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

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