Come closer

By Demian Vitanza
In collaboration with Dramatikkens Hus and Ibsen Scope

A couple of millions of years ago our ancestors approached a wild fire and began to play with it. We created a hearth and called it home. We ate warm food and developed larger brains. Fire made us human. From then on, our fate has always been intertwined with the use of fire, and our foot prints have steadily been accompanied by ashes. But our relationship with fire has changed, and our play with fire is throwing our world into the heat of a climate catastrophe. Come closer is a monologue about the beautiful and toxic romance between fire and humanity.

Demian Vitanza
Vitanza made his debut as a novelist in 2011. The following year he released his first play, Londinium. He has since published Tyngde (Weight) and the youth play Nå (Now) —both of which have won the National Ibsen Prize. In autumn 2026, Ildens historie (The History of Fire) will premiere at The National Scene (DNS) in Bergen. Vitanza has also published three novels, receiving several awards and translations. As a performing arts practitioner, he has worked with prison inmates as well as undocumented refugees on various projects, including at The National Theatre.