Princess Märtha Louise Attends Festival for the Deaf

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway attended a festival for the deaf, which was being held during the Deaf culture days which were celebrating its 50th anniversary. The festival was being held in Bergen with a diverse cultural and academic program. Artists from Scandinavia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Germany and Singapore also joined the four-day festival.

Princess Märtha Louise attended a theatre program called, “Jonas and the body” by Theater Manus in the Teaterkjelleren. Theater Manus is originally from Oslo, but as Norwegian Sign Language Theatre they tour the country a lot. “Jonas and the body” is meant for children and is about nine-year-old Jonas who becomes ill. The audience then joins him on a dramatic journey through his body.

Princess Märtha Louise also visited the Super Visual Studio, a film production company that is specialised in sign language and she visited NAV, a visual interpretation service that makes it possible for the deaf and the hearing to have a telephone conversation. Super Visual Studio streamed the festival live and also included an interview with the Princess.

The Princess joined the grand opening show later that evening by the Bergens Deaf Center, and she watched several children sign sing and dance. There was also pantomime, film, clown shows and magical shows.

The Norwegian Deaf Association works to strengthen the position of the Norwegian sign language in all areas of society. They aim to have the deaf and hard-hearing fully participating in society. Princess Märtha Louise is the patron of the Norwegian Deaf Association.

Princess Märtha Louise is the only daughter and eldest child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is currently fourth in the line of succession, behind her brother and his children. She married Ari Behn in 2002, and the couple has three daughters together. They are currently in the process of divorcing.