They survived to tell the story
On November 15, 1978, a Flugleiðir aircraft, Leifur Eiríksson, crashed near an airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Of the 262 people on board, only 79 survived, making the crash the fourth-largest air disaster in history at that time. Five of the survivors were Icelandic. This is their story.
The lead-up to the accident, the rescue operations and the aftermath are recounted in Óttar Sveinsson’s book, Útkall: Leifur Eiríksson brotlendir. The book is based on interviews with survivors, relatives and other airplane staff who were present when the crash occurred. Now the story will be portrayed on stage with five actors who will take on the roles of the Icelandic survivors and tell their story in an honest, respectful but impactful way.
The air crash in Sri Lanka is one of the darkest chapters in Icelandic aviation history. If there is one thing disasters like the one on Sri Lanka have shown us, it is that in times of grief Icelanders stand as one. Solidarity increases and strength is reinforced.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Director: Magnús Thorlacius
Stage adaptation: Fjölnir Gíslason og Magnús Thorlacius
Based on a book by: Óttar Sveinsson
Cast: Berglind Halla Elísdóttir, Ellen Margrét Bæhrenz, Fjölnir Gíslason, Kristín Þorsteinsdóttir and Ýr Aimée Gautadóttir Presburg
Music and sound design: Anna Róshildur Benediktsdóttir
Choir: Icelandair Stewardess Choir
Set and lighting design: Fjölnir Gíslason og Magnús Thorlacius
Photos: María Ármannsdóttir
Production: Spotlight