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DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 20 ISSUE 14 20 October - 16 November 2017

NEWS Danish capital one of the world’s best away breaks

NEWS

A fractured defence Undamaged skull refutes Madsen’s claims it was an accident

WAY OF THE PEOPLE Copenhagen to host 2021 WorldPride

COMMUNITY Gordon Becket! The Archbishop of Canterbury was here!

INTERVIEW

Every move you make It takes stealth and cunning to be an autograph hunter

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Danish capital also bidding to organise EuroGames in same year. Final decision is due in March 2018

OPENHAGEN will host WorldPride 2021, it was announced on October 8 following a vote at the AGM of InterPride involving over 200 delegates. It won two-thirds of the vote, seeing off the challenge of US city Fort Lauderdale. The biennial event is the world’s largest LGBT festival and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. New York is set to host the event in 2019, and previous hosting cities include Madrid (2017), London, Rome, Toronto and Jerusalem. Ecstatic to win “WorldPride 2021 will put

human rights, diversity and inclusivity front and centre to promote equality around the world,” said Lars Christian Østergreen, the managing director at Happy Copenhagen. Copenhagen is also bidding to host the EuroGames in 2021, with plans to combine it with WorldPride into one megaevent, ‘Copenhagen 2021’, which will include a human rights conference. Malmö on board THE BID had the full support of the Danish government as well as the city of Malmö, which is expected to play a part in cohosting. In April it was reported that Malmö had contributed 800,000 kroner to the bid, but that the Swedish city’s exact role in the event would only be il-

luminated if Copenhagen was chosen to host. “Denmark has been at the forefront of LGBT equality for decades, and by hosting this event we will once again throw our full weight behind the important notion that LGBT rights are human rights,” said Karen Ellemann, the equality minister. Big anniversary THE EUROPEAN Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation will decide on the host city of EuroGames 2021 in March 2018. Copenhagen last held the event in 2003. Copenhagen has not hosted a major LGBT event since the 2009 World Outgames. 2021 will also mark the 25th anniversary of Copenhagen Pride. (BH)

4 All comes down to Ireland THE CAPITAL’S Irish pubs are bracing themselves as Denmark has drawn the Emerald Isle in the 2018 World Cup playoffs, with the first leg at Parken on November 11 and the second in Dublin three days later. In their final two group games, Denmark won 1-0 in Montenegro before drawing 1-1 against Romania at home, finishing five points adrift of group winner Poland.

Catering to expats ØSTERBRO Bibliotek has become the first public library in Denmark where visitors can read and borrow publications for children in English, French, German and Spanish. Publications include Storytime, Discovery Box, Gecko, Astrapi and Histories Pour les Petits. Kultur Østerbro said the move was in response to the continuing influx of expats in the capital.

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NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK CITY HALL intends to ban new diesel cars from the city centre from 2019. Some 68,191 of the capital’s 168,039 private vehicles are diesel-powered. They produce 120 percent more NOx than petrol cars but 5 percent less CO2. Around 20 Copenhageners die prematurely every year as a result of breathing in emissions from traffic.

Threat to conker trees RED BYENS Træer (save the city’s trees) has started an online petition to save the horse-chestnut trees around the Lakes, which it alleges are being poisoned every time salt is laid down on the roads. The group alleges the municipality would rather save 70,000 kroner a year than use potassium formate instead of salt to save the conker trees.

Severe power outage

Tackling bike problem

State of Kim Wall’s severed head not consistent with claims she was hit by falling hatch cover

Does not add up MADSEN, who is accused of killing Wall and mutilating her corpse, told police he buried her in-tact body at sea and could therefore not explain how her torso had become severed from

TIVOLI has changed the name of a new ride, ’Det hjemsøgte børnehjem’ (the haunted orphanage), after complaints it was tasteless to make a ride referencing the abuse of children. Now called ‘Det Hjemsøgte’, all references to children have been removed. Tivoli’s Halloween season began on October 13.

Rhino central Madsen has quickly become this nation’s most vilified person

the rest of her body. Wall was last seen alive boarding Madsen’s submarine on August 10, and her torso was discovered in August 21, just 1 km away from the site where her head, legs and clothes were found. DNA checks MEANWHILE, Madsen’s DNA will be compared to samples from unsolved murder cases in

Sweden involving dismembered female bodies. The Swedish police said it was standard procedure to check, particularly given that Madsen has visited Scania on occasion. From November 1, Denmark and Sweden will connect their DNA databases, thus making it possible to search in both registries and compare DNA. (CPH POST)

In the top 2 percent worldwide Capital ranked 16th best city to spend a weekend in BEN HAMILTON

THE BELGIAN tourist bus that went missing in Vesterbro in August has been found near Helsingør. A 60-year-old Serbian national has been charged with theft. Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark

Bus finally found

Tivoli’s taste questioned

WEDISH journalist Kim Wall’s head and legs were found together in a bag weighted down by metal in waters near Copenhagen on October 6. Another bag nearby contained her missing clothes. And then a week later, the saw used to cut her body into six pieces turned up. According to Copenhagen Police, there are no signs of any skull fractures consistent with the story offered by Peter Madsen, 46, that the 70 kg hatch on his submarine fell on her head and caused her death.

OPENHAGEN is the 16th best city to spend the weekend in, according to an analysis by weekenGO that took into account the qualities of 1,000 destinations worldwide. It ranked 18th for millennials, 32nd for families and 39th for baby boomers. Copenhagen fared well for security, ranking eighth, and also ranked in the top 30 for women’s rights and safety (16), LGBT friendliness (18), museums and galleries (24), bars (27), music venues (27) and concerts (28). The top Nordic destination

COPENHAGEN Municipality now uses an algorithm that predicts the most likely location for bicycles to be abandoned. In 2016, 11,050 bikes were dumped at Metro and train stations and in residential areas.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

MSTYSLAV CHERNOV

A POWER outage affected a large part of Copenhagen on October 4, impacting businesses, S-train travel and traffic lights. According to Dong Energy, large parts of Nørrebro and Østerbro lost power for most of the morning

Madsen’s defence fractured by discovery RML SPACELAB

Diesel ban in 2019

20 October - 16 November 2017

was Stockholm (15), with Oslo (25), Helsinki (26), Gothenburg (69) and Reykjavik (95) all making the top 100. London number one LONDON was the most popular destination. Germany accounted for three of the top ten: Berlin (2), Hamburg (4) and Munich (8); and Spain grabbed two spots: Barcelona (9) and Madrid (10). Vienna (3), Paris (5), New York (7) and Amsterdam (6) also made the top 10. The top destination for millennials was Berlin, with Vienna the best for families and Zurich number one for baby boomers. Good for renting IN RELATED news, the Dan-

Capital ranked highly

ish capital is good value when it comes to renting property, ranking the 14th cheapest per square metre according to an analysis of 30 prominent cities by US-based apartment search website RENTCafé. For a cost of 1,500 US dollars a month, renters can expect to lease an average 66 sqm of space.

JUST WEEKS after the birth of a white rhino calf at Givskud Zoo, the first in Denmark since 2006, Copenhagen Zoo is expecting two more of the rare calves – one imminently and one sometime in the new year.

Free party venue #2 ANNA MEE Allerslev is facing questions over her usage of an Amager property to host her 30th birthday free of charge in August 2014. It is claimed it might have been part of a gift from a municipal contractor. The scrutiny follows the deputy mayor’s free usage of City Hall to hold her wedding reception in August.

Hitchhiking is back! THERE are now three designated spots for hitchhiking in Copenhagen: one at Fisketorvet and two near the motorway at Folehaven. A group called Blaffernation has placed sculptures at the spots, which will be replaced by official signs on November 1 that will stand for two years.

Queues expected PASSENGERS flying out of the Schengen Area are advised to arrive early as new protocol requires every passport to be scanned. Previously they were just checked.

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20 October - 16 November 2017

Popularity of All Saints’ Day underlines how God is now a sideshow in church

EMMA HOLLAR

OLKEKIRKEN, the Danish people’s church, is busy getting ready for its busiest weekend of the year. And no, we’re not talking about Christmas! And before you ask, it has nothing to do with ‘Herrens Veje’ (the way of the lord), the new DR1 drama series about a family of priests starring Lars Mikkelsen, although this is undoubtedly drawing attention to the challenge Folkekirken faces to remain relevant in this modern age. The word ‘church’ is deeply rooted in Christianity. It is derived from the Greek word ‘kyriake’ – the house of the lord – and historically it has been a place of great reverence, univocal in its purpose. In secular Denmark, however, the term ‘church’ is taking on a different meaning. No longer a house of the lord, it is fast becoming a house of the people, as Danes shape the location into a more convivial surroundings – in short, it’s become hygge.

Attendances dying NEVERTHELESS, as of 1 January 2017, some 75.9 percent of Danes were members of Folkekirken, which means they continue to pay an average 0.93 percent of their

income to the body. And even though numbers have slipped from 82.6 percent in 2007 – since 2016 leaving can be easily accomplished online, while various atheist campaigns have played their part – the future of the church seems assured financially. But as a place of worship, attendances have never been lower, with only 10 percent regularly attending church. Membership still strong ACCORDING to Hans Raun Iversen, an associate professor of systematic theology at Copenhagen University, many choose to be a member of the church because it is comfortable. While their attendance at regular services might have declined, Danes turn out in large numbers to attend traditional ceremonies, such as funerals, baptisms, confirmations or weddings. As a result, 75 percent visit a church at least once a year. “We continue being members as we are most at ease with that,” Iversen told CPH POST. “We are weak believers and we belong to the church without believing much in that belonging.” With membership of the church comes the right to hold the aforementioned ceremonies free of charge. An increasing number of Danes are discovering that death can come at a high price if their deceased relative was not a member. Church is an extra ATTENDING church, Iversen further contends, is an “extra” and not really a requirement for being Christian – particularly among those who live their lives according to Christian values and regard the whole world

To the relief of many, the Danish church took the decision to merge All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

as the domain of God. “Regular church attendance is not necessary for all. For those doing God’s work in the world, church may act as a filling station for occasional visits,” said Iversen. “Thus, the Danes never attend church more than is necessary for practical or social reasons.” Church’s changing face FACED with low attendances, churches are finding new ways to engage with the public spiritually – particularly in this new digital age in which people can’t bear to be apart from their smartphones. Since January 2017, Folkekirken has been offering spiritual support online. This includes free, anonymous pastoral

care for church members – a complete rethinking and revitalisation of the concept of pastoral care. Church buildings, meanwhile, are filling up thanks to events conducive to their quiet nature, such as classical music recitals. New churches – which are still occasionally being built! – are designed to fit in with modern sensibilities. A new one scheduled to open in 2019 by Teglholmen in Copenhagen Harbour has been designed with recreational activities as well as religious ones in mind.

People in charge AFTER two millennia of subservience to the Christian church, the Danish people, it would appear, are calling the shots. “Nothing in the church is done anymore without being molded by special Danish context and tradition,” said Iversen. “Whereas others are celebrating Luther’s 500-year anniversary this year, we are celebrating ourselves. It is our jubilee, not Luther’s.”

FOLKEKIRKEN

Danish Day of the Dead AS IF THE abundance of candles weren’t enough to entice Danes through the door, churches are adapting their services to modern needs, and this is reflected in attendance numbers. In recent years, the most popular service hasn’t been Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday, but rather All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday of November. Danish people, following a similar tradition to Mexico’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), use the service to remember the passing of their loved ones. On November 5, therefore, twice as many people are expected to attend church than on a normal Sunday.

FOLKEKIRKEN

Are we struggling to find the way of the lord, or are we more comfortable following the way of the people?

CHURCH NUMBERS • According to 2010 figures, 10 percent of Danes go to church at least once a month • In total, 31 percent of Danes attend a service at least once a year • Some 25,000 Danes ceased to be a member of the church in 2016 – of which 35 percent were aged 18-28 • More women than men tend to be members of Folkekirken. In Copenhagen 177,498 women were members on 1 January 2017, compared to 150,840 men

NEWS

20 October - 16 November 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Legionnaires on the march

Told you it was a toadstool

SOME 136 people contracted the sometime fatal disease Legionnaires’ disease in the first nine months of 2017, compared to 98 in 2010 and 75 in 2000. The bacterium is found in fresh water containers such as hot water tanks, hot tubs and the cooling towers of large air conditioners. The risk is twice that of Sweden, three times that of Germany and five times that of the UK.

SOME 10-25 people a year are admitted to hospital in Denmark with liver damage caused by eating poisonous fungi that can potentially be fatal – a growing trend, according to experts. Amanita phalloides (the death cap), which resembles an edible mushroom found in Southeast Asia, tends to kills the most people, with Thais the most susceptible.

4,000-year-old discovery

Osteoporosis breakthrough

THE OUTLINE of a 4,000-year-old farmhouse has been discovered in Vinge, a new town being built in north Zealand. The house is 45.5 metres long and 7.2 metres wide. In related news, a farmer in northern Jutland has discovered a large hole in a burial mound on his land at Klokkerholm through which it is suspected grave robbers stole Bronze Age artefacts made of precious metal.

RESEARCHERS at Aarhus University think they have found a better treatment for the bone disease osteoporosis than oestrogen, which can increase the risk of cancer. The fermented red clover extract works in a similar fashion to the hormone, but without the side-effects. Osteoporosis is particularly common among post-menopause women.

Dentists too dear – study A STUDY by the competition and consumer organisation, Konkurrenceog Forbrugerstyrelsen, concludes that dentists are too expensive, and it would like to see maximum prices and rebates introduced instead of the present fixed tariffs. However, the association of dentists, Tandlægeforeningen, warns it would lead to a deterioration in the quality of treatment.

Fewer antibiotics dosed out A DANMAP report reveals that 17 percent fewer patients were prescribed antibiotics in 2016 than in 2007, while dosages to animals also fell – for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, DTU researchers have discovered two new ways that can more precisely predict the spreading of infection in farm animal populations, which can also be applied to infectious diseases affecting humans.

KU building in disarray INADEQUATE ventilation and plumbing systems in the new Niels Bohr Building at the University of Copenhagen will cost 1 billion kroner to sort out. Inabensa, the Spanish firm responsible, has been given its notice. In related news, KU has opened its new Copenhagen Plant Science Centre in Frederiksberg. Seen from the air, it resembles a giant plant cell.

Ice sheet meltdown speeding up THE MELTING of the ice sheet in Greenland is speeding up. Measurements taken from the Young Sound fjord in northeastern Greenland reveal that the total amount of fresh water in the fjord has risen from around one metre in 2003 to four metres in 2015.

www.cis.dk

Taking on the tyre IN A BID to eliminate microplasitcs from our drinking water, the Environment and Food Ministry will support a project to discover and remove tiny microplastic particles left by car tyres in rainwater. It is estimated that rubber worn off tyres accounts for over 60 percent of microplastics in the water environment.

Footprint on our doorsteps AN EU-WIDE study puts households in Denmark fifth from bottom when it comes to their carbon footprint. While the country as a whole is doing well, the study claims Danes are eating too much meat and ready meals such as frozen pizza, as well as throwing away too much furniture.

Stunning coffee discovery MORE THAN 500 unidentified coffee plants and 19 unique specimens were recently found at the Natural History Museum of Denmark’s herbarium by international experts invited to a workshop to examine its collection. The herbarium has 2.9 million plants in total.

Health deal inked with Japan JAPAN and Denmark have signed a deal covering increased co-operation in the health sphere that will involve more expertise and experience being exchanged.

Rare albatross sighting A BLACK-BROWED albatross has been seen in north Zealand – the first visit of the species since 2015 and one of only a handful of sightings this century.

We teach the love of learning As a parent you don’t just want a school with strong academics. You want an international school with strong academics that makes your child happy. A place that offers exciting After School Activities in addition to the renowned IB curriculum. A school where children from all over the world fit in, feel welcome and find new best friends. CIS is such a school. We are one of the original IB Diploma Schools and today we offer the Primary Years Program, the Middle Years Program and the Diploma Program, which gives access to outstanding universities worldwide. For more information please visit cis.dk

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Russians rebuke “unfriendly rhetoric”

ONLINE THIS WEEK A REPORT issued by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child points out that Denmark still has some way to go when it comes to safeguarding children’s rights, regarding both corporal punishment (which is used on a quarter of all children) and abuse, for which the UN would like to see a comprehensive strategy formulated.

FORSVARET

Protecting kids’ rights

20 October - 16 November 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK Viral videos aplenty A VIDEO of a teacher cutting off chickens’ heads in front of school children sparked outrage; as did a Red Barnet video drawing attention to bizarre wedding traditions, which finished with images of young sullen brides crouching next to older grooms. And the anger continued to pour as Danes reacted angrily to receiving an overnight text appeal from the Danish Red Cross.

Border controls continue

More teachers attacked

DENMARK’S border controls have been extended by six months until May 12. Despite initially opposing them, the EU Commission agreed they could remain in light of the terror threat. Meanwhile, Simone Lange, the mayor of German border town Flensburg, is dismayed soldiers are manning the borders – the wrong image for the outside world to see, she contends.

SOME 19.3 percent of teachers were the subject of violence at the workplace in 2016. In related news, the crime rate amongst 16 to 20-year-olds living in vulnerable neighbourhoods fell by over a quarter between 2000 and 2015. The female rate only fell by 11 percent, as girls accounted for 17 percent of the crimes in the age group.

State takes housing action THE GOVERNMENT has been busy in the housing sphere. First it has set out plans for a tax incentive for those renting out their properties through Airbnb, which it hopes will ensure more transparency. And it has also set out an action plan including 15 initiatives to reduce homelessness as the number of people without a home continues to rise – particularly among youths.

Prisons getting tougher THE USE of handcuffs and other physical restraints rose by 23 and 27 percent respectively in Danish prisons in 2016 – a rise blamed on increasing violent tendencies among inmates. In other crime news, a 19-year-old Greenlandic fisherman has been sentenced to 19 years by a court in Rejkjavik for the murder of a 20-year-old Icelandic girl on January 14.

Distracted driver danger EARLIER this month, the police launched a campaign targeting distracted motorists – particularly those using their mobile phones – as they are responsible for a third of all fatal accidents. In related news, officers in Mid and west Jutland are using a special telescope that can spot errant motorists at long range.

Defence disturbance: but will Russia calm down once the dust settles?

New Danish defence strategy ruffles feathers in Moscow

HE RUSSIAN foreign ministry has urged Danish politicians to drop their “unfriendly rhetoric” following the announcement of a new defence package in which Russia appears to be a major factor in determining future strategy. “We have to say that once again we are hearing unconstructive and unfriendly rhetoric from Danish public servants about an alleged Russian threat. As we see it, this has already unfortunately become a tradition and a habit – a bad habit,” said ministry spokesperson Maria Sakharova. “It is perfectly obvious that this course of action is aimed at justifying an increase in the [Danish] kingdom’s military budget.”

change tack from the defence policy of the last couple of decades” in light of recent world developments. Missile systems will be installed on Danish warships to protect Danish airspace against hostile aircraft. Additionally, equipment will be installed to detect and prevent attacks from submarines. The government also intends to establish a brigade of 4,000 soldiers that can be deployed and assist other NATO countries in the event of attack. It is believed that Socialdemokratiet is broadly in favour, which should ensure a crossparty majority.

Taliban and IS. The soldiers will be deployed to Kabul and will boost ongoing efforts to train Afghan security forces as part of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission. Currently, there are about 100 Danish soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission.

Changing tack THE DEFENCE minister, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, explained it was important “to

More troops to Kabul MEANWHILE, the government has decided to step up Denmark’s position in Afghanistan by sending another 55 soldiers at the beginning of 2018 – primarily in response to the growing strength of the

North Korean talks IN OTHER military news, the North Korean ambassador to Denmark, Kang Yong Dok, has visited the Foreign Ministry to discuss recent nuclear tests in North Korea. Denmark underlined that North Korea’s controversial testing is a serious threat to regional and global peace, and the Danes urged the North Koreans to abandon their nuclear and ballistic missile activities. It was also made clear that the Danish government actively supports the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea. (CPH POST).

Malign or malignant

All Swahili to me!

Delays, deadlock, deer

MACEDONIAN national Naum Conevski, 68, who was sentenced to life in 1983 for the murder of two boys in Amager and is Denmark’s longest serving prisoner, has failed with his bid for parole. In contrast, Pakistani national Shuaib Khan, the head of Loyal to Familia, has been given a suspended sentence for threatening a police officer. Should he reoffend in the next two years, he could be deported.

A SWAHILI interpreter was hired by three bureaus despite not being able to speak the language. He told Information he could “say ‘hello’ and ‘good morning’ and order a cold beer”. The finding is one of many instances of incompetence uncovered in the health service, which spent 122 million kroner on interpreters in 2015. In one case, a ‘positive’ HIV test was translated as ‘positive’ news.

SOME 80,000 out of a total 547,000 train passengers endured delays (waiting over three minutes) on a daily basis across Denmark in 2016, according to consumer group Forbrugerrådet Tænk. In other travel news, it will be busy on the roads this weekend as thousands return from winter half-term breaks – looking out for deer hopefully, as 290 were hit over the first nine days of October.

Good for gender equality DENMARK has ranked second in the latest Gender Equality Index for EU countries, trailing only Sweden, with whom it has dominated the rankings since 2005. Denmark was top for ‘Knowledge’, second for ‘Work’, third for ‘Time’, fourth for ‘Power’, fifth for ‘Money’ and tenth for ‘Health’. Finland, the Netherlands and France completed the top five. Greece finished rock bottom.

Dramatic opening PM LARS Løkke Rasmussen was interrupted for about 30 seconds by a female demonstrator tossing pamphlets from the balcony during his opening speech at Parliament on October 3. And then moments later, the head of Greenland’s government, Kim Kielsen, was rushed to hospital after falling ill. It is believed he suffered a pinched nerve.

Fishing taxes likely THE FISHING industry is resigned to the idea that quotas could soon be taxed. Profits have more than doubled in recent years – up from 379 to 789 million kroner between 2012 and 2015 – and many believe fish should be treated like any other natural resource, such as oil and gas. The fishermen trade organisation says it is open to a tax on profits.

NEWS

20 October - 16 November 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK Like he was 7 years old LUKAS Forchhammer, the lead singer of Lukas Graham, last week told DR radio station P1 about his “bitter” disappointment at missing out on a Grammy earlier this year. Nominated for three gongs for his song ‘7 Years’, Forchhammer had to applaud as Adele and Twenty One Pilots won instead. “My ego prevented me from enjoying the moment,” he said.

Holy history! THE OLDEST surviving Danish history book, ‘Ælnoths Krønike’, is on display at the Møntergården museum in Odense. The 800 year-plus manuscript, on loan from a library in Belgium, is an account of the reign of King Knud the Holy (1080-1086) penned by the English monk Ælnoth. Worth an estimated 3 million kroner, an academic compared it to a Mercedes.

Gaga names new date

Watch this quartet of stars blossom into world sporting superstars BEN HAMILTON

S THE OLD joke goes, Caroline Wozniacki and Kevin Magnusson should have their own pages in the newspaper. Ubiquitous across the media spectrum, their short nicknames say it all – only ‘Lord’ Bendtner comes close to matching their clout. Neither can call themselves world-beaters. Woz is yet to win a grand slam event, Mags a F1 GP. But as long as they continue to compete on two of the world’s most lucrative circuits, the media interest will never tire. That’s not to say there aren’t any pretenders to the crown, though. CPH POST has unearthed four stars in the ascendancy who one day might grab their spotlight.

en, who has been a blue since he was 15, has already made five starts this season. The 21-year-old was recently cited in a BBC case study as proof young players can make it into a top team’s first eleven. But who knows what would happen if Chelsea changed its manager for the seventh time since his arrival. Nikolaj’s many noughts SEEMINGLY more secure, and also 21, is Nikolaj Ehlers, who has just signed a new seven-year contract worth 265 million kroner with the Winnipeg Jets – the most lucrative ever deal signed by a Danish ice hockey player. Last season, he scored 25 goals and 39 assists, ranking him third at the club and 30th equal in the NHL. In total he has scored 40 goals and 62 assists in 154 matches.

Andreas ascending THERE are few bigger clubs than Chelsea, the current English Premier League champions, and defender Andreas Christens-

To Viktor the spoils BADMINTON might not be the most glamorous of sports, but its appeal is strong in India and China, two countries with rapidly growing middle classes, and Viktor Axelsen, the new

Drawing by farting

Björk’s claims rejected

men’s singles world number one at just 23 years old, is poised to capitalise. Recently he became the first Danish world champion in men’s singles since Peter Rasmussen in 1997, and then he followed the momentum with victory in the Japan Open to move to the top of the rankings. Our lass Nadia LAST BUT not least is the eldest of the quartet, Nadia Nadim, who this time last year was enjoying success at US side Portland Thorns but was hardly a household name. Since then the 29-year-old has landed a Nike sponsorship deal, won worldwide acclaim for her performances at Euro 2017 and agreed a move to English Super League champs Manchester City, which she will join this January. The stylish forward, who is training to be a surgeon, speaks nine languages fluently: Danish, English, German, Persian, Dari, Urdu, Hindi, Arabic and French. And now her biggest challenge lies ahead: Mancunian.

You’re having a lark!

New pastures for guru ONE OF Denmark’s most successful drama series producers, Piv Bernth, is leaving her role as head of DR drama in November to launch a new production company. The producer of ‘Nikolaj and Julie’ (2002), ‘Forbrydelsen’ (2007) and ‘Arvingerne’ (2014) was included on Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 25 most powerful women in the television industry in 2013.

Another Mermaid Bowl THE COPENHAGEN Towers claimed their third Mermaid Bowl in five years with a 20-7 defeat of the Søllerød Gold Diggers on October 8. The Towers have now won seven Mermaid Bowls, and this was their ninth final appearance.

It’s the art in fart

Nothing can explain that dress

Lærke’s working it

VISITORS to Denmark laugh at signs warning motorists of a ‘fartkontrol’ (speed control) zone, but maybe they should put some up in the National Gallery of Denmark and the Black Diamond library, reports Politiken. While flatulism as an artform died out at the start of the 20th century, our propensity to breaking wind is still making an impression on the world of art. Art lovers’ hydrogen sulphide emissions – containing sulphur, the ingredient that makes a fart stink – have darkened lead-white pigment on over 600 graphic works held by the establishments, altering them forever. (BH)

ICELANDIC singer Björk, 51, has taken to Facebook to claim she was sexually harassed by a Danish director, and it is believed she is referring to Lars von Trier as he is the only Danish director she has worked with – on ‘Dancer in the Dark’ in 2000. Such behaviour is “taken for granted” in the industry, she wrote. Von Trier’s producer, Peter Aalbæk Jensen from Zentropa, told Jyllands-Posten he remembered it differently. “That woman was stronger than both Lars von Trier and me and our company put together,” he said. “If anything we were the victims … so I’m a little gobsmacked.” (BH)

STARDOM beckons for a 42-year-old Danish actress thanks to a breakout role in one of the most talked about series on TV right now, but she has had to change her name because it was considered too Danish for Anglophone audiences. In the credits for BBC1 series ‘Rellik’, which is also available on HBO Nordic, Lærke Winther is billed as Lark Winther. She plays the wife of the main character, a policeman chasing a serial killer around London in a drama written by the acclaimed Williams brothers. As the name of the show suggests (‘Killer’ spelt backwards), the story is told in reverse. (BH)

READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK A damn fine brew THE NEW York division of Mikkeller has produced three special Twin Peaks beers in collaboration with the show’s co-creator David Lynch. ‘Log Lady Lager’, ‘Red Room Ale’ and ‘Damn Good Coffee Stout’ were launched last weekend at Lynch’s Festival of Disruption in LA. The packaging bears iconic illustrations from the series.

Quality Danish breeding AN ARTICLE in the Daily Telegraph reveals how Tottenham Hotspur’s in-form wing back Ben Davies spent a formative three years in Viborg between the ages of 8 and 11. “It was a lot more technical and organised at that age,” the Welsh international recalled. “And the quality was better.”

Under-21s on course FOLLOWING a 5-2 defeat of Georgia in Aalborg and a 5-0 dismantling of Finland in Helsinki, the under-21 team have taken maximum points from their first four games of their Euro 2019 group. Next up is a trip to their main rival Poland in November.

Simpsons gets incestuous RELLIK

CRISTIANO DEL RICCIO

BAKLOL.COM

LADY GAGA’S postponed October 21 concert will now be played at the Royal Arena on February 17. In related news, US rapper Kendrick Lamar will play Royal Arena on March 1 and Shania Twain is hitting the same venue on October 14. DR Koncerthuset is meanwhile welcoming PartyNextDoor on February 26 and Arrested Development on October 27 this year.

Woz and Mags need to make room

THE ‘SIMPSONS’ episode featuring ‘Game of Thrones’ star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau aired on October 1. The actor played Markery, a hitherto-unknown twin brother of Marge’s, who may have shared an incestuous relationship with the show’s matriarch.

Making hay AARHUS 2017 is hosting an international children’s literature festival next week. The Hay Festival (Oct 26-29) will welcome 39 European children’s writers from 23 different countries.

Record audience SOME 1.271 million viewers tuned in to watch Denmark’s 1-1 draw against Romania on Kanal 5 on October 8 – a record audience for Discovery Networks Denmark.

Record freedive STIG PRYDS has set a new world record for freediving in open water of 180 metres, beating the old record by three metres.

BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Foreign workers crucial to future PIXABAY

Lego the dream employer

20 October - 16 November 2017

LEGO IS the most preferred employer of graduates, according to a survey of 15,000 students by employer branding experts Universum. The students stressed that their top three priorities were a good work/life balance (50 percent), dedication to a cause (44) and being challenged (42). Maersk, Novo Nordisk, McKinsey and Deloitte completed the top five.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Busy fortnight abroad IN A BUSY fortnight for overseas expansion, Royal Unibrew has acquired Italian drinks manufacturer Terme Di Crodo from Gruppo Campari for 600 million kroner; lingerie chain Change of Scandinavia is investing 200 million kroner abroad; freight company Damco has opened an office in Cambodia; and Jysk is opening a store in Dubai’s Cityland Mall.

Old not to blame!

Bank’s woes continue

A DANSK Industri analysis concludes that declining productivity cannot be blamed on the increasing number of elderly employees. Experts from the economic councils, De Økonomiske Råd, had previously said the older employees could drag productivity down, but DI’s analysis shows they are just as productive and also bring knowledge and experience to the workplace.

A FRENCH court has charged Danske Bank in connection with money laundering via the bank’s Estonian operations from 2008-2011. In addition to similar claims concerning the Azeri regime and a Russian arms dealer, the bank is also accused of circumventing sanctions against Iran by handling transfers on behalf of companies set up by members of the country’s government.

Business needs design A SURVEY carried out by Danish Design Center and Dansk Industri concludes that many companies are uncertain about what they might get by employing a designer to rethink their business model and connect with customers. DDC has set up a ‘designer corps’ consisting of 15 of the country’s best designers to advise companies of the advantage of getting an outside perspective.

Dealing in unlisted shares CAPDEKS has just raised 8.4 million kroner in its quest to become the broker of choice for unlisted shares. The Danish startup runs an equity management system for several hundred private companies with a total market worth more than 6.3 billion kroner, providing an easy-to-use shareholding tool for both companies and investors.

Expanding fast R E S TA U R A N T chain Sticks’n’Sushi has confirmed a 6 percent increase in turnover this year – a rate 80 percent higher than five years ago. At present the chain has 11 restaurants in the Greater Copenhagen area, five around London and one in Berlin, with plans to further expand.

It comes with a catch though. They need to be the right kind of foreigners

Denmark, which needs to attract 70,000 professionals to safeguard future growth of 2.1 percent towards 2025, is keeping a close eye on Brexit

CCORDING to a report from the economic councils De Økonomiske Råd, attracting 70,000 foreign workers will be a critical endeavour for future growth of 2.1 percent from 2019 to 2025. However, the report suggests Denmark will face competition for the right kind of professionals and could end up having to make do with “refugees or [those] on family reunification [with] a significantly lower employment frequency”. Nevertheless, De Økonomiske Råd expects the structural labour force in Denmark to increase by almost 115,000 by 2025, thanks to rises in the early retirement and pension ages.

Brexit could offer a solution as there are thousands of EU citizens currently working in the UK who now face an uncertain future. “We can use a lot of the EU citizens currently working in the UK,” DI deputy head Steen Nielsen told Bloomberg. “It’s pretty unclear what’s going to happen – the Brits don’t yet know what rules they’ll apply to EU workers.” Nielsen expects competition from other European countries facing similar labour shortages.

asset management and FineTech. “Brexit could mean that a significant number of the companies and jobs at present in London will be looking towards new cities within the EU borders. And here I naturally see Copenhagen as an obvious candidate,” said Mikkelsen.

Brexit ideally timed? DANSK Industri believes that

Wooing London JUST LAST month, the finance minister, Brian Mikkelsen, visited London with representatives of the Danish capital to help promote Copenhagen as a financial centre. The trip was part of the project ‘Consider Copenhagen’, which aims to promote the capital as a highly-respected financial environment, particularly within

Asylum-seeker inroads DENMARK, though, is not putting all its eggs in one basket, and the ever-rising employment rate of asylum-seekers makes encouraging reading. A new employment-orientated integration scheme that aims to quickly find jobs for asylumseekers is being launched at Trampolinhuset on October 24. With the support of TrygFonden and Tuborgfondet, in collaboration with the consultancy LG Insight, ‘Next Practice’ promises to increase the job prospects of candidates and save participating municipalities time and money. (CPH POST)

Tobacco frowned upon

Top for data innovation

New owner of Saxo

PENSIONDANMARK and ATP are among the Danish pension firms under fire for investing in tobacco shares. Both companies are member of Global Compact, which recently delisted tobacco companies from participating in its initiative to achieve the UN development goals. ATP told Politiken it was inevitable that some of its 5 million members would disagree with its choices.

DENMARK is the EU’s top ranked country in the area of data innovation. It finished top for a number of parameters according to the Center for Data Innovation, including ‘Data Sharing in Health’, ‘Corruption’, ‘Technology’, ‘E-Government’, ‘Broadband in Business’ and ‘Education & Civil Society’. Completing the top five were Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

CHINESE automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the owner of Volvo, will soon have a 51.5 percent controlling stake in Danish company Saxo Bank, and Finnish company Sampo Oyj 19.9 percent. In other share trading news, Goldman Sachs has offloaded its remaining shares in DONG Energy. It bought a 19 percent chunk in 2014, making a reported profit of 12.4 billion kroner.

Dispensing with DONG THE ‘BIG dong’ joke headlines will soon be a thing of the past. In a bid to shed the fossil-fuelled skin of its past, DONG Energy is changing its name to Ørsted – a name adopted from the 19th century Danish scientist Hans Christian Ørsted. DONG stood for Danish Oil and Natural Gas, but the company recently sold off its oil and gas assets to focus on green energy.

Mac’s back in the centre MCDONALD’S is opening a large restaurant in Industriens Hus by Rådhuspladsen – its first outlet in the city centre since it closed its premises on Strøget last December. The new restaurant, which will open in early 2018 and need 100 new employees, will have a 260 sqm upstairs section and be open 24 hours a day.

Housing prices fall DESPITE more homes being sold this year, housing prices in Denmark fell by 0.2 percent in September – a downward trajectory experts are blaming on market saturation, which they expect to continue for the rest of the year. The only region that saw a housing price increase in September was in mid-Jutland, where prices rose by 0.2 percent.

BUSINESS OPINION

20 October - 16 November 2017

IVANKA RUSKOVA CPH CAREER Ivanka (Vanya) Ruskova is a senior business analyst with experience in IT, investment banking and the service industries. She currently works with graduates entering the job market in Denmark, offering extensive CV and application assistance, personal coaching and counselling. For more information and bookings visit: cphcareer.com

Meeting not an interview I ADVISE my clients to regard the interview as a meeting, since it is important to remember it is a two-way street – that you are also learning about the company and whether you want to be a part of it. First off, while it is important to look the part and dress accordingly, there’s no point turning up in a smart

THOMAS N HORSTED STARTUP COMMUNITY Thomas (@thomas_hors) is the former co-founder and COO of Startup Guide – The Entrepreneur’s Handbook. He now works as a startup scout for IKEA Bootcamp in collaboration with Rainmaking (ikeabootcamp.rainmaking.io). As an entrepreneur with an academic background in media studies and kaospilot, he understands the combination of praxis, reflection, creativity and theory needed to bring startup projects to life. NEXT ISSUE

Danish Capital in 2017

All of your Business

The market MANY STARTUPS die because there isn’t a real demand for their product. This is why you should never spend millions before you test the water. Please consider this early on

Thorough preparation COMPANIES will give you at least a week’s notice before an interview, and as a rule of thumb you should use all the time at your disposal – don’t leave it until the evening before! One of the most important skills to practise is talking about yourself and your work history. Remember to tell it in

This guy had the right suit but no sparkle

a concise manner, with respective summaries that speak with results, rather than just the bullet points. Examples of experience DON’T BE offended if the interviewer asks you a lot about what’s already on your CV. They’re probably trying to evaluate how genuine your experience is and how much is exaggeration.

Prepare additions for each of the positions listed on your CV that underline your strengths and suitability for the job in question. Too often, it is a lack of experience that will let you down – it’s your job to highlight the experience that is relevant. Tune in next time for more insights into how to make the right impression at the first interview. PIXABAY

IRST OF all, let me ask you this: do you really need funding to get your business going? Many companies actually don’t, and if you’re in that (lucky) situation, you should focus on building your business instead of pitching to investors! However, if your upfront costs are so high that it is unrealistic to fund it yourself, please listen up. To maximise the chances of your fundraising round being successful, you need to understand how investors think. Startups have very different risk profiles and opportunities for reward depending on a number of factors. Here are four key factors that investors look for.

suit looking sleepy. Ultimately, it’s your energy and personality the company will employ, so make sure you have a good night’s sleep beforehand (easier said than done, as many unemployed people suffer from anxiety and insomnia). I advise my clients, therefore, to exhaust themselves with some physical exercise the day before. Follow it with a hot bath, some tea and an easy-going movie or book that you might nod off to. Anything but medication, as it could have adverse effects on your presentation.

PIXABAY

OU ARE just coming out of an interview, very excited and maybe a bit exhausted. You feel it went well and are already visualising another interview and signing the contract. A week goes by (a normal waiting period), then two weeks, and then it becomes obvious you were not selected for round two. What happened? Well, besides cases in which the recruiter got the specs wrong in the job ad, our failure can normally be summed up for one reason: poor preparation.

and go and talk to actual people. Understand the customers’ pains and needs. Build the product together with them, and do multiple iterations. This is especially true for digital products. It is not enough that they like the product – they should be willing to pay for it. Investors want to be assured the business will grow

The quality WHILE there might be a market opportunity in terms of demand, you need to be able to deliver a quality product. Technical challenges could prevent you from taking advantage. Make sure it’s available at a cost at which you can make money whilst delivering value for the customer. Oh, and can you scale it?

didn’t stand a chance of executing them, and mediocre business ideas by teams who blew me away. Guess which one got the investment? Who you are has a huge impact on the perceived risk and upside in the mind of an investor. Figure out what you are good at and leave the rest to other talented people.

The team YOU AND your team could be the difference between getting funding or not. I have seen great business ideas presented by teams who

The traction THE FINAL factor that determines the perceived risk/reward of your business case is your traction – a fancy word for how far along you are in the process.

IN 2 ISSUES

Mind over Managing

IN 3 ISSUES

Many things can go wrong in that process, but usually traction can beat just about anything! This proves you can execute and operate in the potential market space, grow your number of users/customers and show proof of concept. In conclusion SO, ASK yourself again: do we really want their money? Could we achieve the same without it? Make sure you think it through and remember that when you take money from investors, huge accountability comes with it. Best of luck! IN 4 ISSUES

Living in an Expat World

Union Views

The Valley of Life

Give Yourself a Chance

10 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

20 October - 16 November 2017

Tantamount and trivial

PIXABAY

Putting the record straight FORMER PM Helle ThorningSchmidt has spent her time in London writing a book presenting her version of events from the time she formed a pink government with SF and the Radikale. It is undeniable she became Denmark’s first female PM, but she also had to give concessions to Radikale and its leader Margrethe Vestager. The latter is now sitting as a commissioner in Brussels where she is “enforcing, not legislating” – pursuing big corporations for tax evasion mostly. In her book, the ex-PM defends everything she did, but her liaison with SF, who took on governmental responsibility for the first time, led to the implosion of the party. It remains to be seen if the party is ready to go another round. Nobody wants a new general election and it is not mandatory for another two years unless the distribution of refugees in the country severely impacts the local political picture. No budget as yet IN PARLIAMENT we have wit-

Early Rejser

nessed a strange start to the season, with no budget yet forthcoming. Car registration tax reforms are in place, with some tax relief on bigger cars, and by extension tax relief for the top income tax bracket sneaked in through the back door, as the front door is hermetically closed. Defence policy-makers are heeding President Trump’s call for an increase in spending. A majority has agreed to support that. The installation of missiles on Danish frigates, a modern fully-equipped brigade of 4,000 personnel, and a lot of hardware and cyberware have been agreed upon. The real threat, however, is still somewhat blurry. Unfortunately, the money cannot be spent quickly, as it takes time to do the requisite shopping, so what should the state do with the cash at hand? More welfare or general tax relief? We shall see. The great unmasking ONE MEASURE that does not cost anything cash-wise is the prohibition of face veils – a measure of principle more than practice as the few Muslim women wearing them are exotic figures on the streets of Denmark. But legislation is one thing, enforcement another. And besides, it is already illegal to cover your face at a demonstration, so drug peddlers in Christiania with balaclavas are in jeopardy this winter. Austerity-wise, the race to the bottom has reached a new low. Leading politicians’ arguments for continuing down this path were interesting, but more interesting still were the voices pointing out that ‘enough is enough’. Nothing and nobody is above Folketinget; apparently, hardly anything is too trivial for it either. (ES)

Adam is a nanny, a multi-sports fanatic and a budding ultra runner. He was faster off the mark than his fellow Brits, quitting England for Denmark moments before they voted to stay out of Europe. When he isn’t caring for kids, screaming at a screen or tearing up his feet, he writes unsettling poetry and prose. ERIK CHRISTENSEN

ANISH MPs are back at work in Parliament after the long summer break, but the political situation has not really changed much. The polls indicate a red majority if there was a general election today, albeit a fragile one that would struggle to put together a coherent government program – unless Dansk Folkeparti leaves the blue bloc, of course. But apart from occasionally forming majorities with the biggest red party, Socialdemokratiet, to annoy the PM, it is unlikely it will leave its key position as a fundamentally blue party able to influence everything.

ADAM WELLS

Applications a waste of energy: who’s been dreaming of electric sheep again?

EFORE I moved to Denmark I knew a single Dane, and he was crazy. I use ‘single’ here in the numerical sense, but he was, as it happens, romantically unattached – a fact only interesting in how unsurprising it will soon appear. I use ‘crazy’ literally. Invisible after all ONE OF his saner habits was to rise at 5am every weekday and cycle over 40 kilometres from his Helsingør home to his Copenhagen office. I once asked him what those rides were like in winter and he enigmatically replied: “So dark you can’t see the hand that slaps you.” It wasn’t until the start of this month, a year and a half since I moved to Copenhagen and many more since this exchange, that I suddenly recalled it and fully understood for the first time. Halfway up Amager Strandvej, having risen before the sun so I could run to work, his words jumped out of the darkness to slap their sense into me. I was so used to his expressions being impenetrable that it wasn’t until I found myself in Copenhagen, athletically commuting in the chilly morning dark – the pale arms of a wind-farm spinning in my periphery while my face

was buffeted by harsh coastal gusts – that I realised the unseen hand was the wind. It comes naturally DENMARK’S celebrated status as a world leader in wind energy was one of the few things I knew about the place before I came. Yet somehow, it was only after moving here that I really understood that lots of wind power means lots of wind. As I bowed my head and ploughed forwards that morning, I recalled a string of recent events – being almost blown off my bike, having a book torn from my hands as I read in the park, watching a man in a tuxedo run the length of a road chasing a banknote – and thought: there’s only so much credit you can take for producing wind power here. It’s akin to being given lemons and making lemonade. True praise should be reserved for achievements made when the elements are against you. After a summer in which I could count the sunny days on one gloved hand, I would be willing to extend endless credit to Denmark should it establish itself as a world leader in solar energy. Somewhat flat-footed WIND POWER represented

71.8 percent of renewable electricity generated here last year, solar just 4.2 percent. While to me this seems an accurate reflection of the climate, analysts have argued this disparity is at least partly due to unfair subsidy schemes. A deal struck last month will put this to the test, with solar projects now able to compete on an equal footing with wind projects for government subsidies. But these changes may have come too late for some. The crazy Dane quit his job last summer in order to develop the planet’s most efficient solar panel. While boasting neither scientific nor engineering credentials, he felt his status as a Flat Earther qualified him for the job. By considering such factors as the actual size of the sun (a modest 32 miles in diameter) and the true, flat nature of its orbit (its apparent rising and setting is an optical illusion), he believed he could create a more efficient panel than those shaped by NASA’s endless lies. Sadly, his efforts have yet to yield results, and he cites a shortage of funds as the major obstacle. The last I heard he was considering reapplying for his old job. But perhaps the promise of a fair shot at subsidies will change his mind.

OPINION

20 October - 16 November 2017

NEXT ISSUE

VIVIENNE MCKEE

Crazier than Christmas Vivienne McKee, Denmark’s best-known English entertainer, is this country’s most beloved foreign import. Over the last 34 years, hundreds of thousands of Copenhageners have enjoyed her annual Crazy Christmas Cabaret show at Tivoli, marvelling at her unique, wry Anglo wit and charm.

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU

A Dane Abroad

MICHAEL VADON - FLCK

KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN IN 2 ISSUES

Mackindergarten ADRIAN MACKINDER

Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD Satirists are learning quickly that it’s hard to trump the real thing

UST WHEN you thought you’d had enough of Trump’s tweets!

Star bore repartee AND THERESA May’s Brexit, Kim Jong-un’s rockets, Chancellor Merkel’s popularity dive, climate change, lethal shootings, sexual harassment cases and the latest spate of science fiction movies – including ‘Star Wars’, which now appears at a rate of one a year, not including spin-offs! You thought you could relax and enjoy a saccharine-soaked, hyggelig Danish festive period, but then along comes this year’s Crazy Christmas Cabaret, ‘Planet Rump, The Farce Awakens, episode 35’, which includes all of these topics and many more. From teasing Mrs T … EPISODE 35 refers to the fact that this year is my 35th Crazy Christmas show. Episode 1 was performed in a studio theatre to an audience of 50 bewildered Danes who had to be taught to shout “BOO” at the baddies. In those days I revelled in making fun of Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev. In my Crazy version of Orwell’s ‘1984’, enti-

tled ‘Big Sis is Watching You’, Mrs T was the head of the Thought Police and having a political love affair with Mikael Gorbachev (remember him? Birthmark on the head, Perestroika etc). “Gorbie”, she articulated. “How can we have peace and harmony between our countries with two such different social systems?” “It is simple Maggie,” he replied, drawing her attention to how there was a cage at Moscow Zoo containing a lamb and a wolf. “You see, there are two social systems living in peace and harmony,” he said, before adding: “It is simple – we put in a new lamb every morning.” ... to kneeing Donald T BACK IN the 1980s, when I put pen to paper to write that Crazy Christmas show, my portrayal of Thatcher as the Iron Lady was reviewed as cutting edge satire, but today when I put fingers to keyboard to write this year’s show, I find myself overwhelmed with targets for my satirical arrows, and that’s only when I’m aiming at Trump’s hair! From Aristophanes onwards, satire has always existed in the

comedy toolbox, but today it is an essential for every comedy writer. It is our only way of dealing with the madness that unfolds on a daily basis from our so-called leaders. More than ever, we need to laugh at the follies that are thrust on us by the powerful or else we will cry or, worse, shrug our shoulders in resignation and give up on any kind of opposition. In this age of iniquity EVER SINCE the future president of the United States was heard saying he could walk up to any woman he liked and “grab her by the pussy”, the gates have opened for comedians to use all the tools at their disposal and every platform they can find to use irony and ridicule to expose and denounce powerful people who seem to be out of control. So at Tivoli this winter you can see what happens when a galaxy, which is far too close for comfort, is threatened by a huge orange planet and its president Ronald Rump. And remember, whatever happens between now and the end of 2017: “May the hygge be with you!”

IN 3 ISSUES

An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS

Fashion Jam JENNY EGSTEN-ERICSON

IN 4 ISSUES

The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER

Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA

12 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

20 October - 16 November 2017

ABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

A busy three weeks for the diplomatic corps has seen two significant departures and three national days. On September 28, Norwegian ambassador Ingvard Havnen welcomed his peers to his residence in Gentofte to bid farewell (left), and on October 2, Israeli ambassador Barukh Binah did the same at his residence (centre left). The Chinese Embassy in Hellerup was the place to be on September 22 (centre) as Chinese ambassador Deng Ying presided over her first national day celebrations, where she was joined by former Parliament speaker Mogens Lykketoft (red tie). Also marking their national days were South Korea (centre right) – a celebration at the residence of ambassador Choi Jai-Chul on October 3 attended by (left-right from third left) Pakistani ambassador Zulfiqar Gardezi, Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit, Iranian ambassador Morteza Moradian, Nepalese ambassador Yuba Nath Lamsal and Argentinian ambassador Conrado Solari – and Uganda, whose ambassador Zaake Kibedi welcomed guests including Australian ambassador Mary Ellen Miller to the Hotel Scandinavia Amager on October 14

The Europeans know from experience that October is a better month to hold an event than November, so it was no surprise to see the embassies of Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Germany and Georgia all taking action before the light disappears altogether. Slovakian ambassador Boris Gandel hosted a seminar called ‘Building Smart Cities’ on September 28 (left), which was moderated by Mariano A Davies (dark tie). Romanian ambassador Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar hosted a briefing on his country’s candidacy to host the European Medicines Agency on September 21 at his residence in Hellerup (centre left). Polish ambassador Henryka MoscickaDendys (white blouse) was particularly busy, presiding over the Polish Armed Forces Day on October 11 and then Open Days, an event celebrating Polish culture, at her embassy from October 13-15 (centre), where Swiss ambassador Benedikt Wechsler was in attendance. The new German ambassador Andreas Meitzner (blue tie) marked German Unity Day at his residence in Hellerup on October 4 (centre right) where his guests included Russian ambassador Mikhail Vanin. And finally Georgian ambassador Gigi Gigiadze hosted a concert at DR Koncerthuset (right) to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between his country and Denmark

Once again, there are a number of new ambassadors to welcome to these shores (left-right): German ambassador Andreas Meitzner, Indian ambassador Ajit Vinayak Gupte and Turkish ambassador Uğur Kenan İpek. And we would like to apologise to Finnish ambassador Vesa Vasara and Czech ambassador Radek Pech, whose photos we mixed up last issue. In time-honoured tradition, may we say respectively: Willkommen, Svaagat, Hoş geldin, Vitejte and Tervetuloa!

Nikolaj Cederholm’s latest show is ‘Diktatoren’, an adaptation of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’, which enjoyed a world premiere at Nørrebro Teater on September 21. The run continues until October 29

Many ambassadors accepted the invitation of the Foreign Ministry’s Protocol Department to visit Rosenborg Slot on September 21, where they were treated to a tour of the castle

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, marked its 50th anniversary at Asia House on October 4

COMMUNITY

20 October - 16 November 2017

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

T’S BEEN a busy period for St Albans Church since its priest Darren McCallig left for Oslo last month! First off, they welcomed the UK’s most senior clergyman,

a communion of protestant churches across Europe that Denmark joined in 2010. Unsurprisingly, therefore, this was Denmark’s first hosting of the event.

A week earlier, the church hosted another Blessing of Pets Service – and once again it was the dog owners who dominated, which is hardly surprising when you can pull off tricks like this.

And finally, Junior Williams (right: left) organised a memorial service for the victims of this year’s mudslide in Sierra Leone, which was followed by a collection. DAVE SMITH

ferent nationalities along with their culture, traditions and food. As well as tasting and experiencing the different cultures

represented at the event, there was a special theme: namely learning how different countries tackle the challenge of managing water supplies.

Highlights included the flag parade, cooking and dance demonstrations, a spot of sport and lots of fun. Many parents took part and

it was clear from their comments that it was a day that they will think fondly of for months to come.

PHOTOS: NGG INTERNATIONAL

Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury (left and centre left), who was in Copenhagen to attend the biennial meeting of the primates of the Porvoo Communion (October 12-14),

PHOTOS: BEV LLOYD ROBERTS

OUT AND ABOUT

GG INTERNATIONAL School once again hosted another splendid International Day, which was this year inclusive of 47 dif-

DAVID MCSPADDEN

MAKYO

ELENA ROUSSAKIS

Join Studenterhuset every Tuesday for a night full of fun and swing dancing, which begins with a 30-minute intro for newbies (every Tuesday night, 19:30-23:00; Studenterhuset, Købmagergade 52, Cph K; free adm)

Master brewer Kevin Verstrepen discusses the history of beer and his yeast selection, followed by a concert by THE MOVIES and serving of crafted beer cocktails (Nov 21, 19:00; Byens Lys, Fabriksområdet, Cph K; free adm)

Join Science and Cocktails as Siri Leknes, an associate professor of psychology, explores Pain, Pleasure and the Science of Love (Nov 7, 19:00; Byens Lys, Fabriksområdet, Cph K; free adm)

IHCPH.KK.DK

Having trouble learning the unwritten rules of the Danish workplace? Geared towards international students, this event will answer all your questions (Nov 23, 17:00, Dansk Industri, HC Andersens Boulevard 18, Cph V, free adm, register online)

Find out more about the forthcoming local and regional elections at this English-language themed event, which will include a panel discussion and Q&A involving candidates (Oct 24, 17:00; City Hall, Rådhuspladsen 1, Cph V; free adm; ihcph.kk.dk)

Check out the surprising variety and abundance of residential options in Copenhagen at International House Copenhagen’s Housing Fair (Nov 2, 17:0019:00; Dansk Industri, HC Andersens Blvd 18, Cph K; free adm; ihcph.kk.dk)

Danish journalist, lecturer, and author Kirsten Weiss discusses her book ‘Living with Vikings: How to live and work in the Nordic Countries’ (Nov 1, 19:00, Books and Company, Sofievej, 1 Hellerup; 50kr, register online)

PIXABAY

ROBIN SKJOLDBORG

PIXABAYE

The Copenhagen Theatre Circle offers an Open Stage for performers of all genres to try out their work in front of an audience. (Nov 17, 19:00-21:30, Café Cadeau, HC Ørsteds Vej 28, Frederiksberg; free adm)

IHCPH.KK.DK

COMING UP SOON

DAVE SMITH

St Albans Church hosts a Bible discussion group every Friday to discuss issues of relevance to Christians in today’s world (every Fri 18:00-19:30; St Albans Church, Churchill Parken 11, Langelinie, Cph K) EMMA HOLLAR

14 HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

20 October - 16 November 2017

Peering through a circular lens at Denmark’s point zero for around 400 years By the time the Round Tower opened in Copenhagen in 1642, the man who made it all possible had already been dead for 41 years CAYLYN RICH

FUN FACTS • The Round Tower is 42 metres high • Its equestrian staircase is 4 metres wide and 200 metres long, turning 7.5 times upon its ascent • Its masonry consists of alternating yellow and red bricks, the colours of the Oldenburgs, the royal house of Denmark until 1863 • Primarily intended for horses and carriages, many bicycle races have been held on the staircase • An annual race for unicyclists is held in the spring. The record time to go up and down is 108.7 seconds. • A less savory record is the presence of one of the world’s largest and earliest known septic tanks – the result of a toilet at the top linked by a shaft to the core that cannot be accessed or emptied • Hans Christian Andersen was a fan, referencing the tower in several of his tales, including ‘The Tinder Box’ and ‘The Elder-Tree Mother’ • A 1:3 replica of the Round Tower stands in the Danishfounded city of Solvang in California

King of the castle of stars UPON HIS return, Brahe expressed a tenacious willingness to pursue clashing ideas. After observing a supernova that covered the skies of Copenhagen in 1572, Brahe went on to build an international reputation by challenging the commonly perceived notion that everything outside the orbit of the Moon belonged to an unchanging fifth element. He wrote about his revolutionary discovery, proving that visual phenomenon occurred at a further away point in the universe than most experts concurred. Brahe continued to discern other groundbreaking marvels about the universe from his haven on the small island of Ven. Brahe spent over 20 years there observing the heavens, constructing a castle and labo-

ratory called Uraniborg, which included an underground facility on an adjacent site, which he christened Stjerneborg – meaning ‘Castle of the Stars’. When he was not tracking galaxies, Brahe socialised as a celebrated figure at the Royal Court in Copenhagen. Laying the stones BRAHE was innovative, inventing precise astronomical equipment and a star-chart so accurate it was not surpassed until 1729. Despite the facilities made available to him, Brahe was not enamoured with the new monarch, Christian IV, and relocated to Prague to become the royal court astronomer in 1597. Brahe lived out the rest of his days in the Czech capital, and following his death in 1601, Christian IV became captivated by the famous astronomer’s insights into the nature of the universe. He began dreaming of developing an astronomical learning centre in the capital and purchased land for the purpose in 1622. The foundation stone was laid in 1637 for Christian IV’s most noteworthy project, the Round Tower, and he personally oversaw much of its construction. The tower bears a unique golden script emblazoned in Latin on its exterior that translates as: “Guide your learning and justice, O Lord, into the heart of his Majesty King Christian IV.” Spiraling science IN HOMAGE to Brahe, the diameter of the Round Tower was exactly the same dimension as the observatory at Stjernesborg. Unlike most towers with spiral staircases, it has no steps. At four metres wide, the 200-metre stairway is big enough for a horse and cart to carry bulky astronomical equipment up to the observatory at the summit. Many important scientists and heads of state, including Peter the Great of Russia – who rode to the tower’s summit on horseback – visited the tower. Ole Romer, the Danish scientist who dabbled with the speed of light and invented the thermometer, became director of the Round Tower in 1681. He introduced telescopes and the pendulum clock to his pupils.

The great brass dome topping the structure melted in the great fire of 1728. The point at the end of the Spiral Walk (where visitors can today see 25 metres down to the bottom) is Denmark’s point zero, which astronomer Thomas Brugge used to remap the city in the 1760s. In 1902, a car was driven to the summit for the first time. Today, the tower complex remains an integral part of the

city’s scientific and cultural life, serving as a classical concert venue, exhibition hall and, of course, an observatory. It continues to be used by astronomers, all of whom would probably gladly give up their nose for the chance of emulating the greatest Danish stargazer of them all, Tycho Brahe.

AVDA

OPENHAGEN is a city of shapes. From its rectangular lakes and numerous squares to the Trianglen junction in Østerbro, it’s like a gigantic children’s shape puzzle. Furthermore, the whole city is shaped like a massive hand with fingers shooting off north, west and south. So where’s the round peg, you might ask. Smack in the middle of the city is the answer, where it’s stood since the mid-17th century. After the Little Mermaid, the Round Tower (Rundetaarn) is Copenhagen’s most famous landmark – a colossus towering over the city centre that in reality is only seven storeys high.

A towering influence LOCATED on Købmagergade close to Nørreport Station, the capital’s busiest transport hub, the tower was constructed under the orders of Christian IV as part of the ‘Trinitatis Complex’, an ambitious plan to combine an observatory, church and library together within one building. Christian IV’s dreams were realised when the tower was finally completed in 1642. Nevertheless, many attribute the vision of the tower to a man who at the time of its opening had been dead for 41 years. Tycho Brahe, a pioneering genius who left behind a legacy of astronomical contributions following his death in 1601, is the esteemed father of Danish astronomy. And many historians believe Brahe was the spark that inspired the king to order the construction of such an ambitious 35-metre-high structure. Brahe studied civics at the University of Copenhagen. A popular field to follow at the time, it was not long before the gifted young man recognised his true passion for star reading and embarked on an extensive study tour of Europe to learn from other leading astronomers. It was a trip that ended up leaving a lasting impression, not least because he lost part of his nose in a duel following what is believed to have been a quarrel over a scientific experiment. He was forced to fashion a distinctive silver prosthesis, which he wore for the rest of his life.

OPENING HOURS • open Tue-Wed 10:0021:00, Thu-Mon 10:00-18:00; Købmagergade 52A, Cph K; 25kr, under-15s: 5kr, under-5s free adm; rundetaarn.dk

INTERVIEW

20 October - 16 November 2017

Every pic you take, every tweet you make, he’ll be watching you

Catching up with Oscar Jones, the half-English teenager who is quickly becoming Denmark’s most famous and successful autograph collector EMMA BARNETT

E CHEERFULLY sing along to the frothy pop song ‘Every Breath You Take’, but we never really ques-

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO COLLECT AUTOGRAPHS?

It all started with the Serbian national football team. I was walking past a hotel and saw the national team staying there. I met them and thought it was so cool.

HOW MANY AUTOGRAPHS DO YOU HAVE?

More than 1,000! I have got autographs of singers, rappers, YouTubers, soccer players, actors and more. I put most of the autographs in a book or hang them up in my room. I also have pictures with a lot of the celebrities I have met.

WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR FINDING A FAMOUS PERSON?

It is not that hard. If you walk past a hotel and you see a lot of Mercedes, bodyguards and limousines, there is most likely a famous person there. There are three hotels in Copenhagen that celebrities stay in: D’Angleterre, St Petri, and the Marriott. If I know that a celebrity is in town, I will go and wait by one of these hotels. Celebrities also post a lot on Snapchat and Instagram so

tion the lyrics. “Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you.” The song is about a stalker: somebody hanging around street corners and outside the dwellings of the rich and famous with no obvious business, a camera hanging off their neck, binoculars protruding from

their pockets. And we cheerfully whistle it while we’re doing the ironing.

I can tell where they are. I also have this flight tracker app that allows me to see all the planes that are landing. If I know what airport a celebrity is taking off from, I follow the plane until it lands so I know what time to get to the hotel.

friend and I wanted to come to his show! We got his manager’s phone number and met him at the artist check-in and then we got passes so that we could be backstage during the concert!

ARE THERE ANY CELEBRITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY NICE TO YOU?

The people working at the hotels recognise me. When Manchester United came to Copenhagen, one of the players, Morgan Schneiderlin, who was here two months earlier, recognised me. When I greeted the team at the airport, he said: “Oh it’s you again!” He also posted a video of me from when I met him at the airport on his own Instagram account, which has about 2 million followers.

The Weeknd. I met him during the summer at D’Angleterre. He rolled down his window to sign an autograph. Then his driver started to move, but he asked his driver to wait so I could get a picture with him. Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora were really nice too.

WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING THAT HAS COME FROM THIS HOBBY?

There is a rapper called Playboi Carti. I met him at the airport. He was playing at Roskilde Festival. When I saw him, I asked him if I could get a picture with him and then I walked down with him to his car and asked him if I could get an autograph as well. Then, he asked me if my

Every tweet you make OSCAR Jones has a similar air of innocence about him. But delve deeper into the life of the halfDanish, half-English 13-year-old, and you’ll find him lurking outside hotels in the Danish capital, phone at the ready.

HAS A CELEBRITY EVER RECOGNISED YOU?

DO YOU WANT TO SELL THESE AUTOGRAPHS?

No, I do it for fun. Sometimes when you see a celebrity twice they think you are a dealer. A lot of bodyguards might think you are a dealer even when you are not, and if the artist thinks you are a dealer they will not sign anything. When I met J Cole, his bodyguard told him I was

In February 2016, he earned himself a full-page write-up in British newspaper the Daily Mail after he greeted the Manchester United at Karup Airport ahead of their Europa League game against FCM. He audaciously presented the players with an improvised poster of the squad to sign. It was typical of the level of ingenuity he employs in his quest for autographs

and selfies from celebrities who he tends to locate using Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. “Every pic you take, every tweet you make, every TV set you break, every step you take, Oscar will be watching you.” We caught up with Jones to get the inside scoop on how he gets to meet so many celebrities and what he loves most about collecting autographs.

a dealer, which is not true. His bodyguard then started asking me a lot of questions such as which other celebrities have I met.

United at the airport with my poster. Many news outlets started filming me, and many people stopped me on the road and said hello! There was this one guy who came over and asked me for an autograph! Also, the media kept on calling me and asking me to come on TV. At the end of it, I was so tired!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO GIVE TO OTHER POTENTIAL AUTOGRAPH COLLECTORS?

Start off by going to small places where bands play and stand at the stage door. When there is a big star coming, wait by the hotel and look for the fans – that is what I do.

HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE CELEBRITIES?

When I greeted Manchester United at the airport, I got a huge poster and printed out the pictures of the players. I think the celebrities really appreciate when I do this because they know I have spent a lot of time working on the poster. The Daily Mail actually wrote an article about me from when I met Manchester United!

HAVE YOU EVER SIGNED AN AUTOGRAPH?

Yes – after greeting Manchester

WHAT WAS YOUR BUSIEST AUTOGRAPH COLLECTING WEEK?

One week I met five really big celebrities: Gigi Hadid, Sting, John Legend, Ricky Gervais and J Cole. It was probably my best week ever in the autograph world.

HAVE CELEBRITIES EVER GIVEN YOU MEMORABILIA?

Sometimes when I meet football players they give me the shirts they play in after the game. I have got about 50 shirts at home, 20 pairs of boots, and 20 pairs of gloves. I have become good friends with the FC Copenhagen players. I never watch or touch the shirts they play in – they are hung up in my room.

From Kings of Leon, Gigi Hadid, Ed Sheeran, Woody Allen and Pharrell Williams (top) to Matt Dillon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sean Paul, Kevin Magnussen and Robert Lewandowski

16 INOUT: ART

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Oct 10-Feb 25; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, GL Strandvej 13, Humlebæk; open Tue-Fri 11:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 11:00-18:00, closed Mon; 125kr, under-18s free adm; louisiana.dk SARAH JOHNSON

THE FINE lines separating the digital world from reality are becoming increasingly blurred. In this exhibition, the phenomena will be addressed through a wide range of different installations, pieces, and videos, put on by a multitude of young upcoming artists. Being There is especially interesting as the artists use the equipment of these digital technologies to express their contemplation of them. The hard-hitting questions of where

HEATHER GARTSIDE: OUT OF THE BLUE Nov 25-Dec 10, open Tue-Fri 11:00-17:30, Sat-Sun 11:00-15:00; Galleri Upper Canada, Thorvaldsensvej 10, Frederiksberg; free adm HEATHER Gartside is a storyteller and photographer compelled to record what

CÉCILE B. EVANS

BEING THERE

20 October - 16 November 2017

we currently are and where we are going are answered both beautifully and expressively, raising further thoughts for reflection. It is a constant consideration of how the human experience is both solidified and altered in a world constantly being reshaped by digitalism. In recent times, it has become less about coexisting with technology and more about living within it. We can no longer easily separate our own realities from the one we all share inside the worldwide web. Whether this is considered an exciting or terrifying possibility, it is definitely one that warrants attention. This exhibition presents works that are as complicated and far-reaching as the questions they are exploring, creating an exceptionally immersive experience that should not be missed by anyone. she sees and how she feels and reacts. At Galleri Upper Canada this autumn, the British artist and writer is presenting an exhibition of landscape photography. The photographs look to nature for guidance, finding a healing power and resilience in wild places. “I use my own experiences as material, plus a dash of magical realism and a large pinch of salt,” she explains. (DS)

GILLIAN WEARING: FAMILY STORIES

ongoing, ends Jan 7; open Tue-Sun 11:0017:00; SMK, Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K; 110kr; smk.dk TURNER Prize-winning UK artist Gillian Wearing explores humanity and family through the use of masks, photos

Tori Wrånes: Ældgammel Baby ongoing, ends Nov 19, open Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00; Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Nyhavn 2, Cph K; 75kr; kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk Wrånes creates a dreamlike parallel universe through her surreal installations and sensational performances. Hovering creatures, the artist herself in costume – it’s anything goes. (DS)

Public Movement ongoing, ends Feb 18, open Tue-Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00; Moderna Museet Malmö, Ola Billgrens plats 2-4; free adm; modernamuseet.se Encompassing work by 15 artists, the exhibition examines how our bodies can challenge social norms and values, power and powerlessness. It includes workshops and performance. (DS)

Pick up 25 kg. Gourmet-ice cubes or crushed ice 99 kr. in flamingo barrel Order at scotsman.dk

NATHALIE-DJURBERG-OG-HANS-BERG_-WORSHIP_-2016

Lars Physant: Serendipia ongoing, ends Jan 28, open Tue-Sun 14:00-17:00, Wed until 20:00; Kastrupgårdsamlingen, Kastrupvej 399, Cph Kastrup; free adm; kastrupgaardsamlingen.dk In the social media age, Physant believes the key to a successful online presence can be found in modern painting. He breathes new life into old art, fragmenting and then rebuilding it. (DS)

and video installations. Her work often uses role reversal and juxtapositions to produce surprising and entertaining results. And Wearing is also very much concerned with the idea of giving ordinary people a voice. The photo series, featuring people in the street holding up signs with slogans they have composed themselves, works as a sort of spontaneous voxpop. (SG)

IFC SUNDANCE SELECTS & FOLKETS BIO

ANDERS SUNE BERG

KASTRUPGAARDSAMLINGEN.DK

NORDATLANTENS.DK

SuperBlack ongoing, ends Dec 3, open MonFri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-17:00; Nordatlantens Brygge, Strandgade 91, Cph K; nordatlantens.dk Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir’s bleak leather works and Margrét Jónsdóttir’s ceramics are united under a common theme: the empty abyss of blackness, where all light and colour goes to decay. (DS)

TOP ART

My Music ongoing, ends March 25; Arken, Skovvej 100, Ishøj; 115kr; arken. dk Pop music and art collide at an exhibition featuring music videos, sculpture, paintings and installations. Immerse yourself in music by the likes of Beck, Elton John and Snoop Dog, while the art lineup includes Damien Hirst and Roger Ballen. (DS)

INOUT: ON STAGE

20 October - 16 November 2017

15:00; Tivoli Glassalen, Cph V; 255375kr, teaterbilleter.dk; londontoast.dk BEN HAMILTON

NO FESTIVE season is complete without Crazy Christmas Cabaret, an English-language comedy show penned by long-time CPH POST columnist Vivienne McKee, which has been delighting Danish and international audiences since the early 1980s. Premiering on November 14 at Tivoli’s Glassalen theatre, McKee will once again be milking the White House for inspiration, along with the Star Wars universe – a canny choice given Episode VIII of the franchise is being released midway through the run. The result is Planet Trump: The Farce Awakens, episode 35 of a show that continues to grow in popularity since its humble

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Nov 18-Dec 20, Mon-Fri 09:30 & 11:30, Sat & Sun 13:00 & 15:00; Open Air Museum, Kongevejen 100, Kongens Lyngby; 40-165kr; natmus.dk IT’S SURPRISING how so few Danes are familiar with the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, but all that is changing thanks to this annual produc-

tion by the Bernhard Olsen Teater. This version has trimmed off the dark elements of the original to present a shorter version ideal for the little ones. And this year they’re adding a twist: all the main characters are women: from Scrooge to Bob Cratchit and his son, Tiny Tim. So don’t be a miser and initiate your bilingual offspring into the world of Scrooge. Humbug to one and all! (BH)

(Sandy) Alex G Nov 9, 20:30; Loppen; 125kr This 23-year-old Philadelphian gained an audience uploading tracks recorded in his bedroom and playing on the city’s basement-band scene. An innovative multi-instrumentalist, his raw melodies are a refreshing gift to the modern music scene. (LB)

COPENHAGEN

See full programme, venue and ticket information at: www.copenhagenbluesfestival.dk

RUN THE JEWELS Nov 2, 20:00; Tap1, Raffinaderivej 10, Cph S; 430kr RAPPERS EI-P and Killer Mike combine to form one the world’s boldest hip-hop duos. Run the Jewels’ new album, RTJ3, echoes heavy bass beats and provocative lyrics that epitomise their quest to ex-

THEATRE

A Patriot’s Guide to America Nov 2-12; HIT, Cph K; 40-150kr; houseofinternationaltheatre.dk Teater Ord/Blindt and Down the Rabbit Hole Theatre present an original work: an exploration of the American Dream. Directed by Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen, expect a mix of history, music and poetry with physical theatre. (BH)

press blunt truth. Trap-beats, fast rap, resounding synths and jazz undertones create an undeniable punch that challenges social structure through heat and defiance. This third record harnesses the duo’s rage and energy with mature and intentional composition and lyrical honesty, which allows the group to make an undeniable call to action to tackle global oppression. (LB)

MUSIC

The Kooks Nov 20, 20:00; Store Vega; 350kr This Brighton pop-rock quartet are loud, energetic and utterly relatable. A band anchored by a nostalgic alt-rock base of full authentic guitar and genuine lyrics, the Kooks meet at the uncture of indie and alternative with occasional electronic flare. (LB)

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MUSIC

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Educating Rita Oct 25-No 25, Mon-Fri 20:00, Sat 17:00; Krudttønden, Cph Ø; 165kr; that-theatre.com That Theatre Company presents Willy Russell’s Educating Rita, a 1980 play charting the relationship between a hairdresser turned student (Dawn Wall) and her university tutor (Ian Burns). (BH)

beginnings in a galaxy far, far away. The run continues until early January. “In a galaxy far too close for comfort, the orange planet Trump threatens the universe,” a Star Wars-styled trailer reveals in the customary yellow font we have all grown to love. “Hans Zup and Princess Layer Cake resist the daft side of the Farce and blah, blah, blah, blah,” it continues. By now everyone knows what to expect: adult humour, topical gags, outrageous costumes and characters, upbeat dancing, a live band and above-average vocals. But it is as much for the audience interaction than anything else that roughly 40,000 Danish fans return every year for another dollop of craziness. McKee, her dame Andrew Jeffers and leading man David Bateson are masterful at working the material for all it’s worth, with the inevitable ab-libs and breaks from characters consistently delivering the biggest laughs of the night.

PFC. CORY D. POLOM

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THAT THEATRE

THEATRE

THOMAS PETRI

PLANET TRUMP: THE FARCE AWAKENS Nov 14-Jan 6, Mon-Fri 19:30, Sat

THEATRE

The Zoo Story Nov 9-11, 17:15; HIT, HusetKBH 4th floor, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; 50kr at the door Comedian Adrian Mackinder and Rumble Strips lead singer Charlie Waller, a revelation in last year’s The Pillowman, join forces for Edward Albee’s classic one-act play set in Central Park. (BH)

17 th EDITI ON OCT. 24 th - 29 th 2017 “A FILM ABOUT JIMI HENDRIX” / THE DUKE ROBILLARD BAND [US] / TOWER OF POWER [US] JONNY LANG [US] / BASKERY [S] / “BLIND BOY” PAXTON [US] / EB DAVIS & THE SUPERBAND [US] ROBERT JOHNSON TRIBUTE / IDA BANG & THE BLUE TEARS [S] / AL HOLBROOK BAND w.KENN LENDING [US/DK] / CPH SLIM BAND w. ENRICO CRIELLARO [I] / BILLY CROSS [US] / ESBEN JUST DELTA BLUES BAND w. MIRIAM MANDIPIRA / CHRIS GREY & THE BLUESPAND / ALL MY EXES LEA THORLANN & THE SPICY GANG / NINA MASSARA BAND w. JOHN CHIPMAN [DK/US] PETER BRANDER BAND / TERJI MESSELL & UNI DEBESS [FO] / MUKHERJEE BLUES / BLUES AWARD - ”DANISH BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR” / BLUES JAM / BLUES BRUNCH and much more.

18 INOUT: EVENTS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Nov 3-4; B&W Hallerne, Refshaleøen, Cph K; prices vary; copenhagenwintergames.com DAVE SMITH

FOR A COUNTRY perceived to be chilly, Denmark is quite possibly the world’s worst nation at winter sports. It didn’t compete at a Winter Olympics until 1948, and the country’s only ever medal was a silver won by the women’s curling team in 1998. The nation clearly prefers roller to speed skating. Despite huge advances in the sport, the records of 1960s speed-skater Kurt Stille stood until the 21st century. And he was never a contender on the world stage. Nevertheless, in recent years Denmark has been making progress in sports such as ice hockey, and de-

CPH IRISH FESTIVAL Nov 3-4; KU.BE, Dirch Passers Alle 4, Frederiksberg; 292kr per day FANS OF Irish music will once again congregate as Copenhagen presents a stage dedicated solely to top-class traditional and contemporary Irish music over the first weekend of November.

Big Quiz Nights The Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; Nov 2, 16 & 30, Dec 14, 19:30; 30kr, five per team Kennedy’s, Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V; Nov 6 & Dec 4; 25kr, four per team The winners get 1,000 kroner at the Globe, 800 at Kennedy’s. Both quizzes have beer rounds and other spot prizes. (DS)

CPH BLUES FESTIVAL

Oct 25-29; various times and venues; copenhagenbluesfestival.dk

KEEP YOUR ears open for sultry tones drifting through the city as the 17th annual Copenhagen Blues Festival ushers in the impending autumn melancholy. Among the concerts to look out for are a tasty trio in Frederiksberg.

SPECTACLE

Hubertus Hunt Nov 5, 10.00; Dyrehaven 8, Klampenborg; hubertusjagt.dk A popular event in the deer park in Klampenborg since 1900, join the 40,000 spectators who gather to watch the skilled horsemanship on display. Experience the excitement as the 160 riders come flying over the course’s 35 obstacles. (SBH)

Legenday US bluesmen Duke Robillard (Oct 26, 20:00) and EB Davis (Oct 27, 20:00) will be in action at Bartof Station, while Ida Bang & the Blue Tears (Oct 28, 20:00) are playing at KU.BE. Also worth checking out are New York bluesman Billy Cross, a resident here since the 1970s, the heartbreaking storytelling of Danish outfit J.Tex, and the thump and clap of home-grown CPH Slim Band. (NM)

BOOKS

Copenhagen Book Forum Nov 10-12, 10:00; Bella Center, Center Boulevard 5, Cph S; 145kr; bogforum.dk The forum is an unmissable event for all the voracious readers out there. Come and join Denmark’s biggest book fair, which every year brings famous authors, readers and publishers under one roof. (SBH)

SGT. DALLAS WALKER

QUIZ

SPECTACLE

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Julebryg Dag Nov 3, 20:59; various locations In time-honoured tradition, it’s time to get crazy drunk on the first Thursday of November as horse-drawn carts deliver Tuborg’s limited edition Christmas beer to the local pubs. Look out for the blue santas and famous Tuborg girls, and enjoy the snow! (SBH)

The festival, now in its 39th edition, will this year take place at Frederiksberg’s new cultural centre KU.BE. Among the confirmed acts this year are Len Graham & Jack Lynch; Buttons & Bows; and New Road & Gatehouse. There will also be a céilí dance session where all levels are welcome, as instruction and a helping hand from experienced dancers will be given. (SBH) STIG NYGAARD

THE-GLOBE.DK

COMEDY

Kathy Griffin Nov 25, 19:00; DR Koncerthuset, Ørestads Boulevard 13, Cph S; 275kr; drkoncerthuset.dk Controversial, hilarious redhead Kathy Griffin is here with her ‘Laugh Your Head Off’ tour. Since cutting ‘Trump’s head’ off, Griffin’s views on politics and the media have become essential viewing. (NM)

AWARD WINNING COMEDY

Educating Rita

by WILLY RUSSELL

AN UPLIFTING TALE OF SELF-DISCOVERY That Theatre Company – telling good stories passionately for 20 years

25 Oct – 25 Nov ‘17 Rita : Dawn Wall Frank : Ian Burns DIRECTOR Barry McKenna Tickets: teaterbilletter.dk 70 20 20 96 Photo: Simon Dixgaard

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PARTY

velopers are increasingly proposing outlandish ski slopes to blend in with the urban landscape. And on the first weekend of November, the country will be hosting its first ever significant winter sports event: the Copenhagen Winter Games. Some of the best international skiers and snowboarders will charge the biggest ramp in the world at the B&W Hallerne on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen. Among the 120 participants from 25 countries at the 2018 Winter Olympics warm-up event are some of the world’s leading skiing and snowboard stars, while there is also an extensive entertainment program including MØ and Alex Vargas. This spectacular event will appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, and who knows, it may even inspire some of the youngsters in attendance to start filling up that trophy cabinet.

DMITRI MARKINE

CPH WINTER GAMES

20 October - 16 November 2017

www.that-theatre.com

20 October - 16 November 2017

You saw what? Have we forgotten what we’re escaping from? BEN HAMILTON

HE MACABRE murder of a young journalist, the slaughter of close to 60 country music fans doing what they love, the infantile Twitter exchanges of two leaders leading the world to the brink of nuclear war … it’s no surprise so many of us seek escapism from this world in the wilds and weirdness of Westeros and Westworld. What is surprising – given the horror of being chopped up or down by what is increasingly becoming a middle-aged, white, male psychopath – is our insatiable appetite for video nasties, particularly as the vast majority are clichéd, crass and characterless, featuring a villain who is Ted Bundy, but preferably British. It’s now reached a point when Friday the 13th is no longer an unlucky day, but a cinematic event to sell extra popcorn. As if Halloween wasn’t enough this month … So sore we’re flatlining WILL SAW 8: Jigsaw (Not Released Worldwide; out on Nov 2) give us a sense of completion like we’re finishing a puzzle? It’s not likely given the revenue future sequels will bring. It’s the writers I feel sorry for. They can’t enter a room without viewing it as a theatre of death. Their baby’s nursery might look innocent enough, but in seconds they’ve envisaged Jigsaw throttling the nanny in the handles of the Moses basket after chopping her toes off on the Scalextric. While we can only predict Saw 8 will be another case of what you saw last summer, we

know the remake of Flatliners (27 on Metacritic; Nov 2) is flat on its face. Last year Diego Luna was dying in a galaxy far, far away, this year he’s dying in a universal flop, while Ellen Page and James Norton should know better – the latter can give up on becoming James Bond right now. Granted, the original was no oil painting, but it’s La Gioconda compared to this mess. A cut above the slashers THE STILLS from Lady Macbeth (76; Oct 26) wouldn’t look out of place in La Louvre. Busy scooping prizes the world over, first-time director and art school graduate William Oldroyd, 37, is reaping the plaudits. With a background in theatre and opera, Oldroyd is well suited to this resetting of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk – a 19th century Russian novel by Nikolai Leskov, which also ended up inspiring an opera by Shostakovich – and in his leading lady, Florence Pugh, he has a formidable ally. Colin Farrell has found his Scorsese in Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth), and the result is some of his most impressive work to date. Their last venture, The Lobster, was the sleeper hit of 2015, and now The Killing of a Secret Deer (84; Nov 9) reunites them once more – in particularly creepy fashion. The source of the disquiet is 25-year-old Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who in a number of small roles in big films like ’71 and Dunkirk has made a lasting impression. He has a rare combination of choir boy vulnerability and dark alley

menace. This shot at the bigtime is well deserved. Concluding the horror is a work of unpromising animation, The Little Vampire (NRW; Oct 26), and Happy Death Day (57; Oct 19), a rip-off of Groundhog Day in which the protagonist keeps on reliving the day of her murder. Nevertheless, it’s a done-to-death formula that audiences with a short attention span tend to enjoy – an experience more akin to watching lots of short episodes rather than a complete work. We need disaster films? GIVEN the likelihood climate change will transform our world forever, can the same be asked of audiences who enjoy a good disaster film? It’s hardly escapism is it! Try showing Geostorm (NRW; Oct 19) in San Juan and see how well it goes down, although they might like the ludicrous casting of Cuban-born Andy Garcia as US president. Judging by the trailer for this film about futuristic weather control gone wrong, it’s all glib one-liners. We sense a genre crisis, so it’s no surprise to learn principal photography began in October 2014 and that rewrites and reshoots followed poor test screenings. In contrast, barely a year has passed since the release of Bad Moms, but couldn’t they have waited a month more with A Bad Mom’s Christmas (NRW; Nov 9), an unwelcome early Christmas present. Blanched by the offer TRY EVERY four months if you think a year’s overdoing it. Thor: Ragnarok (NRW; Oct 26) is the

Watching Saw is like munching on fillings at the dentist

third Marvel Cinematic Universe release this year, following an average of two a year going back to 2012. In what is beginning to resemble a pyramid sales scheme, three films are planned for both 2018 and 19. This time around Thor has lost his hammer (mojo right?) and there’s a sexy new goddess (Cate Blanchett – proof you can get anyone with the big bucks), but Thor’s also immortal and so is his family. Queen Victoria was treated like a deity – by everyone bar her servants. Victoria & Abdul (57; Nov 2) tells the story of how an Indian manservant became a trusted confidant. Judi Dench is reprising the role she played in Mrs Brown in 1997 – an account of an earlier monarch/manservant relationship that climaxed in 1883, four years before she met Abdul. It’s interesting to note that Victoria’s family did their best to omit the relationship from the history books and that

they would have been successful had it not been for a chance discovery in 2003. Keeping it real, malaria ELSEWHERE, PattiCake$ (67; Nov 2) is a female 8 Mile of sorts, but with a likeable lead who keeps it real about not being a cover girl. Amazon Adventure: A True Story of Scientific Discovery (6.4 on IMDB; Oct 11) got a late release last week – quite the achievement for a film that looks like it was made by the Hallmark Channel. Staying in the developing world, migration is the subject of Human Flow (77; Nov 9) and it has good reviews. Less certain is the quality of Untitled (7.4 on IMDB; Nov 9), one filmmaker’s attempt to finish the film Michael Glawogger was making when he died of malaria in 2014. Yes, the unspeakable horror of mankind’s biggest ever killer, palatable to audiences in the safety of their multiplexes munching popcorn.

KUBRICK

THE GREATEST CLASSICS As a part of Kubrick Festival 2017 experience five of Kubricks greatest masterpieces in the Cinematheque – from ‘A Clockwork Orange’ to ‘Dr. Strangelove’. We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month. See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55

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