This October, the dynamic Icelandic choir Viðlag is set to unveil its most ambitious project yet—a queer-centered musical titled ‘Við erum hér’ (‘Here for You’). The production, taking place on the wedding day of two grooms, promises to be a unique blend of humor, emotion, and celebration of queer identity. GayIceland’s Magdalena Lukasiak sat with two of Viðlag’s members, Inga Auðbjörg Straumland and Bjartmar Þórðarsson to discuss the musical.
GayIceland: Viðlag, the group you’re both part of, is behind this production. Can you tell us a bit about the choir?
Inga (Auðbjörg Straumland): “Viðlag is a choir that was founded in the fall of 2020, during COVID, by Axel Ingi Árnason, a composer and musician. He wanted to create a choir focused on show tunes, musicals, and pop songs. We still have a strong emphasis on being a performance group—more dynamic and outgoing than perhaps a traditional choir.
Our members include many people who work in music, acting, or are involved in show business in some capacity. Many are professionals who see this choir as a creative outlet and a hobby, something they enjoy in their free time. Over the years, our concerts have become increasingly theatrical.
Last year’s Christmas concert, which had a Disney theme, actually included a storyline. This time, we decided to take it even further by doing a full musical with a proper storyline, characters, and character development. However, this doesn’t mean we’ll only perform musicals from now on. ‘Við erum hér’ — or ‘Here for You’ — is probably our most ambitious production to date, but I imagine our next project will be quite different.”
GayIceland: What is the show ‘Við erum hér’ about?
Inga: “‘Við erum hér’ is a musical that takes place on the wedding day of Bjartmar and Arnar, played by Bjartmar Þórðarson and Arnar Haukson, who are determined to celebrate their union with their family and friends. We get to know the people closest to them—their chaotic wedding planner, their parents and friends, the waitstaff—and watch as the day progresses from wedding preparations to the ceremony and finally the reception. We take musical songs from other productions and rewrite the lyrics to suit our storyline, with carefully crafted Icelandic lyrics that often change the original context in humorous and emotional ways.”
‘Við erum hér’ — or ‘Here for You’ — is probably our most ambitious production to date.
GayIceland: Inga, you’re one of the writers of this musical. When I read about the show, a few classics immediately came to mind—works that delve into human relationships, underlying tensions, and conflicts arising when secrets are revealed. This reminds me of plays like ‘God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza, ‘Art’ by Yasmina Reza, ‘Perfect Strangers’ by Paolo Genovese, and ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ by Edward Albee. Were you inspired by any of these plays or films?
Inga: “While there might be familiar tropes, our musical is really close to home for us. Most people have been to weddings or have gotten married themselves, and many choir members know weddings from a professional perspective—as musicians or celebrants. We draw on these experiences to create interesting scenarios that bring our characters to life. Additionally, the musical is very queer-centric. A large part of the choir identifies within the queer umbrella, and queer themes have always been part of our productions. This time, we go even further, using this platform to tell stories that break heteronormative societal standards. We deal with topics like rejection and harmful stereotypes but also positive themes like belonging and chosen family.”
GayIceland: Bjartmar, as one of the main leads, what was it like to step into your character’s shoes again, a character you played in last year’s Christmas concert?
Bjartmar (Þórðarson): “It’s been great fun to return to a character from a different show and develop it further, adding more depth and layers. It’s not common to get the chance to revisit a character in a new context, so it feels like a luxury. There are a few other characters who pop up from the previous production as well, like my brilliant on-stage boyfriend Arnar and the fiercely competitive couple Daddi and Una.”
GayIceland: What are the main themes of the musical? What emotions or ideas do you hope the audience will connect with most?
Bjartmar: “As Inga mentioned, the script revolves around the experiences of queer people, but many of these themes will resonate with a broader audience. I think people will be moved by the character arcs and their challenges. Our shows have mostly been celebrations of joy and fun, and while this production certainly has those elements, there is also a serious undertone that is new for us. We’re dealing with some heavy stuff that, for some of us, is quite healing. I don’t think a same-sex romance has ever been the main focus of a theater production in Iceland. Queerness is so often reduced to a flamboyant side character, rather than forming the foundation of the story. So, it’s about time!”
GayIceland: What has it been like to put together a show with 30 actors and singers on stage?
Inga: “It’s a big undertaking. Unlike most musicals, where you have a lot of group numbers and solo songs, every song in ‘Við erum hér’ has a choir arrangement. The choir is integral to the performance, with complex arrangements that take the songs beyond a lead with simple backing vocals. This makes the production challenging, but now it’s all coming together. We started writing lyrics last December and began rehearsing in January. Recently, we’ve been working with a choreographer who has us running around with toilet seats and brushes, so the audience is in for quite a different experience!”
GayIceland: Is the musical mainly aimed at musical fans, or do you think it has broader appeal?
Bjartmar: “Musical fans will certainly enjoy hearing familiar songs in a totally different context, and some elements might even feel like inside jokes, with songs from classics like ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Evita’ taking on new meanings in a wedding setting. But you don’t need to know the original music to enjoy the show—it’s just one of many layers.”
I don’t think a same-sex romance has ever been the main focus of a theater production in Iceland. Queerness is so often reduced to a flamboyant side character, rather than forming the foundation of the story. So, it’s about time!
I don’t think a same-sex romance has ever been the main focus of a theater production in Iceland. Queerness is so often reduced to a flamboyant side character, rather than forming the foundation of the story. So, it’s about time!
GayIceland: What’s next for Viðlag? Are there any future performances, tours, or adaptations you’re considering?
Inga: “The idea for ‘Við erum hér’ actually came from the after-party of our Christmas show. We had characters like Bjartmar and Arnar in that show, and someone joked, ‘What if our next production is their wedding?’ The rest is history. The choir is quite democratic—any member can pitch an idea. We have some ideas for next year, maybe a big band concert with the classics, and the choir itself wants to go to London, the heart of musical innovation. But for now, we’re focusing on this production.”
GayIceland: Where and when can we see ‘Við erum hér’? And is there an English translation for the title?
Inga: “‘Við erum hér’ will premiere on October 15th at Tjarnarbíó. Since the whole cast is doing this voluntarily, there will only be a few performances, so I urge people to secure their tickets as soon as possible! For any musical fan, any queer person, or just anyone curious to see dancing toilet seats, this is a must-see!”
More info here.
Main photo / Sunday & White Studio