Theatre and Performance
Mjólk er góð / Milk is good
A performance in the form of a lecture in English, devised with Jóhann Kristófer Stefánsson, in collaboration with Birna Rún Eiríksdóttir and Elísa Lind Finnbogadóttir.
Premiered at the annual LungA art festival in Seyðisfjörður in July 2015, the lecture presents the integral role of milk in Icelandic culture, from the pagan myth of the primordial cow Auðhumla, whose teats the first god suckled before he awakened to create the world, and to the present day - where Icelandic children learn their mother's tongue with the aid of the Icelandic Dairy Syndicate (MS in Icelandic), a state-supported corporation that monopolizes milk distribution in Iceland. Guests were invited to drink milk fresh off the mechanical cow (the "belja") and sing the Icelandic Dairy Anthem, an ode to the Icelandic tongue. Foreign guests were especially moved to witness the richness of Icelandic dairy and it's impact on national culture - milk being to Icelanders what wine is to the French, or Coke to the Americans.
Go-go dancing / Boogie Trouble
For three years, Haukur has performed with the Icelandic disco/funk ensemble Boogie Trouble, in the silent but deadly position of a solo go-go dancer. His onstage influence is drawn from the choreography of James Brown, episodes of Soul Train and the old John Travolta groovebook.
Grið / Sanctuary
A short tragicomedy set in a church where the main chieftains of the country sought refuge after losing the largest battle of Icelandic history in 1238. The fugitive lords were outnumbered, yet their enemies could not breach the doors without risking ex-communication from
the Catholic church. Eventually the chiefs were compelled to leave the church in order to go the toilet, since urinating inside will also lead to damnation. A close look at one of the key moments
of Icelandic history, where the highest lords are dragged to the lowest depths.
Finding Einar
Excerpts from the final project of a course on site-specific performance at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts, december 2014. "Finding Einar" was set in Hnitbjörg, the home of the early twentieth century sculptor Einar Jónsson, the first Icelander to study sculpture. His home is a neo-romantic castle and was Iceland's first art museum, designed by the artist and, like his work, gives testament to his beliefs in a deeper theosophical truth underlying all mythology and religion. The performance is based on his ouevre and writings. Professors: Sveinbjörg Þórhallsdóttir and Vala Ómarsdóttir. Authors: Haukur Valdimar Pálsson, Hekla Elísabet Aðalsteinsdóttir, Ingileif F. Wechner, Jóhann Kristófer Stefánsson, Madli Paves.
Loud Wig Fan
Solo dance performance at Reykjavík Dance Festival 2013: Loud Wig Fan by Haukur Valdimar Pálsson - narrating Beethoven's struggle with deafness with the language of disco.
Snjór í Sahara / Snow in Sahara
Solo storytelling performance, Icelandic Academy of the Arts 2013.
Guess who's coming to dinner
Devised group performance, Icelandic Academy of the Arts 2013.
Wedding Planning
Part of an ongoing performance with Kolfinna Nikulásdóttir that has resulted in their marriage and is s being documented.