The model for the stage set of Saumastofan (The Sewing Company) designed by Jón Þórisson for the original production of the musical by Kjartan Ragnarsson at Reykjavík Theatre Company is the library‘s highlight of September.
Saumastofan premiered on October 28th 1975, four days after the first Woman’s Day Off where women went on strike and organised the largest mass protest in Icelandic history. The musical centres around an unusual day in the life of the seamstresses working at the sowing company Saumur (Seam). Sigga, the oldest seamstress, brings food and drink to work but the day before she held a party for her 70th birthday but few turned up. Ása, Didda, Lilla, Gunna and Magga together with Sigga decide to stop working and throw a party. During the festivities they share stories from their lives which are often tough but joy and laughter are never far away.
The cast included Ásdís Skúladóttir, Harald G. Haraldsson, Hrönn Steingrímsdóttir, Karl Guðmundsson, Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir, Ragnheiður Steindórsdóttir, Sigríður Hagalín, Sigurður Karlsson og Soffía Jakobsdóttir. Daniel Williamsson designed the lights, Jón Þórisson designed the set and the costumes and the conductor was Magnús Pétursson.
Saumastofan celebrates its 50th birthday on October 28th this year and Kjartan, who also directed and composed the music, celebrates his 80th birthday on September 18th. Saumastofan became a huge hit, running for the next three theatre seasons and reaching almost two hundred performances.
The model is catalogued under LMÍ 2024/18 and donated by the Reykjavík Theatre Company. The inscription on the model is incorrecet, it was made in 1975.
The model is on on display inthe Icelandic National Collection on the first floor.
