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DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH VOL 20 ISSUE 07

CPHPOST.DK 19 May - 9 June 2017

Å R: H A L F E M P T Y

NEWS Widespread shock as jetskier kills two American students

NEWS

HUS: NEARLY FULL

Into the woods! No goblins or gnomes, but plenty of giants

4-5 Reprieve for the rich: But is it legal?

HISTORY Forget 1848! The closest we came to revolution was 1918

20 INOUT

June’s juggernauts Distortion & Guns N’ Roses – a busy month for culture

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A loophole enables the wives of high earners to bypass strict immigration laws, but lawyers question it will lead to discrimination

ments,” Socialdemokratiet spokesperson Mattias Tesfaye told industry group Dansk Industri. “The rule change will only benefit highly-paid people. We must ensure that craftsmen and all other Danes also have the opportunity to bring their spouses home.”

Low paid left out “WE WANTED to find a solution so that well-functioning business systems are not mixed with other integration require-

Party was warned BEFORE the concession, Politiken reported that Socialdemekratiet received a legal opinion that stated “it can’t be ruled out that the law proposal could lead to discrimination.” The Institute for Human Rights concurred that it was “doubtful” the European Convention on Human Rights would find it “a reasonable basis for discrimination because of the

N RESPONSE to criticism and pressure from Socialdemokratiet, the government has introduced a one-year loophole into its strict legislation regarding immigrating spouses. Those married to a Dane or foreigner earning more than 408,800 kroner annually can now reside here without having to worry about passing a Danish language test.

citizen being highly-qualified or highly-paid labour”. Scrap Jewellery Law! IN RELATED news, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has called on the government to scrap the controversial Jewellery Law – which gives the police the power to confiscate valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner from asylum seekers – and deplored the introduction of more stringent family reunification laws. And 75.4 percent of the Danish public has rejected Parliament’s controversial statement that immigrants from non-Western countries and their descendants could never become Danish, according to a YouGov poll for Metroxpress. (CPH POST)

Too many holidays LIBERAL Alliance wants to scrap the May 1 holiday for public workers and institutions. Due to the lateness of Easter, most people will have almost a week off over May and early June. Following May 1 and Big Prayer Day on May 12, there are holidays on Ascension Day (May 25 – the majority tend to take May 26 off too!) and Whit Monday (June 5).

Towering over the city PLANS have been announced for a 6.5 billion kroner HC Andersen-themed amusement park in an 85,000 sqm area in the city district of Nordhavn. Bjarke Ingels Group’s design includes a proposal to build a 280-metre adventure tower, which would become the highest building in the Nordics. If approved by City Hall, it could open as early as 2025.

SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN OUR NEXT ISSUE - OUT 9TH JUNE!

INSIDE A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ABOUT JAPAN! You will find articles about: the history of Japan, economic relationships, tourism in Japan, cultural relations and prominent famous Japanse people. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

Jetski fatalities rock DIS community

ONLINE THIS WEEK COPENHAGEN set a new cycling record last year, according to municipality figures. Overall, bicycle traffic increased by 3 percent in 2016 to its highest level since records began in 1989. Some 41 percent of commuters cycle – 9 percent short of the city’s target – and 32 percent of all trips in Copenhagen were made by bike, while journeys by foot accounted for a quarter.

Top sports event host COPENHAGEN has been ranked one of the top ten best cities for hosting sports events. It finished eighth out of the 621 cities whose 2011-2023 data was analysed by the Global Sports Cities Index. The Danish capital, which will host the 2017 European Swimming Championships in December, recently won the right to stage the 2021 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Beds meet demand GREATER Copenhagen is raising its hotel capacity from 46,673 to 51,983 rooms by 2021. The confirmation came as news broke the Danish capital is hosting the 33rd Annual European Association of Urology Congress from March 16-20 next year, which will welcome more than 15,000 delegates from over 100 countries.

Two American students lost their lives on May 6 when their boat was hit by a flying vessel BEN HAMILTON

Fled to Brøndby ALL OF the jetskiers fled the scene, eventually abandoning their vessels at Brøndby Har-

The tranquility of the habour was replaced by tragedy

Capital’s rising population

bour. The police then swiftly made eight arrests, charging all those involved with recklessly endangering others. A 24-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter and placed on remand until June 1, and it is believed he could face up to eight years in prison. All eight have pleaded not guilty.

ACCORDING to a prediction from Danmarks Statistik, Copenhagen will be 15 percent more populated (and have almost 700,000 people in total) by 2027. Growth is also expected in its suburbs, including Ishøj (up 15.6 percent), Herlev (12.9), and Brøndby and Vallensbæk (both 10.4).

Lax rules blamed POLITICIANS have condemned the lax rules that made the accident possible, as it is already illegal to jetski in the harbour, but the police rarely enforce the ban. Riding a jetski closer than 300 metres to the

coast is prohibited, as is sailing into nature reservations, game reserves and conservation areas. Copenhagen’s mayor, Frank Jensen, has called on the justice minister, Søren Pape Poulsen, to give the police the authority to confiscate jetskis from owners who operate them illegally. Hundreds attend vigil HUNDREDS attended a vigil for the victims on the evening of Sunday May 7 in Islands Brygge. The deceased have since been named as Leah Bell and Linsey Malia. They studied at Pomona College in California and Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

EMA hosting chances rated highly Paris bid the frontrunner, but France already has four agencies to Denmark’s one

MOTORWAY commuters to the capital might have seen the road directorate’s Barrier Transfer Machine in action this past week. To ensure maximum efficiency on stretches afflicted by roadworks, the vehicle ‘eats’ up the concrete blocks that form the mobile crash barrier of a lane and then deposits them out of its rear to form another lane.

KPMG ANALYSIS on behalf of Novo Nordisk rates Copenhagen’s chances of hosting the European Medicines Agency (EMA), when it eventually relocates from London in the wake of Brexit, as the second best in the field. Out of a maximum of 80 points, Copenhagen scored 62, just one point behind Paris,

Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark

Trash truck terror threat RUBBISH collectors are leaving their trucks unlocked and their engines on in the middle of Strøget during rush hour, raising fears the vehicles could be used in a terror attack similar to the one in Stockholm that killed six people. City Container Cph conceded to DR it was a problem that needed to be addressed.

OPENHAGEN’S international community was rocked on Saturday May 6 by the news that two American students from DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia were killed by an out-of-control jetskier near Langebro Bridge in Copenhagen Harbour. The students, who were celebrating the conclusion of their spring semester with five friends on a boat trip, were confronted by a flotilla of jetskiers driving dangerously close to their vessel at high speed. Waves caused by two jetskis caused a third to lose control and become air-born, flying out of the water and onto the boat. The other five onboard were all injured, but not seriously.

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

Eating congestion

BLUE_QUARTZ @ FLIKR

New cycling record

ONLINE THIS WEEK

while Stockholm was joint third with Munich on 57.

Sciences Cluster’, but poorly for ‘Connectivity/Infrastructure’.

16 cities in contention THE REPORT compared the location benefits of the 16 cities vying to be the new EMA home based on a number of parameters, including life science clusters, research environment, connectivity, quality of life and political stability. Copenhagen scored the highest for the ‘Research & Scientific Environment’ and ‘Quality of Life’ parameters, second-highest for ‘Dynamic and Size of Life

Unspoken advantage THE REPORT identified six frontrunners. “Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Munich, Amsterdam and Berlin all offer good to excellent working conditions for EMA staff,” it concluded. Also in Copenhagen’s favour is the strong life science concentration in southern Sweden and France’s hosting of four EU agencies, of which two are in Paris. Denmark’s only agency is the European Environment Agency.

Guilty of triple murder A 34-YEAR-OLD Bandidos gang member has received a life sentence for murdering three rivals from a Vanløse outfit in an apartment in Frederiksberg in 2015. Another man found guilty of taking part in the killings was sentenced to ten years, and a third was cleared of involvement, but found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.

Renovated road reopened A RENOVATED Frederiksholms Kanal, now a spacious cobblestoned promenade with fewer cars and more space for pedestrians, reopened on April 27. The road has been designed to look like it did a century ago.

Netto to open megastore NETTO has opened a 2,000 sqm store on Kirekegårdsvej in Amager – the largest budget supermarket in Denmark

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NEWS

19 May - 9 June 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK

FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

Malmö’s blame game

Turks being monitored

SWEDEN has ended its ID border controls on the Øresund Bridge – checks that had been slowing commuter journeys to and from Denmark since November 2015. In related news, politicians on either side of the Øresund have been blaming one another for escalating crime in Malmö. The Danes blame Sweden’s lax immigration policies, while the Swedes blame Danish smugglers and poor policing.

OPPONENTS of President Recep Erdogan are being monitored by the Turkish Embassy according to a letter obtained by Kristeligt Dagblad. The embassy has tabs on 14 schools that reportedly support the Gülen movement, a group blamed for the coup attempt in Turkey last year. Some 60.4 percent of Turks in Denmark voted yes in the April referendum to grant Erdogan more power.

Global agenda

Women’s rights boost

WHEN DENMARK presides over the OECD summit in Paris on June 7-8, the title of the meeting will be ‘Making Globalisation Work: Better Lives for All’. Ulla Tørnæs, the development minister, told media that globalisation has been chosen as a theme because it has “contributed to lifting over a billion people out of poverty, but many also view that the benefits and pitfalls are not justly dispersed”.

ULLA TØRNÆS, the development minister, told media at the World Bank’s spring summit in Washington DC that Denmark is helping to set up “global boot camps that put family planning, secular education and women’s health and rights on the agenda”. Denmark is a vocal member of the ‘SheDecides’ movement, a pro women’s rights movement launched in response to President Trump’s Global Gag Rule.

US against pipeline

Denmark pledges jets

ROBIN Dunnigan, the US deputy assistant secretary for energy diplomacy, has told Berlingske that it is hoped Denmark will reject Russia’s bid to lay the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline through its waters. Dunnigan argued for alternatives as several NATO nations, such as Germany, are already too dependent on Russian gas. In related news, Russia has denied hacking the Danish Defence.

DENMARK will offer its F-16 fighter jets to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing initiative in the airspace above the Baltic Region in 2018. The proposal will complement the 200 Danish ground forces being deployed on behalf of NATO to Estonia at the end of this year. In related news, Denmark will be given the command of NATO’s fleet in the North Atlantic in 2018.

Banned preacher list

Laptop ban feared

SIX FOREIGN religious preachers have been placed on a list banning them from entering Denmark: Mohamad al Arefe, Kamal El-Mekki, Bilal Philips, Terry Dale Jones, Salman Bin Fahad Alodah and Mohammad Al-Nabulsi. However, several experts have questioned the inclusion of Al-Nabulsi, a moderate who was a regular advertiser in CPH POST in 2008.

A BAN ON laptops that the US government has introduced to flights to and from the Middle East and north Africa could very well be expanded to include European departures as well. It is feared that terrorists could have discovered a way to convert laptops into bombs that can’t be detected.

Ship scrapping boost THE DANISH Parliament has unanimously passed a law that should enable it to become the seventh country to ratify the UN’s Hong Kong Convention on ship scrapping. In total, 15 are needed to enforce the convention.

Vestager among elite THE EUROPEAN Commissioner for Competition and former minister, Margrethe Vestager, has been named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world alongside the likes of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Julian Assange.

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

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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

Go west young man! Capital can’t compete with this citadel of culture

Up above the streets and houses, rainbow climbing high

This isn’t an advertorial for Aarhus, simply a reminder that the clock is ticking on what could be a once-in-alifetime opportunity to visit the European Capital of Culture ANNALEAH MAGNUSON

HEY DON’T just give these titles away, you know – and after experiencing just a tiny slice of the plethora of events that Denmark’s second biggest city Aarhus has spent years arduously preparing, I now understand why. As one of the continent’s most prestigious and prominent cultural events, the title of European Capital of Culture is bestowed upon just two cities every 12 months – and it’s been fully 21 years since Denmark last got the nod through Copenhagen in 1996. Aarhus (along with Pafos in Cyprus) has jam-packed 12 months of film and literature, visual and performance art, outdoor and indoor public exhibitions, and music and sound into schedule – ensuring there’s enough culture for everyone to take part in and enjoy. It all means that Denmark can reap the rewards of Aarhus’s spot on the European pedestal. Its achievement is the result of years of careful planning and preparation, and it’s clear this honour will carry on reverberating well beyond the country’s shores long after 2017 has rung out.

Rethink all that we knew “IT WILL mean so much more than we can imagine,” contended Rebecca Matthews, the CEO of European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017. “Social and economic growth; pride and ownership: that Aarhus and the Central Denmark Region will be known in the world. I hope we will experience a stronger self-image, involvement on the world stage, and the beginning of something really strong and powerful.” Another of the project’s many goals is to bring unity to all 19 of the region’s municipalities. “The preparations for the European Capital of Culture have already created strong and developing connections across municipal borders,” contended Bent Hansen, the chair of the Regional Council for the Central Denmark Region. “But the torch needs to be carried forward – both within culture and across culture and industry.” Each month sees debut after debut of new forms of the best of Danish and international art and culture inspired by the theme ‘Rethink: think the new, think anew, think again’. The theme, enthused Mathews, is as an “invitation and an inspiration to turn upside down our deep-seated ways of viewing things: what we do, how we do it, how we want to live, play and interact in the future”.

A journey like no other I KEEP these themes in mind as I eagerly hop off a wonderfully expeditious Nordic Seaplane flight from Copenhagen and arrive in the blustery, dropletsprinkled city shore on the east coast peninsula of Jutland. Along with Lydia, my tour guide and companion for the day, a taxi brings me to the green lawn and beautiful fresh air outside the Moesgaard Museum, a slanted white architectural masterpiece along a steep hill overlooking the forest and sea that houses an impressive selection of ethnographic and archaeological treasures. Moesgaard’s newest film exhibition, ‘Rejsen’ (The Journey), is right on target with the museum’s goal to be a centre for the confluence of storytelling, scenography and human culture. The film’s director Christoffer Boe and his crew travelled to all seven continents over the course of a year to capture this visually stunning 21-minute short, which offers a raw look at the human experience by following seven separate stories occurring concurrently in Denmark, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, the US, Argentina, Antartica and Nepal. Each story is told through one of seven conditions that constitute each person’s journey of human existence: birth, love, fear, loss, faith, rationality and finally, journey’s end, death. In the final room of the exhibition, virtual reality glasses offer

the ability to immerse yourself in a fully 360-degree experience of moments along the filming journey – an opportunity for even more of an escape into the film’s stunning cinematography. Besides finding unparalleled beauty from all corners of the Earth, Boe successfully found the common string of human experience that wove together seven diverse stories, creating a powerful film that captured the essence of what we all share. This incredible piece of film reaches deep into our core and helps us realise, contended Boe, that “we are all connected by the same circumstances, regardless of who we are, where we were born and the kind of life we live.” Exploring ‘The Past’ EARLY the next morning, I climb up the towering concrete stairs towards ARoS, one of Europe’s largest art museums. As well as visiting its impressive collection spanning the last three centuries, no trip is complete without strolling through its rooftop rainbow panorama walkway, a firm Instagram favourite created in 2011 by Olafur Eliasson. Built in 1859, the house of art displays works from many media by both national and international artists over thousands of square metres spanning ten levels. One of its current exhibitions, ‘The Garden – End of Times, the Beginning of Times’, is being presented in three structured

parts, with the second and third opening in June. The first, appropriately entitled ‘The Past’, explores the deep interconnectivity of humans and nature over a 400-year period of art history, travelling through the baroque garden and sumptuous gardens of rococo art to modern day’s impact of human nature. “The exhibition unveils a general picture of man’s changing relations with nature seen through the lens of art,” explained Jakob Vengberg Sevel, ARoS’s curator. “These differences don’t simply express the aesthetic style of individual painters, but also the changes taking place in society generally. We’ve been influencing and choreographing nature to this day, and now we’ve reached a stage when nature increasingly affects our daily lives in the form of human-induced climate change, for example.” A tower of strength AND AROS sure hasn’t held back with this exhibition – marking the launch of what’s being called “the most ambitious exhibition in the museum’s history”, they’ve gathered more than 100 works by an incredible variety of artists. Not only are masters such as Paul Gaugin, Edvard Munch, Rene Magritte and Nicolas Poussin represented, but also modern works by Hungarianborn conceptual artist Agnes Denes, American land art photographer Robert Smithson,

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Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, and American video and performance artist Joan Jonas. The exhibition cleverly presents the garden as a metaphor, displaying man’s coexistence with nature through political, religious, scientific, ideological and cultural lenses. We begin in the luxurious yet orderly French Garden (see: ‘Versailles, Louis XIV’s grandiose obsession’), and travel through sensuous nature in rococo landscapes, to scientific nature during man’s new ideals emerging during the Enlightenment and Flora Danica in Denmark. Eventually, we reach ‘Paradise Lost’, with abstract art representing man’s loss of control over nature. One of the great strengths of this exhibition is its diversity of medium, size and manifestation. Strolling through its two large floors, you won’t only see paintings but films, installations, sculptures and land art. A memorable installation is ‘Chernobyl’ (2011) by American artist Diana Thater, which addresses our relationship with the natural world in both pre and

Moesgaard Museum: the ski slope is an added bonus

post-nuclear landscapes. Contrasting images from before and after the 1986 nuclear power plant accident are projected onto six wall-size screens to remind us that nature in spite of disaster will adapt and continue to exist. Stay tuned for the second and third parts of this triennial, which are premiering on June 3.

Nourishes the soul A SHORT walk later I’m at Dokk1, a beautiful large glass building by the waterfront that functions as a public library, culture centre and headquarters for the hard-working Aarhus 2017 production team who keep all the events running smoothly. Over a cheery lunch of perfectly cooked salmon and spiced

En visuEl rEjsE igEnnEm kroppEn [ A visual journey through the body ]

potatoes in the bustling canteen, I catch up with Nana Andersen, a member of the communications team. A resident of Aarhus her entire life, she’s thrilled to be a part of this project. “It’s about so much more than tourism,” she explained as she gushed with excitement about what’s coming up next.

She’s especially looking forward to ‘Røde Orm’ (Red Serpent), the magnificent theatrical Viking saga performed on the roof of the Moesgaard Museum, which opens on 24 May. On the train back to Copenhagen, while reading the Aarhus 2017 program calendar and clutching the wonderful spoils of my cultural vacation, I am struck by the words of the patron of Aarhus 2017, Queen Margrethe II. “Culture quickens and nourishes our imaginations, it emerges out of our history and spans the ages,” she noted. “Culture awakens our empathy and invites our participation. We can grant our children no more valuable gift than culture, because art and culture help give people a good life.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, Your Majesty. ‘The Journey’ runs until 26 November at the Moesgaard Museum in Højbjerg, and the Garden Triennial’s three parts run until September 30.Find more information and the full event calendar, visit aarhus2017.dk.

robinhart.dk

19 May - 9 June 2017

Bådteatrets dukker tager den moderne krop under behandling; den lækre krop, den dovne, den dysfunktionelle, den syge krop, den seksuelle, den gamle krop.

A non verbal show: A visual journey through the modern body; the young body, the dishy body, the lazy body, the sick body and the old body. We will examine the (body’s) sensuality, sickness and sexuality.

26. mAj - 20. juni 2017 Billetter/tickets: teaterBilletter.dk • tlf. 70 20 20 96 og i døren

B Å D T E AT R E T • N y h A v N 1 6 Z • 1 0 5 1 K B h K • B A A D T E AT R E T. D K FORESTILLINGEN ER STØTTET AF:

AAGE OG JOHANNE LOuIS-HANSENS FONd

OdA OG HANS SvENNINGSENS FONd

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK Improper behaviour A SURVEY of Denmark’s 312 female municipal council members (out of 727 approached) reveals that more than one in 10 have experienced sexual harassment or sexist ‘verbal affronts or comments’ from their political colleagues, reports Berlingske Research. Some 39 had experienced them during the last six months.

Parking ticket tribunal A NEW AND independent tribunal will be able to decide who is in the right if a motorist complains about a parking ticket issued by a private company. Many people choose to complain about parking fines, so the new tribunal is seen as good news. The tribunal is expected to be functioning by July 2018.

Volunteer work boost THREE legislation changes have been made to make it easier to do volunteer work. Firstly, time limits restricting the unemployed and early retirees have been raised. Secondly, a broader definition has been formulated for volunteer organisations to avoid conflicts faced by benefit claimants. Thirdly, categories for unpaid volunteer work will be simplified.

19 May - 9 June 2017

Plugged into the system Whether you like it or not, technology is making us more involved than ever

Property tax frozen A NEW MODEL for property taxation ensures that no property owners will pay more than they currently pay today, as long as they continue to reside in their current properties. Part of the difference that is frozen will have to be paid should the property be sold. However, no such security exists for business premises.

BEN HAMILTON

T’S TOUGH being technophobic. Barely a day goes by without the feeling that society is conspiring against you to get a smartphone or, god forbid, download an app – no wonder one of the British political parties is vowing to take the country back to the 1970s! New party is an app AND NOW the technophobe’s worst nightmare is coming true. Initiativet, a new political party, wants to use modern smartphone technology to put voters back in the driving seat when it comes to lawmaking. It intends to use its mandate according to how voters indicate their preference via their platform. This will involve a mobile app that allows voting on individual law proposals as well as taking part in the general political debate. “We don’t think the general public are taken seriously enough in Danish politics. Politics is mostly about spin, scandals and cake, rather than serious political content,” explained co-founder Holger Thorup. “We are bringing people’s votes all the way into Parliament by letting everyone vote on all bills – and not just when there is a general election every four years,” added Thorup.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

No more road phones

The 2015 terror shootings revealed there are plenty of private ones

cameras should be erected in public spaces, just 15 percent disagreed, according to the YouGov survey conducted on behalf of Metroxpress. Right-wing party Dansk Folkeparti praised the survey’s findings, but the government parties are more reserved. “I think it’s a fundamental right as a citizen in Denmark not to go around being monitored all the time,” Liberal Alliance’s spokesperson on judicial issues, Christina Egholm, told Metroxpress.

to unlock them, but it is believed Denmark got off lightly. Nevertheless, according to Peter Kruse from the CSIS Security Group, Danish healthcare had similar security to the British system, which was hit badly by the cyber-attack, so it is vulnerable to future attacks, he told TV2. According to PandaLabs, only 0.65 percent of Danish computers were attacked during the first three months of 2017 – one of the lowest rates in Europe.

VEJDIREKTORATET, the road authority, is decommissioning the emergency roadside phones on Denmark’s motorways. Placed every 2 km along the road, only 98 calls were made last year, compared to 668 in 2010, and just two were an emergency. It would have cost 56 million kroner to overhaul them, and the annual operating cost was 4 million kroner a year.

Planning for the future DANISH PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen has announced the setting-up of a ‘disruption committee’ in connection with the initiative ‘Partnership for Denmark’s Future’, which will be charged with embracing technological progress and new digital solutions. It will consist of a broad group of people from business, innovation, academia and all walks of life.

Call for more CCTV BACK IN the real world, the majority of Danes would like the country to go back to 1984 – the Orwellian version. Some 60 percent approve of more video surveillance in public places to prevent and fight terrorism. When asked whether more

Major cyber-attack THE ADVANTAGE of being technophobic is that you’re not going to be a victim of a cyberattack. On the Store Bededag bank holiday on May 12, Denmark was among 99 countries targeted by hackers using ransomware. The infection encrypts files and then demands payment in Bitcoin (of around 2,000 kroner)

Longer lives TECHNOPHOBES, of course, have longer to endure ‘the future’ than they used to. According to the Finance Ministry, the life expectancy of Danish men and women aged 60 has risen by 4.2 and 3.4 years since the 1990s. The median life expectancy in Denmark is now 78.8 years for men and 82.8 years for women – plenty of time to get clued up and join the modern age!

Paternity not catching on

Mapping our culture

New biker gang

More homeless in city

Terror threat averted

DANISH fathers of new-borns took far less paternity leave in 2015 than the four months recommended by the EU, according to Danmarks Statistik. Fathers working in the public sector took 52 days off in cases when the leave was shared, compared to 25 days in the private sector. Some 22 percent took no paternity leave at all.

A GROUP of architects and historians from the Aarhus School of Architecture have been travelling round Denmark since the autumn of 2015 to evaluate and map irreplaceable cultural environments. The group has evaluated 900 cultural environments in Denmark to date, and 21 of them have been given the status of ‘irreplaceable’.

ANOTHER foreign motorcycle gang has opened a branch in Denmark. German gang Guerilla Nation, a recently-founded gang with a reputation for assassinations and violent crime, announced the opening with a Facebook page for its ‘Danish brothers’. Since 2013, a total of eight foreign biker gangs have established themselves in Denmark.

HOMELESS numbers in Aarhus increased by 42 percent between March 2016 and 2017, according to aid organisation Kirkens Korshær. The number it helps on a daily basis is now 211, and “there just aren’t enough chairs for everyone” at meal-time, a shelter manager told Århus Stifttidende. The result is more people sleeping on the street.

A SYRIAN refugee living in Germany since 2015 has been charged with planning a bomb attack in Copenhagen. The man was arrested at the Danish border where he was found to have 17,000 matches, fireworks, 17 batteries, six walkie-talkies and two kitchen knives, but no passport or ID. It has not been disclosed when he was arrested.

Detached no deterrent DENMARK’S high burglary rate in rural areas is primarily the result of too many detached homes located close to one another, according to a report by DRK, the crime prevention council. These are “ideal conditions for thieves”, according to Henrik Dam, the head of DKR. The burglary rate has fallen to 6.0 per 1,000 citizens since peaking at 9.0 in 2009.

Commission formation A FREEDOM of speech commission, which was approved by a parliamentary vote on 31 May 2016, will soon be appointed and get busy outlining a legal framework for freedom of speech in Denmark, its historical development and the social conditions that play an important role in the freedom of speech in the country.

NEWS

19 May - 9 June 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK Tech wizards DANISH companies lead the way in the EU when it comes to utilising digital tech, claims Danmarks Statistik. They ranked fourth for using social media (up from 40 percent in 2013 to 64 percent in 2016), highly for Facebook (84 percent of large companies – EU average: 63) and highly for e-sales, as well as online and targeted advertising.

Treasure in the trash SOME 22 percent of discarded electronic household items – 25,000 tonnes every year – are in perfect working order. Their reuse could save up to 140 million kroner, claims the University of Southern Denmark. Meanwhile, in other news, Engergikomissionen has said that Denmark is in danger of becoming a developing nation in the area of electric car sales.

Pesticide offenders RESEARCH by the DTU and Fødevarestyrelsen reveals that 10 foods account for 75 percent of the pesticide residues found in supermarket produce. The 10 offenders are apples, wheat flour, tomatoes, pears, red wine, grapes, lettuces, potatoes, cucumbers and strawberries. Fortunately organic food sales rose by 15 percent in 2016 and now account for 9.6 percent of all sales.

Wolves in, owls out WHILE Denmark’s wolves are thriving, the rest of its big animals are not, and neither are its owls. Researchers from Aarhus University have confirmed that Denmark has its first wolf pack. However, it only ranks 117th globally in terms of protecting the planet’s megafauna, while its population of little owls has fallen to fewer than 20 pairs.

The poison on the pages Is too much information a bad thing – or is death really lurking behind every corner and headline? BEN HAMILTON

T CAN BE perilous reading the newspapers and trying to stay alive. Believe every story you read, and it’s a wonder you make it through the day. In the last three weeks, we’ve been told the bacteria in our intestines could kill us, that our tattoos could poison us to death, that a fondness for hair of the dog means you’re probably an alcoholic, and that you could be among the 40 percent of the nation’s 1 million hay fever sufferers who have never been diagnosed. HPV concerns A CASE in point is the hysteria concerning the HPV vaccine, a jab that will ensure young women won’t contract a STD that can cause health problems, including genital warts and cervical cancer. Many parents are concerned by reports of side-effects – over a thousand but comparatively a drop in the ocean – which has resulted in only 17 percent of Danish girls born in 2003 being fully vaccinated, compared to 73 percent in Sweden and 84 percent in Norway. “Parents lack knowledge about the disease and its sideeffects. On the basis of this, we would like to release more information,” Ulla Axelsen, the chief physician at Kræftens Bekæmpelse, told TV2 News. Spotting fake news FORTUNATELY help is at hand from the Danish IT firm CIMA Technologies, which uses big data to warn the rest of us about fake news, alternative facts and disinformation. “At CIMA, we reboot the

Reading: “Skinny jeans make you infertile.” Subtext: “We hate hipsters”

truth,” said Mogens Nørgaard, the CEO. “Our team of experts consisting of designated coders, data geeks and top business people shed light on fake news and manipulation and reveal the art of uncovering truth in data.” Targeting the young ALSO HELPING out are the developers of Smart ID, a mobile app that could eradicate the problem of underage teenagers buying cigarettes and booze. Fourteen different players from different sectors such as business, trade unions, interest organisations and producers have combined their efforts to launch the app, which can be presented by the purchaser to verify their age. Under-18s are not permitted to buy tobacco products in Denmark, although there is no law prohibiting them from smoking.

course, could result in an unwelcome tattoo. Some 20 percent of Danes have one – up from 12 percent in 2009 – and now it emerges they are potentially dangerous, according to author Yael Adler, who calls them “ticking poison-bombs” that can lead to malignant melanomas. “These days, we are exposed to so many kinds of toxins and it is difficult to say which of them might cause cancer or diseases of the immune system,” he told Metroxpress. “Once the colours have been injected under the skin, they never come out again. None of our organs can break down these colours, and they can contain all sorts of toxins and heavy metals.”

Beware of tattoos TOO MUCH alcohol, of

The killer within IF YOU think that’s bad, then listen up! Every third person carries antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their intestines that could potentially kill them, reports Videnskab.dk. The bacteria is harmless in the intestines, but potentially deadly in other parts of the body where it can cause infection. Patients recovering from operations are most vulnerable. In related news, the number of novovirus infections could be reduced thanks to research by the Statens Serum Institut, the national disease control laboratory, which should enable experts to contain major outbreaks.

Hair of the dog perils STILL, teenagers are always going to be able to get their hands on alcohol, but let’s hope they don’t develop a dependency. According to a study by Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, people who suffer from bad hangovers are twice as likely to become alcoholics because they are more likely to drink again – the hair of the dog option – to relieve the symptoms.

Second man in space?

Redefining dining

April colder than March

Arctic on thin ice

ACCORDING to JohannDietrich Woerner, the secretary-general of the European Space Agency, the astronaut Andreas Mogensen will probably get the chance to return to space as he “did the perfect job the first time”. Mogensen, 40, became Denmark’s first man in space when he spent eight days at the ISS in September 2015.

SINCE the REFOOD initiative launched a year ago in a bid to offer a platform for companies and organisations in the food and service sector to help reduce food waste, things have really taken off. Some 800 restaurants, cafes, food producers and institutions are taking part in reducing food waste on a daily basis while increasing recycling.

APRIL was on average colder than March for the 11th time since 1874. Additionally, the highest temperature in March was 21.5 degrees, whereas April was only able to muster 17.8 degrees, DMI reports. Not since 1884 has the March highest temperature stolen such a lead on April – edging out the 2017 figures by just 0. 1 degree.

SOME 120 researchers, including some from Denmark, are part of a comprehensive new Arctic Council report that reveals that the region is melting much faster than previously believed. ‘Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic’ concludes that the ocean could be largely free of sea ice during the summer by the late 2030s.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Top innovators WHEN IT comes to discovering innovative ideas, few nations rival Denmark, according to an analysis of OECD figures by Dansk Industri. Denmark ranks first per capita in terms of applications for new patents with 33 per million citizens, well ahead of Switzerland (21). And it also ranks first for environmental patents and third for medicinal sector patents.

Penkowa caught again CONTROVERSIAL academic Milena Penkowa has been caught providing medical services without the necessary authorisation, reports Ekstra Bladet. The police searched her home on March 14 after it was alleged she had been using the address to treat and advise patients about the effects of the HPV vaccine – a breach of the law, claims the tabloid.

Ultra cool gadgets PORTABLE ultrasound devices, which will greatly enhance the ability of doctors to see what is beneath the surface of the human skin, could soon be commonplace thanks to the efforts of Jørgen Arendt Jensen from DTU Elektro, reports dtu.dk. He is heading a five-year project to make ultrasounds available for use by non-professionals.

Talking excrement? EXPERTS have rejected claims that archaeologists have discovered the country’s oldest toilet in the Viking settlement of Strøby Toftegaard in southern Zealand. The discovery of excrement in a two-metre hole suggests the humble village folk had a toilet, but Museum Nordsjælland is sceptical, arguing they would have just used the stables.

Drone, dentures, dildo A NATIONWIDE clean-up of Danish nature carried out by 160,000 people helped collect 154,975 kilos of rubbish on April 2. Among the items found were a two-kilo bag of cannabis, a bible, some dentures, a drone and a pink dildo. In other news, Thy National Park in northwest Jutland will receive a grant of 13.8 million kroner from the Nordea Fund.

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK Kipketer could lose records

A war on doping THE CULTURE minister, Mette Bock, intends to assist the international anti-doping agency WADA in its battle against nations and sporting organisations that don’t adhere to international anti-doping rules. The Danish Athletics Association and Anti Doping Denmark applauded the government’s initiative.

Giants in the undergrowth A treasure map will guide you to the locations of six large wooden sculptures in the western suburbs of Greater Copenhagen BEN HAMILTON

WIFTLY going viral is the work of Thomas Dambo, an internationally acclaimed wood sculptor who has a very similar name to the Danish inventor of the troll doll, Thomas Dam. We choose the word ‘swiftly’ for good reason, as unsuspecting ramblers on the outskirts of Greater Copenhagen will feel like Gulliver landing in Brobdingnag when they stumble across one of Dambo’s hidden giants in the undergrowth.

DENMARK has become the first Nordic nation to enter into a film co-operation agreement with China that will enable producers to gain access to national film support and cinema markets in the two nations. Critically, Danish films won’t be included in a quota that stipulates only 38 foreign movies may be shown in China each year.

Troll hunt USING recycled wood, Dambo has deliberately placed the sculptures “off the beaten track where people don’t go too often” in the leafy municipality suburbs of Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund and Høje Taastrup. The locations are no accident, as the western Copenhagen municipalities themselves contacted Dambo and directly collaborated

FCK targets double FC COPENHAGEN will need to beat Brøndby in the Danish Cup Final on May 25 – the first New Firm clash since 1998 – to win double. FCK secured their 12th Superliga title since their foundation in 1992 on May 5. Unbeaten in the league, FCK have only lost twice all season – to Leicester City and Ajax in Europe. Meanwhile, the Lions have signed Cypriot international striker Pieros Sotiriou from APOEL Nicosia, where he has scored 23 goals this season.

Handy Chinese film deal

Unpopular with the public REPRESENTING Denmark in the Eurovision final, Aussie singer Anja Nissen finished 20th with 77 points. She scored a solitary eight in the public vote (from Australia of course) – an improvement on the semi in which Anja managed just five from the public (and 96 from the juries), squeezing home as the last of the ten qualifiers.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Awards for Danes DUTCH newspaper Voetbal International has named Feyenoord’s Danish forward Nicolai Jørgensen (21 goals and 11 assists at the Eredivisie champions) as the best buy of season. Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg, who was named young player of the year, has been shortlisted for the 2017 European Golden Boy along with Mikkel Duelund (FCM) and Jens Odgaard (Lyngby).

THOMAS DAMBO

KENYAN-BORN middle distance legend Wilson Kipketer, who raced for Denmark for most of his career, looks set to lose his indoor world records for the 800 and 1,000 metres. The European Athletics Association wants to scrap most records set before 2005 unless they fulfil certain criteria, which Kipketer’s do not.

19 May - 9 June 2017

Euro joy beckons

To be fair, Hill Top Trine isn’t that hard to find

on the project, ‘The Forgotten Giants, a Sculpture Treasure Hunt’, for which a special map has been produced. Tilde, Trine, Teddy “IT SEEMED natural to make something that could get people out and explore the beautiful nature on the outskirts,” the artist

explained in a video uploaded to YouTube (see cphpost.dk). Dambo took three years to realise his ambition and named the sculptures after the volunteers who helped him: Teddy Friendly, Oscar under the Bridge, Sleeping Louis, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Hill Top Trine.

Thor eyes NFL debut

Probably a good move

Rectum takes Penis

ANDREAS Knappe, 25, has become the first Dane to sign for an NFL team since Morten Andersen in 1982. The UConn product, nicknamed 'Thor' due to his imposing size and flowing blonde locks, wasn’t picked during the 2017 NFL Draft, but instead inked a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons afterwards. Andersen, who reached a Super Bowl with Atlanta in 1999, praised the offensive tackle who weighs 134 kilos and is 206 cm tall. Knappe’s next challenge is making the final 53 from the 90 players vying for a final roster spot. (CW)

IF YOU'VE managed to avoid the latest Carlsberg ad starring movie star Mads Mikkelsen, you probably don't use social media very much. The 15 million pound campaign, ‘The Danish Way’, is seeking to address a recent decline in lager sales in the UK by refocusing the brand through its Danish provenance. Mikkelsen cycles around Copenhagen musing on what makes Danes the happiest people in the world. In one scene, a group of people knock off work at the same time: 17:00, the giveaway that this is aimed at the Brits, as most Danish offices are deserted by 16:05. (SG)

A DANISH Cup qualifying round on May 2 between two sides playing their football six and seven tiers below the Superliga has managed to overshadow the semis and final – for comical reasons. Lem vs Tarm when translated into English can mean penis vs rectum. While lem normally means limb, it is also commonly used to describe a penis. Meanwhile, the word tarm means gut or intestine, but is also used to describe the word for rectum (endetarm). We’re not sure if there were any 'cock-ups' or a 'come-from-behind' victory in Tarm’s eventual 4-2 win. (CW)

Lotte calls it a day

Bundesliga ball bonanza

Boxer faces prison

LOTTE Friis, one of Denmark’s best ever swimmers, has retired from competitive swimming. The 29-year-old, who won bronze in the 800m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics, is the Nordic record holder at the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle.

WHEN THE Bundesliga kicks off next summer, every game will have a Danish connection. Derbystar, the German subsidiary of Danish company Select, has been confirmed as the official match ball supplier to the top two flights on a four-year deal.

FORMER European super featherweight champ Lars Lund Jensen, 55, is facing prison after being charged with the rape of a woman he lived with, along with assault, vandalism, theft and illegal entry. Jensen was jailed in 2012 for beating up his ex.

DENMARK are expected to easily qualify for the Men’s European Handball Championship in Croatia next year following a win and a draw against their main rival Hungary in Group 1, from which the top two qualify. A win away at thirdplaced Netherlands or at home to bottom team Latvia on June 14 or 18 will seal their progress.

Woz not good enough MARIA Sharapova’s American agent, Max Eisenbud, has apologised to Caroline Wozniacki after calling her a “journeyman” for “trying to hinder” Sharapova from playing at the French Open because it was her “last chance to win a slam”. Wozniacki’s father Piotr rejected the email apology, saying it needed to be done in public.

No disgrace on ice DENMARK has bowed out of the IIHF World Championship in ice hockey with three wins and four losses. Hit hard by the absence of star NHL players such as Frederik Andersen and Frans Nielsen, it was never going to be easy after a 0-3 loss to Latvia in the opening game. Meanwhile, pre-sales for the 2018 edition in Herning and Copenhagen have started.

Stones to play Parken BUCKLE up Copenhagen as this autumn the Rolling Stones are back in town. Mick and co are playing Parken on October 3. Tickets went on sale on May 17. Meanwhile, Queen (Nov 22, Royal Arena), Scorpions (Royal Arena, Nov 29) and Tori Amos (Sep 23, DR Koncerhuset) have all also confirmed concerts.

BUSINESS

19 May - 9 June 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK More Chinese deals

Optimistic about the economy

PM LARS Løkke Rasmussen’s visit to China in early May (see page 19) fuelled more inter-governmental co-operation between the countries. Among the deals struck was one to enable the export of Danish heat-treated pork products and another to consolidate water tech exports, which have quadrupled in the last decade.

Drone sector taking off THE GOVERNMENT has approved an 867 sq km airspace over Beldringe in Funen, the location of the HC Andersen Airport, for the flying and testing of drones. Experts predict the sector could emerge as Denmark’s fastest growing industry and create between 15 and 20,000 jobs. Many foreign companies have already enquired about using the airspace.

Heroic performance JUST SIX months after a successful launch in Copenhagen, the startup LuggageHero, which allows short-stay tourists to drop off their luggage at local shops, has taken the jump to London where it already has 50 dropoff points. Customers pay a two euro startup fee and an additional one euro per hour, and the profit is split with the shop.

Equipped for success IDRÆTTENS Innovation Lab, a collaboration between Industriens Fond (IF) and the Danish Sports Association, will boost co-operation between sport and business – most particularly to the benefit of equipment manufacturers. Since April 1, Danish companies have been able to apply for funding thanks to an injection of 4 million kroner from IF.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Nordea could leave Sweden SCANDINAVIAN bank Nordea has threatened to leave its home country of Sweden over its opposition to the government’s threat to levy new taxes on the financial sector that will bolster the exchequer for possible future bank crashes. In related news, Malmö is tipped to be the site of a new Northvolt battery factory that could create 2,500 jobs by 2024.

No small potato THE BRITS call them crisps, the Americans chips, and now the Danes are embracing them as their new cash cow. Companies like KMC are reporting a surge in sales in countries such as China and India. Additionally, health-conscious Americans like them because they are plantbased and free of gluten and GMO.

Belly up in the city

When an organisation with good taste in buildings says it’s optimistic, you listen

Dansk Industri’s company panel predicting a major upswing

market into employment”.

Wind in their sales WIND-TURBINE manufacturer Vestas has announced a turnover of 14 billion kroner for the first three months of 2017 – a year-on increase of 33 percent. It has order-book figures worth up to 70 billion kroner, and its chief executive Anders Runevad is optimistic about its “good start to 2017”.

HERE ARE definite signs that the long-awaited upswing in the Danish economy is imminent, according to new research from the confederation of Danish industry, Dansk Industri (DI), and a number of impressive first quarter results. Thousands of jobs FOUR TIMES per year, the members of DI’s company panel are asked what their expectations are with regard to profits, turnover and employment for the coming quarter. And the answers this time are more positive than at any time over the last six years, with DI estimating that 15,000 full-time jobs could be created during the first half of 2017. Ne v e r t h e l e s s , Kent Damsgaard, the deputy head of DI, expressed concerns about the lack of qualified labour, which can only be addressed by getting “people on the fringes of the job

The Juice is flying JOE & THE Juice’s 2016 turnover has soared 36 percent to 551 million kroner. Even though it posted a 15 million kroner loss, the future looks bright following a rapid expansion that has seen 50 new locations open across the world. Aside from operating over 60 stores in Denmark, Joe & The Juice also has outlets in the Nordic region, the US, the UK, Australia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, employing almost 1,000 people worldwide.

Reaping Russian rewards THANKS to a strong showing in eastern Europe, the Danish brewery giant Carlsberg has unveiled 4 percent organic net revenue growth on turnover of 13.7 billion kroner for the first quarter of 2017, outperforming expectations. Carlsberg attributed the 10 percent rise in turnover to a stronger ruble and a Russia that has been consuming less, but more expensive beer. Maersk halts the slide Q1 FIGURES released by Maersk reveal that nine quarters of continuously declining results have finally been halted. The net group profit for the quarter was 1.73 billion kroner, a jump from 1.5 billion kroner the year before. Meanwhile, in a bid to streamline its oil operations, Maersk has cut 139 jobs – including 16 from its drilling platforms. Maersk Oil, which employs 1,350 people, has been hit hard by falling oil prices in recent years. (CPH POST)

Fibre for a new industry?

Advised to write it off

Land of the entrepreneur

JUTLAND-BASED company Advance Nonwoven has patented new technology that creates renewable products from natural fibres, waste or recycled material. For example, textiles are shredded, spinning short fibres into non-woven material and the long fibres into yarn. The tech could herald a new industry cluster in Denmark, experts tell DR.

ACCORDING to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report for the Tax Ministry, the Danish state would be well advised to write off 80 of the 100 billion kroner owed by citizens in unpaid taxes, parking fines, speeding tickets, VAT and DR licence fees. Martin Damm, the mayor of Kalundborg, was quick to blame SKAT for the problems.

THE NUMBER of entrepreneurial limited companies, iværksætterselskaber (IVS), continues to grow, climbing from just under 6,000 to 12,000 between 2014 and 2016 and now accounting for 18 percent of all new companies, according to DI Business. To start a company, only 1 kroner in startup capital is required

GREATER Copenhagen experienced a slight increase in the number of bankruptcies in April, whilst numbers in Zealand and southern Jutland fell slightly, Dansk Erhverv reports. In April, 247 of the 475 companies that went bust were based in the capital region.

Leading energy exporter DENMARK remains the leading exporter of energy technology and services in the EU. In 2016, the sector was worth 83.8 billion kroner – 11.8 percent of the country’s total exports – as it continues to increase in size. In contrast, Germany and Finland, which ranked second and third, have seen their market share decrease.

The key to success KEYKEEPER, a Danish startup found in 2015, enables you to pass on keys without the need to meet the recipient. Customers merely set up an account and pick a participating shop or cafe they wish to drop their key off at, and then the recipient pays a 12.5 kroner fee. Eventually, KeyKeeper intends to charge customers, but not yet.

Busy on the road ON TOP of the PM’s visit to China, the last three weeks has seen many ministerial trips to enhance bilateral relations. The foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, dropped in on Canada on his way to the Arctic Summit; the development minister, Ulla Tørnæs, went to both Indonesia and Vietnam; and the business minister, Brian Mikkelsen, visited Japan to discuss maritime trade and showcasing Denmark at the 2020 Olympics.

WORK

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

The hypnotic allure of working for yourself in Denmark

GEMMA FARREL @ GEMMAFARRELLPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Seven happy years at her clinic have enabled Georgina Brøndal to appreciate the advantages of being self-employed DAVE SMITH

WHAT’S YOUR JOB TITLE AND WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK?

I’m a self-employed clinical hypnotherapist, Reiki master/ teacher and certified HypnoBirthing instructor. There’s no such thing as a typical client. I work with people from many backgrounds and nationalities – mainly expats, but also some Danes. A typical day could include a hypnotherapy session for anything from overcoming fears and phobias to turning a breech baby to a head-down position ready for birth. This could be followed by a Reiki treatment for relieving stress, and then a Skype session with someone who can’t get to my clinic easily (for example a new mum or even someone living abroad), all rounded off by teaching a HypnoBirthing class to a group of expectant parents.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY?

I really appreciate the flexibility of being self-employed, but basically I love my job! It’s a real privilege to work so closely with people and to feel like I can hopefully make a difference. Amazingly, it’s sometimes the smallest things that can bring about the biggest changes. For example, I work with SleepTalk, which is a program for improving children’s self-esteem. It only takes parents a few minutes each night while the child is asleep and yet it can resolve behavioural problems, bed-wetting and speech difficulties, as well as reduce sibling rivalry and increase overall confidence. This in turn impacts and improves the wellbeing of the whole family.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?

It’s about seven years since I started my business, Florescence Hypnotherapy, HypnoBirthing & Reiki, here in Copenhagen.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO DENMARK?

Originally it was an internship at a large Danish engineering firm. It

Georgina Brøndal is a clinical hypnotherapist, Reiki master/teacher and certified HypnoBirthing instructor

was love that kept me coming back though! Back then it was really hard to find student accommodation, so I ended up living at nine different places over an elevenmonth period. The final place I lived, I met my now-husband!

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE YOU WORKED IN?

The UK (I’m British), Japan, Sweden, Greece and for a very short period in Ecuador while I was backpacking. One thing I’ve learned while travelling and living abroad is that there’s more than one way to do anything, and nothing is right or wrong.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING IN DENMARK?

The work/life balance. I’m sure everyone says that, but it’s so true! For most of us, the commute to work is very short and we can get home and spend time with loved ones, focus on hobbies or both!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN DENMARK?

You’re never very far from the coast and the water is so safe to swim in – I love swimming in the sea! I would love to do more winter bathing; it’s so invigorating and really makes you feel alive. Over the summer I swim whenever I can.

IT’S OFTEN SAID THAT THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

IN DENMARK IS RELATIVELY INFORMAL AND RELAXED. IS THIS THE CASE AT YOUR WORKPLACE?

I hope so! My clinic is not very clinical – my intention is for people to feel relaxed and at home whether they come for phobia or stress therapy, or to prepare for the arrival of their baby.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY STEREOTYPES ABOUT DENMARK AND THE DANES? HOW DO THESE COMPARE WITH REALITY?

As a Brit who speaks Danish and has been here for a number of years, I find I’m still getting used to the Danish directness. People don’t generally “beat about the bush”, to use an English expression! That can have its advantages, yes, but in certain situations I still find myself getting wound up. This straight-talking, of course, is surely linked to being one of the least corrupt nations in the world. What you see is what you get. Danes will tell you what they want, and what they like, and what’s more, they’re used to Danish prices, so all in all it makes business in Denmark a straightforward affair.

DID YOU FEEL THAT IT WAS EASY AS AN EXPAT TO COME TO WORK IN DENMARK?

I was very young when I came to Denmark for the first time.

I often think that was a benefit as I was very open and had few expectations. But yes, overall it was easy in comparison to other places I’ve been. Of course, speaking English is a huge help when you first arrive, as no-one speaks Danish before they get here. I would recommend learning Danish once you’ve arrived. I know so many people who didn’t think it was worth it, and personally I feel they miss out on a lot. Also, plenty of expats end up staying longer than they think and then later regret not learning to start with.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT SETTING UP ON THEIR OWN?

An online presence is essential in Denmark, and I have a love/ hate relationship with Facebook right now. I’m no angel, but I like to walk the talk when I can, so I’m getting good at setting boundaries and taking time out at weekends or while on holiday. I have a lot to thank technology for too though – with Skype I can help clients all around the world, and I value contact with colleagues both in and outside the Danish borders. Technology also means that I save money on travel, advertising and study, and that being self-employed doesn’t necessarily require a large investment.

ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY CLUBS OR SOCIETIES OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Yes, I became a member of LINK (Ladies International Network København) when I got pregnant with my eldest child. It’s great to meet so many different nationalities and I’ve have had a lot of fun, but most importantly found great support though LINK’s subgroup KidsKorner. While pregnant, and once I had a young family, I found that it became ever more important to connect with people in the same boat as me, facing the everyday ups and downs that living in a foreign country brings. And now I’ve been running the KidsKorner Music & Movement class with my friend Helen for almost two years. I take my own children out of daycare to join me and we all have a lot of fun! I also found La Leche League meetings a valuable source of help and support, particularly regarding breastfeeding of course, but also for meeting other likeminded parents. Whatever you’re into, it’s nice to meet people with similar ideas to you as I think it helps with feeling at home. I really recommend anyone new to Denmark to get out and get involved as soon as possible. Whether it’s through meet-up or Facebook groups, or more formally organised groups like LINK, the benefits of meeting other people brighten up even the coldest Danish winter.

BUSINESS OPINION

19 May - 9 June 2017

AVE YOU ever been caught in the wrong clothes at the wrong time? I don’t mean in shorts while skiing, but in a professional context. I have, so these days, I do my best to avoid it. Not only is it awkward, but it also reduces your chances of making a good impression and, ultimately, making sales.

STEEN VIVE UNION VIEWS Steen is senior advisor at Djøf, the Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists. He is a blogger and manager of various projects aimed at generating jobs in the private sector. In this column he writes about trends and tendencies in the labour market. Follow him on Twitter @SteenVive

Pass the word to Mr Wolf AN EXAMPLE of a clothing faux pas that I made was, in a previous job. I went straight from a meeting with a client in the financial sector to a project kickoff with a very different customer, who needed to map and optimise their business processes. There I was on an early Friday afternoon: slicked-back hair, dark suit and armed with a PowerPoint. The result = completely unsuccessful in getting a buy-in from the client’s staff. The problem was that I did

OU’VE GOT to find yourself first. Everything else will follow,” the Canadian author Charles De Lint once said. Quite, but is everyone given the time?

CARLOS MONTEIRO GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE Carlos (cm@biassa.com), a Brazilian resident of Odense, started his business from a blog known as denmarkbrazil.com. It later became Biassa, a business development company, which under the motto ‘Bringing forth results, not reports’ is focused on supporting Nordic businesses that want to tap into and thrive in the Brazilian market

Tennis as a toddler TENNIS player Andre Agassi had a tough father who loved tennis. After failed ‘attempts’ to transform his eldest kids into tennis prodigies, Andre’s father was determined that Andre would have no choice but become number one in the world. And that determination started when Agassi was only a toddler. Andre faced several challenges throughout his life: firstly an injured wrist that required a severe operation, then a broken heart, followed by another broken heart. And all the time a constant question was popping up at the back of his head: “I hate tennis, why should I play it?” Andre fought

not signal “together we optimise the workflow, so you can spend more time on core activities.” I was more like Mr Wolf from ‘Pulp Fiction’ – called to solve a problem. It may seem superficial, but my appearance made a difference. The kickoff, and especially the subsequent project, would have gone better had I dropped the jacket and tie and rolled up my shirtsleeves. 15 seconds and counting OBVIOUSLY, your professionalism counts. But you may never bring it into play. On average, first impressions are formed in 15 seconds − light years before you have had a chance to speak. This is why you need to be aware of your appearance. And appearance is not about looking like a model; it’s about mirroring your environment. Appearance is a prerequisite OF COURSE, appearance

But Mr Wolf asked for lots of cream, lots of sugar

doesn’t cut it alone. A career requires more than ironed shirts and polished shoes. Or, as Alan Dundes says: “Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.” Appearance is a prerequisite for being taken seriously

and obtaining talk-time. That means it’s okay that looking the part is considered as important as your professional skills. It’s okay that you can be promoted or get kicked out if you do not master the art. Or is it? What do you think?

hard to overcome his fears and find his purpose in life. The man he is today BUT THERE’S a flip-side to tough childhoods. “Courage is developed in the presence of fear, not in spite of it,” contends sales guru Jeb Blount, and Kevin Hart, the American comedian who was born and raised in Philadelphia, is inclined to agree. However, in his Netflix special ‘Laugh at my pain’, Kevin tells how grateful he is for all the terrible things that his father did during his childhood. According to him, without these past events he surely wouldn’t be the human being that he’s become today, and his comedy would be dreary. Mindset suckers “WHEN YOU allow your mental discipline to slip, you become susceptible to mindset suckers,” continues Blount. To

Comedian took heart from his tough upbringing

me a mindset sucker is that little voice at the back of my head always trying to persuade me to take the easiest path. The truth is: there is no easy path. When I look and reflect upon stories like Agassi’s or Hart’s, one main trait comes to my mind: mental toughness. Fortune favours the brave AGASSI and Hart were fortunate to have marvelous people

around them. But fortune only happened because they sought it. If I could give you advice based on my recent learnings from Agassi, Hart and Blount, I would say: Be humble, nobody tolerates jerks. Surround yourself with people who care for you and who can see your faults. Take their advice in consideration and don’t be a victim.

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Mind over Managing

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OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

Taxes in heaven

PARLIAMENTARY majority consisting of opposition parties has formed a coalition to demand an investigatory commission to scrutinise 10 years of mismanagement within the tax system. Poisoned chalice OVER THE past decade, the role of tax minister has become a poisoned chalice very few desire. They quickly realise that Inland Revenue has few friends outside the Finance Ministry and can’t wait to jump ship at the earliest opportunity. So why bother with a commission, when it is clearly just another lost cause in the sad story of the tax department? Mismanagement is not a crime, and besides, a number of bosses have been fired already, and all the senior managers and permanent secretaries will have retired before the investigations are completed. The most visible profile among the culprits is the present minister of finance, Kristian Jensen. He is also Venstre’s vicechairman and the most likely successor to the prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, if he steps down before or after the next general election, which is in about two years’ time. Umbrella needed JENSEN was in office as tax minister longer than most of the gang and is therefore the most likely candidate to stand next to the fan when the shit hits it. The other former ministers are either over the hill or backbenchers. The list of toxic issues is long: billions in uncollected taxes; chaotic IT systems; naivety

JENNY EGSTEN-ERICSON

Fashion Jam

– to say the least – in letting criminals help themselves to refunds; abandoning efforts to collect debts; and the property tax fiasco. The population is alarmed, as the billions are written off as losses. The man in the street finds it out of proportion that he is paying more than 50 percent on his earnings and, at the same time, billions are disappearing into thin air. Who can explain what a billion looks like? In terms of the total revenue stream, it is not really too alarming, but seen as a political and moral issue, it is only fair someone must be held responsible. Plus ça change ... WE MUST caution against the high hopes of that happening. Unqualified management and political pragmatism tend to erase responsibility. Millions will be wasted on lawyers and experts. No smoking guns will be found. When so many are guilty of negligence, sadly there will only be a little responsibility for them to shoulder. Kristian Jensen is already performing damage control by admitting the organisational changes caused by centralising the collection services were badly timed and poorly prepared. There goes the responsibility for 100 billion! The lines of the song are turned upside down when the bad boys are laughing and the good guys finish last. Throughout history, taxes ought to be paid on earth – not in heaven. We could have told them that without an investigatory commission. (ES)

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As a Swede who spent eleven years in London and New York, coming to Denmark four years ago had its ups and downs. Having worked in fashion most of her professional life, Jenny (@jennyfashjam) will be giving her opinion on our dress sense: the right choices and the bad ones.

Dungarees are fashionable for everyone but Mark Wahlberg

O YOU REMEMBER the ‘90s – the decade of grunge, ‘Friends’, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and the first supermodels? There is definitely a revival in the air, but like any revival it involves sorting through the odds and ends of a decade to find the pieces that still look fresh today.

BACK TO THE ‘90S A ‘90S REVIVAL is tricky though, because it’s quite indistinct. If you think about the ‘60s, it’s a miniskirt, the ‘70s is flares, the ‘80s is shoulder pads and neon, but the ‘90s is complete diffusion. This might be why it’s so appealing now when a pickand-mix approach to culture and fashion rules. and, because there’s so much variation, there’s lots of room to get it wrong. Good 1990s right now means a bit of Britpop (trackie tops, androgyny, vintage), a smidgen of R&B (those high-waisted jeans, dungarees) and a whole lot of grunge (slip dresses and cardigans). Less likely to come back? Blossom’s hats, Rachel’s haircut and Tony Blair’s suits. Charity shops became cool in the 1990s because they were cheap. While there were plenty of shiny pop stars such as the Spice Girls, New Kids on the Block and Take That, it was the bands with guitars like

Pulp, Suede, Nirvana and Blur – dressed in their best secondhand garb – whose style stuck. This vintage 1990s look is being frequently copied today; only now it comes with fourfigure prices and a label reading Gucci or Saint Laurent.

GOOD ‘90s The slip dress THANKS to Kate Moss, the slip dress has been the cool girl’s party look for 20 years. Grunge THE ELEGANT dressed-down look. Kurt and Courtney were its king and queen. Velvet TOM FORD at Gucci was a ‘90s fashion moment never to be forgotten. Gwyneth Paltrow and her red velvet suit at the 1996 MTV Awards still looks supercool, thanks to the oversized fit and an extra shirt button undone. (I would happily wear it any day.) Dungarees BORN IN the ‘70s, they went oversized in the ‘90s. Marky Mark wore them topless (not sure about that one) and TLC went multicoloured. SATC THE ‘SEX and the City’ foursome influenced the wardrobes

of all women who owned a TV. Carrie’s name necklace and tutu were both hip and pretty – a combo she continued to perfect through six seasons. Thanks, Patricia Field.

BAD ‘90s Super-low rise ANY JEANS that require a bikini wax should not exist, but by the end of the ‘90s, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were both proud promoters of such a style. High-cut swimsuits A ‘BAYWATCH’-INSPIRED leftover from the ‘80s. No coincidence surely that the Brazilian wax became popular soon after. Midriffs THE TORSO is back, but strictly above the waist. The bellybutton is so 20 years ago. (Not only because I’m not 20 anymore.) Buffalo boots ALWAYS threatening a revival, the Spice Girls-endorsed Buffalo boots were huge – literally and figuratively. Lip liner MARIAH Carey, Pamela Anderson and Cindy Crawford all favoured a heavily outlined lip. Now worn by Kylie Jenner, a comeback could be on the cards.

OPINION

19 May - 9 June 2017

NEXT ISSUE

IAN BURNS

An Actor’s Life A resident here since 1990, Ian Burns is the artistic director at That Theatre Company and very possibly Copenhagen’s best known English language actor thanks to roles as diverse as Casanova, Shakespeare and Tony Hancock.

Meddling media BRITAIN’S the worst culprit, thanks mostly to a biased right-wing press that is personal, vitriolic and hell-bent on stopping Jeremy Corbyn winning the June 8 General Election – at all costs! It’s a dirty tactic the Tories have chosen to follow and one their rich-boy club of multimillionaires and billionaires supports wholeheartedly. The Tories mock Labour’s manifesto, even though they have no manifesto of their own. Corbyn will take us back to the 1970s. Well, I thought Britain was a decent place to live in back then. There was more opportunity for people of all social status. What the Dickens! MEANWHILE, PM Theresa May has told us she wants to bring back something that we’re all burning to see reintroduced: the thrilling chance to hunt foxes and rip them to pieces. And the Tories complain about taking us back to the 1970s? What century are the Tories actually living in? Judging by the amount of people in work who need food banks to survive, it must be Dickensian Britain. The mantra of Theresa May’s team is to focus purely on Brexit and to be negative about Corbyn’s leadership qualities. (Sigh.)

The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER

Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA

GARRY KNIGHT

ETTING tired of the constant coverage of elections? From Denmark’s Europol veto in November 2015, to Brexit last June, and President Donald Trump’s rise to power, the campaigning never ends – and the most important issue is always the subtext. Forget about the policies, elections are increasingly an opportunity to voice a protest, and to hell with the repercussions. Could this vote make Denmark vulnerable to an unprecedented wave of crime – we don’t care, as long as we make the status quo listen!

IN 2 ISSUES

‘Mere te’ Vicar? DARREN MCCALLIG

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE

Corbyn: a 14/1 outsider but feared by insiders

I naively used to think the BBC was a pillar of fair reporting! Silly me. These days I find myself angrily shouting at the radio. I know I could choose not to listen and play escapist music instead, but I believe it’s important to know what your enemy is thinking. Whatever happens on June 8, Brexit has already divided Britain and half of us are going to have to find ways of communicating and co-existing with the selfish, blind, myopic and easily-led people who will vote to destroy the NHS, undermine social services and the armed forces, whilst selling off all the country’s best bits of silver for quick profit. Sådan Søren! GIVEN how the UK press is controlled by megalomaniacs it makes me wonder if there are any right-wing billionaires with a burning desire to pour their poisonous personal agendas into our souls and control the Danish media? I’m relieved to say that Danes are smarter than that, although there are of course a few extreme

nationalists calling themselves politicians who need to be either ignored or called out for the racists and homophobes they are. For example, there’s Søren Krarup, a former priest and Danish Folkeparti politician (2001-2011) who’s in the news right now for saying all sorts of politically incorrect things, such as how being gay is a disease that requires a national registry. Just last week, he called French President Emmanuel Macron a “pretty little gay boy”. They’d love him in Chechnya, eh? Children of the cloth LIGHTBULB moment: I’ve just spotted a possible link between religion and right-wing extremism. Britain’s beloved ‘strong and stable leader’ is the daughter of a vicar. Could there be a link between that and her delusional aspirations? She wants this election on June 8 to signal the end of all opposition and to be her coronation. Tell you what dear reader, if I never hear the phrase ‘strong and stable’ again, it’ll be too soon.

IN 3 ISSUES

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN

IN 4 ISSUES

Mackindergarten ADRIAN MACKINDER

Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

ABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

It’s been a busy month for the diplomatic corps. German ambassador Claus Krumrei, Canadian ambassador Emi Furuya, Slovenian ambassador Tone Kajzer and Czech ambassador Jiri Brodsky (left: left-right) were all present at Dansk Erhverv’s debate on globalisation at Børsen on April 27. Furuya and Georgian ambassador Gigi Gigiadze were among the guests of South African ambassador Zindzi Mandela at her country’s national day celebrations on April 28 at the Hellerup Park Hotel (centre left). Iranian ambassador Morteza Moradian was present when Yukiya Amano (green tie), the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, visited the Danish Institute for International Studies on May 11 (centre right). And Indian ambassador Rajev Shahare hosted a reception following a screening of Leena Yadav’s (blue dress) film ‘Parched’, the opening film of the Ny Indisk Filmserie at Cinemateket on May 12 (right)

April became May with two poignant days for the Australian community: the marking of Anzac Day on April 25 at Kastellet and then a farewell reception for ambassador Damien Miller (left and right) on May 2. Among those paying their respects on a day that marks the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli in 1915 were British ambassador Dominic Schroeder (centre). And then at his reception, Miller was joined by numerous members of the diplomatic corps

It’s been a busy month for the House of International Theatre at Huset. First it hosted a production of Alan Bennet’s ‘Talking Heads’ by Malmo group Playmate starring (left: left-right) Robin Gott, Kevin Benn and Vanessa Poole (see cphpost.dk for our five star review) in late April. Poole, who is also a member of resident group Down the Rabbit Hole, was rather taken by the work of Czech artist Jiří Slíva, whose work currently adorns the walls of HIT (centre) – we wonder why! And the same was true of the cast of ‘Lovers, Authors and Other Strangers’ (four star review at cphpost.dk and details of future performances on page 21), a co-production by Rabbit Hole and Berlin group Manusarts. Pictured (right: left-right) are actor Rasmus Emil Mortensen, Jiří Slíva, actresses Jana Pulkrabek and Katrin Weisser, director Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen, actress Dina Rosenmeier and Czech ambassador Jiri Brodsky

Austrian ambassador Ernst-Peter Brezovsky was among the attendees at the world premiere of ‘Big Time’, a new film about star architect Bjarke Ingels, at the Copenhagen Architecture Festival (April 27-May 7)

Portuguese ambassador Rui Macieira was all smiles after his country won their first ever Eurovision Song Contest. The best they had previously managed was sixth in 48 appearances

Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Jonsson, Norwegian ambassador Ingvard Havnen, Swedish ambassador Frederik Jörgensen and Finnish ambassador Ann-Marie Nyroos all gathered for Nordens Dag at Sted Nordens Hus

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COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

HE CHERRY blossom was out in full force, but the weather gods weren’t on the tenth anniversary of the Sakura Festival in Copenhagen on the weekend of April 29-30

in Langelinie Park. Suffice it to say that the irony that the Japanese festival is supposed to celebrate the arrival of spring was lost on few in attendance.

Still, the bad weather didn’t stop fans of cosplay and Japanese culture coming out to enjoy the festivities, which included the usual musical and dancing performances, weapon

ALL PHOTOS: BEV LLOYD-ROBERTS

OUT AND ABOUT

displays and a chance to taste the country’s famous cuisine. Although it’s fair to say they were more wrapped up than in previous years. This year also marks the

3DAYSOFDESIGN.DK WANDERLOST

EVENT PHOTO

CARSTEN BINDCZUS

Enjoy talks and exhibitions at WANDERLOST, a digital art festival where science art, design and technology blend for a smarter urbanity (May 18-21, 14:00-23:00, Halmtorvet 11 A-F, Cph V)

Don’t miss this lecture by Columbia University professor Timothy Mitchell on ‘Eco-Mentality: How capitalism captured the future’ (June 9, 14.00, Festauditoriet, Bülowsvej 17, Frederiksberg C; free adm)

A memorial mass is being organised by friends and family of the Irish Rover landlord Jonathan ‘Jono’ Farrelly, who passed away on March 17 (May 20, St Anne’s Church, Cph S, 14:00)

SIMON’S PAGE

PIXABAY

CIS

Learn how to make a movie and play volleyball at Copenhagen International School’s summer camps – perfect for kids aged 4-17! Sign up soon! (June 19-30; Levantkaj 4-14, Nordhavn; visit cis.dk)

Celebrate Danish design at more than 70 events around the city. There will be talks, product launches and showrooms to get a taste of the elegance Denmark is known for (June 1-3; various venues; full program at 3daysofdesign.dk; free adm, sign up required)

The Talk Town Festival runs includes about 80 events on gender, feminism and equality. Several talks and performances will be in English, so check the full program at talktown.dk (May 18-20; Copenhagen’s Central Library, Cph K)

Father’s Day is around the corner, so is your Dad a beer fan? Treat him to a guided tour around the Carlsberg Brewhouse followed by a wonderful lunch where beer will be the main ingredient (June 5, 11:00; Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V; 275kr)

DAVE SMITH

TALK TOWN FESTIVAL

CARLSBERG

COMING UP SOON

150th anniversary of DanishJapanese diplomatic relations, which is being celebrated by various cultural events in 2017 all over the country.

Holiday on a Thursday means party on a Wednesday! Stop by Absalon for a night of soul, music and dance with two great vinyl DJs that will make you move (May 24, 21:00; Sønder Boulevard 73, Cph V; 30kr)

Every Wednesday drop in for an acroyoga class to train your flexibility and balance (from May 24, 17:30; Hans Tavsens Park, Hans Tavsens Gade, 40; 50kr; simonsakroyoga.dk) ELLA NAVARRO

Do you know what to do if you find yourself caught with your hair in the postbox?

Take a Danish course at Studieskolen and find out Studieskolenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courses are designed for everyone who wants to make fast progress with their Danish language skills. For beginners, the pros and everyone in between. Come to class up to four times a week in the heart of Copenhagen and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll no longer be treading in the spinach (as they say). Read more about the origin of different Danish expressions and how to use them at studieskolen.dk.

DIPLOMACY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

Once upon a time, an ancient civilization embraced the land of fairy-tales

ALL PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD

And now 67 years later, Sino-Danish friendship and co-operation has never been stronger LIU BIWEI

HINA'S diplomacy ushered in the ‘Nordic season’ this spring. In early April, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his first visit to a Nordic country: Finland, which was a success. Later Norwegian PM Erna Solberg visited China. At the beginning of May, Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen paid an official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. All these manifest that the good season for relations between China and the Nordic countries has arrived. Friendly interactions between the Nordic countries and China can be traced back to ancient times, and Denmark has always been a frontrunner. In 1674, the Danish merchant ship ‘Fortuna’ departed from Copenhagen to Fuzhou, China with a personal letter written by Christian V, the king of Denmark, to Chinese Emperor Kangxi, marking the maiden voyage of friendship between China and Denmark. After I was posted in Denmark as the Chinese ambassador, through efforts, I was privileged to be able to finally see the letter, and it filled my mind with a myriad of thoughts. In 1950, Denmark became one of the first Western countries to forge diplomatic ties with New China. In 2008, the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Over the past 67 years, despite some twists and turns, the ship of friendship between China and Denmark has always been sailing forward. Largest partner in Asia IN RECENT years, Sino-Danish co-operation in all areas has been making satisfactory progress. Our bilateral relations have been constantly broadening and deepening. For many years China has remained Denmark’s largest trading partner in Asia, as our bilateral trade volume has increased 3,530-fold since 1950. Danish total investment in China exceeds 4.5 billion US dollars, making Denmark the European country with the largest investment in China per capita.

Liu Biwei has overseen some truly spectacular displays of Chinese culture since his arrival in 2013

This year, Denmark became the first EU member state to co-host with China a Chinese tourism year. The ChinaDenmark Tourism Year 2017 will further enhance peopleto-people exchanges between the ancient civilization in the east and the beautiful land of fairy-tales in northern Europe. When strolling through Tivoli, the world’s second oldest amusement park, Chinese visitors will find the Peacock Theatre and its distinctive Chinese style a pleasant surprise. Copenhagen boasts the highest concentration of Chinese restaurants in the Nordic region. Carlsberg and Lego claim leading market shares in China. Vestas, meanwhile, has built the world’s largest wind power production base in China. It is fair to say that the friendly co-operation between China and Denmark covers all aspects and brings tangible benefits to our two peoples. Working towards the future THE GROWTH of China and Denmark's relationship over the past 67 years provides strong incentives to boost our bilateral co-operation. The strengths of

our two countries in such areas as creativity and innovation, green economy, high-end manufacturing, education, elderly care and anti-corruption are highly complementary. At present, both countries are seeking to transform and optimise economic and social development, creating good opportunities for an upgrading of our mutually-beneficial bilateral co-operation. China’s 13th five-year plan embraces a path of innovative, co-ordinated, green, open and shared development, which has many things in common with Denmark’s green, circular and sustainable economic and social development mode. Our co-operation in areas like eco-agriculture, water resource management and smart cities has been constantly deepened. The China-Denmark Joint Work program is soon to be released, and the content of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Denmark is being continuously enriched. On the same page AS THE Chinese saying goes: even mountains and seas cannot distance people with com-

mon aspirations. China and Denmark, separated by thousands of miles, varying in size and development level, both firmly support multilateralism, economic globalisation and free trade. During this critical juncture marked by profound changes in the global landscape and new challenges posed to international order, both China and Denmark are committed to building a more open international economic order, promoting the development of a more just and equitable global governance system, and maintaining peace, stability and the prosperity of the world. The development of the Sino-Danish relationship over the past 67 years speaks for itself. Looking back into the past and looking forward to the future, we believe that no matter how the international situation evolves, so long as our two sides respect and care for each other’s core interests and concerns, so long as we uphold the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences in our practical exchanges and co-operation, we will always be able to expand common interests, enhance con-

sensus in policies and concepts, and strengthen complementary co-operation. In this way, the Sino-Danish relationship will keep moving forward against all winds and waves. Next year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Danish comprehensive strategic partnership, bringing about new historic opportunities for the deepening of our bilateral co-operation in various fields. I am fully confident that PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen's recent visit to China will further inject strong and fresh impetus into the Sino-Danish friendship and co-operation.

Liu Biwei has been the Chinese ambassador to Denmark since November 2013

SCHOOLS

19 May - 9 June 2017

Depressed and less prone to crime Today’s social media-obsessed youngsters are more likely to be in their bedrooms on meds, than on the streets on drugs

HE NUMBER of young Danes with depression tripled between 2000 and 2013, according to Rigshospitalet. Anti-depressant medication rates in the 15-19 age bracket have remained steady since then, so it’s safe to say there has been

ONLINE THIS WEEK Carrot to help weak THE GOVERNMENT has offered 120 schools with high proportions of educationallystruggling pupils more money if they tackle the problem. The ‘school pool’ will offer them between 1.3 and 1.5 million kroner per year if they can reduce the number of pupils who score less than a grade 4 in Danish and mathematics. The education minister, Merete Risager, hopes the money will encourage headteachers to focus on their weakest pupils.

Agatha would approve

no major chance since 2013. The findings also revealed that girls aged 15-19 were 2.4 times more likely to be on antidepressant medicine as boys of the same age. School is everything EXPERTS suggest depression numbers are rising because it has become less of a taboo to seek help and because young people today feel more stressed than previous generations, partly due to the pressure of looking good on social media 24/7 and striving for top marks at school. “We sometimes forget that going to school, up until the 1950s, just wasn’t that important,” Professor Ning de Coninck-Smith, a historian at Aarhus University, told Kristeligt Dagblad. “Today, school is everything and there is no alternative to what is a very institutionalised

life. This has changed young people’s ability to take care of themselves and affected their robustness.” Less time downtown HOWEVER, the heavy usage of social media appears to be affecting the youth crime rate, which is falling, both on a national level and amongst Copenhagen’s young people. Young people are spending less time hanging around shopping centres, streets and fast-food joints and more time in front of the computer and at work, Socialforvaltningen reports. They also drink less and experiment less with drugs. Nevertheless, there is a small but significant group of youngsters who continue to commit serious crimes repeatedly, and it is feared they will feel increasingly marginalised as they enter adulthood.

“You’re wasting your life! To think you could have been in a gang”

More on benefits FINALLY, figures from Danmarks Statistik reveal that far more Danes under the age of 30 are recipients of public benefits compared to just a few years ago. Some 119,639 people aged 16-29 received benefits (SU

not included) last year, which is about 30 percent higher than the 92,057 on benefits in 2007. Overall, the number of Danes of an employable age on benefits fell by about 6 percent to 739,535 during the same period. (CPH POST)

Flying the flag for CIS graduates I T MUST be nearly summer because two Copenhagen International School have already graduated!

AGATHA Christie and Umberto Eco would approve! Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have discovered several medieval books covered in arsenic – a toxic substance that can be fatal if touched. The books are several of 40,000 purchased 49 years ago from the Herlufsholm boarding school, which started its collection back in the 1560s. The arsenic was probably used due to its aesthetically pleasing green colour.

Passion for cars JORRIT van der Baan (right), 18, who is from the Netherlands, has just finished his IB Diploma and now intends to study at the Dutch Automotive Business School to fulfil his passion for cars. “Being an international student for nearly eight years has really given me the opportunity to develop myself and learn from the open international commu-

Helping kids to cheat FORGET burning the midnight oil and all-night study sessions, students. Your perfect 12 on your next exam is as close as the MobilePay app on your phone. Frederik Drew, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, can assign one of the nearly 70 people he has working for him to write your next paper for a mere 350 kroner per hour. And Drew’s company, FixMinOpgave, guarantees you’ll get the grade that you want. Who said cheats don’t prosper?

nity,” he enthuses. “I want to thank CIS for giving me a great education, and I look forward to returning in the future, knowing I will have great memories of the school.” All about the graphics ALSO GRADUATING is Danish-born Claudia GesmarLarsen, who was raised abroad by Danish parents and speaks four languages fluently: Danish, English, French and German. “Through my upbringing I’ve been inspired by art and design through the different cultures,” contends Claudia, who is a for-

mer pupil of the International School of Monaco and the Herlufsholm boarding school.

“So in the future I plan to become a graphic designer.” (DS)

Safety paramount

Innovating well

Leading the way

CIS extends its Pre-K

THE GOVERNMENT has signed to join the Safe Schools Declaration and help protect schools and universities situated in areas of armed conflict. The foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, said that it was imperative for Denmark to endorse children and young people being able to educate themselves in areas of strife. Aside from Denmark, 63 other nations have signed the intergovernmental political commitment.

TWO DANISH universities – the University of Copenhagen (KU) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) – are the highest ranked Nordic establishments on the Reuters Top 100: Europe's Most Innovative Universities. The pair finished 13th and 14th respectively in Europe. Topping the list for the second year running was Belgium’s KU Leuven, followed by British pair Imperial College London and Cambridge University.

WHEN IT comes to publishing the most articles in the scientific journals ‘Nature’ and ‘Science’, the University of Copenhagen leads the way in the Nordics, according to the database Web of Science. From 2013-2016, its researchers authored or co-authored 511 scientific articles, way ahead of the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet (358). Aarhus University (214) ranked fifth and the DTU (158) ninth.

AS OF AUGUST 2017, Copenhagen International School is extending its Pre-Kindergarten Programme to enable parents to keep their three and four-yearold children in afterschool care from 15:00 to 17:00 at no extra cost. The service represents a saving of 2,575 kroner per month for parents. Pre-kindergarten classes at CIS have a maximum of 16 students with a full-time teacher and a full-time assistant in each class.

Claudia and Jorrit were among the first of many

HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

19 May - 9 June 2017

Forget 1848 – the closest Denmark came to a revolution was in 1918 Ahead of Constitution Day on June 5, it’s worth recalling how a left-wing mob came perilously close to storming Parliament and seizing power DAVE SMITH

OME 163 YEARS before the Arab World had its spring, Europe was waking up to a future free of absolutism and more power for the people – a momentous series of events across multiple countries that is variously remembered today as the Spring of Nations, the People's Spring, the Springtime of the Peoples, or the Year of Revolution. But while 1848 was marked by serious insurrections in France, the states of Italy and Germany on their march to eventual unification, Hungary and Austria, Switzerland, Poland and several other states, Denmark’s revolution was a more sedate affair – thanks primarily to the new king’s willingness to concede. Seventy years later A YEAR later, Frederik VII signed a new constitution that brought an end to the absolute monarchy, and on June 5, many will gather up and down Denmark to mark Grundlovsdag, the transition to a constitutional form of government, which unlike most countries has had a relatively smooth passage ever since. Or has it? Things might have been very different had events in 1918 turned out differently – a near-revolution orchestrated by militant left-wingers, inspired by the Russian Revolution a year earlier, who were intent on seizing control Ripe for a revolution ALTHOUGH officially neutral, World War I was crippling for the nation’s economy. With the conflict drawing to a close and much of Europe in ruins, many Danish businesses went to the wall and unemployment was at an alarmingly high level. However, wars can be good for business, and this was never truer than in the months leading up to the end of the conflict. Some astute Danes made a fortune importing goods that were in short supply, and gambling on the stock market meant that speculators could make or lose a

fortune almost overnight. As is often the case with newly-found wealth, the nouveau riche did not shy away from flaunting their wealth. While many in Copenhagens innercity slum quarters did not have enough to eat, the privileged minority lived a life of luxury, dressing in the best clothes, driving new cars and eating in fancy restaurants. Their actions caused biter resentment among the poverty-stricken majority. Winter of discontent THE 1917 RUSSIAN Revolution had a profound effect on contemporary Danish politics. At the time the ideas of Karl Marx were taking hold throughout Europe, and Denmark was no exception with many of the more militant thinkers aware that the conditions that had helped spark the Russian Revolution now existed in Denmark. One man influenced by new ideas concerning the distribution of wealth was the author Christian Christiansen. Along with some like-minded colleagues, Christiansen formed a looselyknit left-wing opposition group, which was supported by many disenfranchised people who saw their situation as hopeless. They felt they had nothing to lose should a communist government come to power, and to press home their demand for social change, the group planned a huge protest on 29 January 1918. Did not predict a riot THE DEMONSTRATION was scheduled to start in the socialist inner-city stronghold of Nørrebro and then move into the city centre, and it was rumoured that the mob planned to storm the city’s meat market in Vesterbro and ‘redistribute’ the food. However, a more sinister scheme was planned. And at a given signal, a group of militants armed with wooden clubs broke off from the demo and headed to the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. the police were not prepared for this eventuality, having believed the earlier rumour and stationed many of their reinforcements in Vesterbro. After arriving at the heart of the country’s financial district, protestors ran into the Stock Ex-

Grøntorvet has been renamed Israels Plads since its days as a warzone

change building and started to beat terrified dealers around the head with wooden clubs. When the police arrived they were met with a hail of rocks and stones from protesters outside, and they were unable to come to the aid of the stricken traders for several hours. Battle only the beginning AFTER the police eventually managed to regain control, politicians called for stiff jail sentences to be handed out to those involved in the attack. Many of those detained at the ‘Battle of the Borse’ soon became martys to the revolutionary cause. As a protest against their continued imprisonment, another mass demonstration was planned, this time at Grønttorvet in the city centre on November 13. At the meeting, a general strike was threatened if the imprisoned men were not released. When the government refused to budge on the issue, the militants carried out their threat and a strike was called. Parliament under threat ALTHOUGH the main meeting had passed off relatively peacefully, later unruliness developed into a full-scale riot.

Some activists had planned the uprising weeks beforehand and were hoping that the crowd would storm Parliament. Crowds rampaged through the streets of the capital, looting shops and attacking those they perceived as belonging to the bourgeoisie. The battle continued for days, seriously injuring 30 police officers and an unknown number of demonstrators. However, riot squad officers were able to contain the mob and keep them away from the seat of government. The call to down tools was not heeded across the board. After their failure to break through to Parliament, the mob turned their attention to those not adhering the call to strike. One of the groups of workers who came under attack was the city´s tram drivers. Irate that they had not joined the strike, demonstrators vented their anger at them. Vehicles were occupied as drivers were forced to disembark, while demonstrators stood on vehicles waving the red flag and proclaiming that the revolution had begun. Public unimpressed HOWEVER, unlike Russia, the hoped-for uprising did not receive wide support from

the population at large. Many relativity prosperous citizens disagreed with the militants’ tactics, and the strikers gradually drifted back to work. Although unrest caused by discontent with the political system continued, riots on the scale of that seen around Grønttorvet were not repeated. Historians still speculate as to what would have been the fate of the country – and indeed Europe – if the demonstrators had succeeded in their actions. Getting involved WHO KNOWS! Instead of Grundlovsdag on June 5, the country might have been celebrating Revolution Day on November 13. And June 5 would have still been a holiday as it is also the Whitsun Monday bank holiday. Everyone’s a winner! Of particular interest to internationals on June 5 will be the English-language gathering at Revymuseet (Allégade 5, Frederiksberg; 12:00), an event hosted by Radikale. Among the speakers are local party chairman Jens-Christian Poulsen, French ambassador François Zimeray, and Christian Friis Bach, the executive secretary and under-secretary-general of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

INOUT: PERFORMANCE

June 2017

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May 31-June 3, 19:00; House of International Theatre, Huset, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; 80150kr, huset-kbh.dk BEN HAMILTON

Copenhagen opened its arms and Berlin brought the glamour. No, we’re not talking about the conception of Lars von Trier, but Lovers, Authors & Other Strangers, a co-production by HIT resident group Down the Rabbit Hole and Berlin guest theatre Manusarts about lovers: most particularly taboo-breaking New York women bridging the gender divide for the rest of the world to follow. Director Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen’s script glued together vignettes by the likes of Dorothy Parker and Woody Allen – and it had plenty of potential.

MAGICALHOBO

UPPERCUTDANSETEATER.DK

ONE 2.0 June 1-3, Thu-Fri 19:30 Sat 16:00 and 19:30; Bispebjerg Torv 1, Cph NV; 40-125kr, dansekapellet.kk.dk; 40 mins AS PHILOSOPHER Søren Kierkegaard said: “To dare is to lose your footing once in a little while – not to dare is to lose oneself.” Back by popular demand, Upper-

cut Dance Theater presents its second modern interpretation of this famous quote through break dance and poetic contemporary movement. The first show, ONE, earned choreographer Stephanie Thomasen a Reumert Talent Award in 2013, and Thomasen, performing along with four fellow dancers and accompanied by beats from DJ Turkman Souljah, is sure to bring back the heat. (AM)

MR TESLA PLAYED May 15-27, Mon-Wed & Fri 19:00, Sat 17:00; Bryggekælderen, Njalsgade 15, Cph S; 140kr, students 80kr, group concessions available, whynottheatre.dk BACK BY popular demand following a successful run that finished on April 26, Why Not Theatre Company presents Mr Tesla Played, the story of

BALLET

The Society of Lost Souls June 2-10, 20:00; Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 200kr, kglteater. dk; 90 mins Talented choreographer Jo Strømgren challenges the traditional perceptions of ballet with Corpus, the Royal Danish Ballet’s dance laboratory, and explores the morbid question: what happens after life ends? (AM)

Nikola Tesla, an unrecognised hero who many regard as the true father of the electric age. His drive, inventiveness and need to create are shown through a monologue in a very intimate setting, creating a close relationship between the audience and performer. It also shows what happens when an ambitious person is way ahead of his time. (JC)

STORYTELLING

Story Party Copenhagen June 3, 17:00; The Japanese Tower at Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; eventbrite.com Whether you’re looking to meet someone, share or just hear some hilarious tangled love mishaps, this world-travelling production encourages storytellers to connect and laugh through the crazy world of dating. (AM)

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Teater Tapas May 28 & June 25, 16:00-20:00; Teaterøen, William Wains Gade 18, Cph K; contact carlos@teateroen.dk to perform Artists stage 15-minute performances of any style/genre in English, Danish or without words. May’s theme is ‘longing’ and June’s is ‘rebirth’. And yes, tapas are served. (BH)

THEATRE

STIG NYGAARD

MIXED

CPH STAGE

The Strongest I & II June 1-4, Thu-Sat 16:00, Sun 19:30; Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; 100kr, teaterbilletter.dk; 70 mins Among the English-language offerings at CPH Stage is this interpretation of August Strindberg’s 1889 production, which takes us to a crossroads to consider women, history and the repurcussions of words. (AM)

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splendidly screwball performance as the Hamlet of foreplay. But it was Rosenmeier, confidently stripping off in front of the audience into her nightwear before demanding sex from her husband, who finally brought the bravado the play had been lacking in the first half. For fans of Sex and the City, this is a lot of fun. For those who only watched it to please their wife who they have since divorced, maybe not, but stick with it and you’ll start to nod knowingly through the second half. Beyond the humour, there are other more dramatic elements to enjoy thanks to Thomas-Poulsen’s ordering of the vignettes. While they are chronological, this is never spelled out by popular culture or fashion references – it just comes across through the language and interaction. By the end of the play, it has rendered a somewhat dreamlike effect that makes you feel like you’ve been on a journey you don’t want to end.

But sadly the opening was a poor imitation of Sex and the City. While the lines were undoubtedly there, German actresses Jana Pulkrabek, Dina Rosenmeier and Katrin Weisser lacked conviction when they spoke and failed to assert themselves from one another, relying more on their clothing (onepiece, fishnets, lacy) to stand out. While accent wise, our best bet is they were survivors of the Hindenburg airship disaster. But redemption came in the vignettes, which got better as the play progressed into a second half that had a common theme: denial. The audience shared the frustrations of the male lead – the likeable and handsome (not necessarily related) Danish actor Rasmus Emil Mortensen, as he struggled to seduce a bride and a tease in between rejecting the advances of an emasculating wife. Weisser shone as a newly-wed obsessing about her husband’s indifference to her hat, and Pulkrabek gave a

DANCE

MANUSARTS

LOVERS, AUTHORS & OTHER STRANGERS

DANCE

Copenhagen Summer Dance June 20-24; Polititorvet 1, Cph V; danskedanseteater.dk The Copenhagen Police Headquarters provides the stage for this week of free open-air dance performances by a variety of contemporary Danish dance companies. Just bring a picnic, blanket and some friends! (AM)

INOUT: MUSIC

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June 27, 19:30; Telia Parken; from 510kr CLAUDIA MAIER

EVEN THOUGH they need no introduction (drum roll), Guns N’Roses are coming to Copenhagen! As part of their ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour, the band are performing all over Europe. With 100 million record sales worldwide, and headline-grabbing musicians such as Slash (an absentee from the line-up from 1996 to 2016) and Axl Rose (recently fronting AC/ DC of course), the band have rarely been out of our thoughts since the 1980s, although there always seems

to be something new to learn. For example, did you know that the band have changed their original line-up 22 times since their formation in LA in 1985? And that Axl Rose was so broke before Guns N’ Roses, he joined a UCLA study that paid him $8 an hour to smoke cigarettes? Most peculiarly, perhaps, bassist Duff McKagan rejoined the band along with Slash after a 19-year break brought on by a brush with death due to an episode of pancreatitis. His alcohol-induced condition led to his pancreas swelling to the size of a football. If you missed your chance at a ticket and can’t afford the 5,000 kroner ultimate VIP package, the band are also playing in Stockholm on June 29 and in Hannover on June 22.

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June 2017

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ROCK ‘N’ SOUL

INDIE ROCK

LITTLE STEVEN AND THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL

June 7, 20:00; Amager Bio; 295kr

LITTLE Steven, who is returning to Denmark with his own band after a gap of 25 years, is one of those rare breeds: a musician who has gone on to enjoy just as much success as an actor. Most of us better know Steven Van Zandt, the former guitarist in Bruce

June 24, 21:00; Amager Bio; 220kr FOUNDED in 1993 in Austin, this indie rock band will perform hits from their new album, Hot Thoughts, released in March. No, they’re not named after the common expression for getting it on – it was in fact chosen as a tribute to the German band Can, whose most famous song (and theme to the 1985

CELEBRATION

Sergeant Pepper 50th Anniversary Concert June 10, 18:30 (doors open at 15:30); Pumpehuset; free adm Can it really be 50 years since the release of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the eighth studio album of the Beatles. To mark the occasion, musicians are congregating at Pumpehuset to cover the hell out of the album. It could be ‘A Day in the Life’ you’ll never forget. (BH)

Jagged Edge movie) was called ‘Spoon’ – but don’t say they haven’t got a sense of humour. Spoon blamed being dropped by the Elektra record label in 1998 on the departure of their rep Ron Laffitte, and they subsequently went on to release the singles ‘The Agony of Laffitte’ and ‘Laffitte Don’t Fail Me Now’. Success eventually came in the early 2000s with hits such as ‘Kill the Moonlight’ and ‘GA GA GA GA GA’. (CM)

SINGERSONG

Penny Police June 15, 18:30; Pumpehuset; free adm After a three-year break, Penny Police has finally released another single and it is everything that her fans could hope for and more. The comparisons with Lana Del Ray are well deserved and there are high hopes her expected new album in the autumn will kickstart her career again, with international fame expected to follow. (BH)

MARCO MAAS

Little Mix June 5, 19:30; Valby Hallen; 390kr For those reminiscing about the days of the Spice Girls, you can get a similar dose thanks to this British girl band at this event. Making Simon Cowell proud, the winners of the 2011 The X Factor and recent Brit winners sure know how to put a show on. (CM)

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Aerosmith June 5; 20:00; Royal Arena; 7001,150kr Walk this way as June is turning out to be quite a treat for rock fans with another beloved band visiting us. The ‘Aero-Vederci Baby’ tour has been officially labelled by the band as their farewell tour in Europe. As hard as it is to miss Stephen Tyler’s lips, you don’t want to miss this. (CM)

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DAIGOOLIVA

ROCK

Springsteen’s E Street band, as Silvio in The Sopranos, a role he kind of reprised for Lillyhamer. Little Steven has handpicked the 15 musicians that will go on stage with him, so it will most definitely be a memorable night. According to various rumours, this concert will provide a taster of Little Steven’s new album, which is due out in September. If you’re looking for a night of rock and soul, you won’t want to miss this! (CM)

ROCK

Bryan Adams June 29, 20:00; Kulturvæftet Havnefronten, Helsingør; 695kr The Summer of 2017 is bringing Bryan Adams to Denmark. The 57-year-old (yes, he really is that old now) got a bit cheesey in the 1990s (nobody likes mega success after all), but if previous shows are anything to go by, Adams doesn’t get older, he gets better! (CM)

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INOUT: EVENTS

19 May - 10 June 2017

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Kværndrup, Fyn; 990kr; heartlandfestival.dk JESSICA CAVALLARO

COMBINING music, art, talks and food, the second annual Heartland Festival is returning to the 16th century Egeskov Castle and its surrounding gardens. Heartland caters to a quality-conscious and culture-interested audience. Its founder and main organiser, Ulrik Ørum-Petersen, calls it “a festival unlike any other in Denmark, but of the kind that is successful in other countries – for example England and the Netherlands”. The music program, which includes both Danish and international names, aims to present inspiring and captivating

DISTORTION May 31-June 4; various locations; partout ticket: 650kr; cphdistortion.dk IT’S TIME for Copenhagen to be transformed into a giant street party – albeit for only two nights these days. Revellers will party on the streets of Nørrebro and Vesterbro (Wed &

FESTIVAL

SKT HANS AFTEN

June 23; various venues; free adm

TAKING place on Midsummer Eve Eve, this event is fun for the whole family. Sankt Hans Aften, as it is known in Denmark, is the night before the birthday of John the Baptist and is celebrated every year with bonfires, barbecues and entertainment across the country.

POLISH CULTURE FESTIVAL

June 9-11; various locations in Cph; cphcultural.wordpress.com Organised by the Copenhagen Cultural Network, this festival aims to bring together Polish, Danish and other international communities in Copenhagen to showcase the country’s film, music, media, cuisine and art. (JC)

ACTIVITY

COPENHAGEN WARRIOR

June 10; 10:00; Valbyparken, Valby Copenhagen; 479kr; sportstiming.dk With the motto “Anyone can start – Anyone can join”, Copenhagen Warriors invites lovers of fun and the outdoors to the coolest new race concept: a 6 km run with 30 challenging obstacles. Have you got what it takes? (JC)

SPECTACLE

COPENHAGEN CLASSICO

June 18, 11:00-13:00; Onkel Dannys Plads, Halmtorvet, Cph V; 150-250kr; copenhagenclassico.dk The race takes place on a 22 km route around Copenhagen with detours to Vesterbro, Nørrebro, Østerbro, the city centre and Christianshavn. There will be prizes and food and drink to purchase after. (JC)

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FESTIVAL

Danes will gather to observe and partake in old traditions including placing a witch on a bonfire and singing songs as it burns. Many events at different locations across the country have been announced on Facebook, so make sure you keep your eyes open as more become available. It’s a night you won’t want to miss! (CM) EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE

JEWISH CULTURE FESTIVAL

June 2-7; various locations throughout the city; jkfestival.dk The Jewish Culture Festival is back for its seventh edition and better than ever, presenting more exciting concerts, lectures and debates. Make sure you join in if you’re interested in learning more about Jewish culture. Shalom to one and all! (JC)

FESTIVAL

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FESTIVAL

JEWISH CULTURE FESTIVAL

NORDVEST FESTIVAL

June 2-5; Cph NV; free adm Come out to the Nordvest Festival for a classic neighbourhood party as people meet, eat together, play music, and shop in a flea market. Quickly overtaking Nørrebro as the city’s edgiest district, gentrification has failed to rob it of its character. (JC)

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FESTIVAL

Thu, 16:00-22:00), where an estimated 100,000 participants with gather daily, before heading to the clubs (22:00-05:00). And then Distortion Ø, a ticket-only affair (450kr) but a must for clubbers, will take over the island of Refshaleøen on Friday and Saturday night. This year’s artist list includes Lady Leshurr, Little Simz, Maceo Plex, and What So Not. (CM)

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HEARTLAND FESTIVAL June 2-4; Egeskov Castle, Egeskov Gade 18,

experiences. It will also feature a lot of different genres. Among the headliners are Bryan Ferry, Eddie Vedder, Miguel and Flying Lotus. Contemporary art will be on display outdoors, set up in juxtaposition and contrast with the castle in the background. The live talks at the festival will include some famous Danish and international participants. Among the talks to look forward are those involving REM frontman Michael Stipe, Generation X author Douglas Coupland, Icelandic-Danish architect Olafur Eliasson and many more. For its food component, the festival is paying special attention to locally produced ingredients, which have been given a prominent place in the selection. Heartland has a lot of surprises and event ideas up its sleeves, so expect to be surprised when the full program is unveiled in June!

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June 2017 ERKAN

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INOUT: KIDS FESTIVAL

RINGSTED FESTIVAL

June 10-14, open Mon-Thu 09:00-16:30, Fri 9:00-13:00; Nørretorv 22, Ringsted; free adm; boernefestival.ringsted.dk; ages 3-12 ANDREA DOMINQUEZ

IT’S THAT time of the year for the family to take a short trip together! Enjoy concerts, theatre performanc-

FUN

BLÅ MANDAGE

es, shows and a selection of more than 45 activities for kids at the Ringsted Children’s Festival. Young ones can participate or just enjoy and watch with the family. And if they’re feeling creative, they can show off by participating in paint activities, readings and magic games. For the big ones, there will also be a flea market if you want to take a break from the craziness.

May 22 & 29, from 12:00; 135kr; bakken.dk IT’S TIME for rides, fun and adventures! Lots of special activities are waiting to welcome you at Bakken. It’s been a tradition for generations that newly-confirmed children come and enjoy a Monday or every Monday of the month, as all 32 rides are open

from 12:00 and waiting for you and your celebratory family and friends. Get ready for a great day with lots of speed! But if you get a bit tired, you can take a break and enjoy pizzas, sandwiches, salad … whatever you want! On these special May days, there are special treats, discounts and free passes to celebrate this time of year. Come and find out more! (AD)

FLICKR_TIME KLAPDOR

JULIAN HERZOG

OUTDOOR

DANCE

TRIP TO THE GARDEN

June 7, 16:30; meet at Botanical Gardens entrance near Nørreport Station, Cph K; adults 150kr; snm.ku.dk DON’T MISS this opportunity to take your kids on a guided tour of one of the most wonderful places in the city: the Botanical Gardens. Explore the capital’s largest collection of living plants and the only genebank of all

IT’S TIME for kids to shake their body. This creative dancing event enables children to be creative with their body and movements. It encourages them to express themselves through their movements and to

SPECTACLE

Gymnastics show June 25, 10:30, 15:00 & 17:00; Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; included in admission to Tivoli, over-7s: 110-120kr, under-7s: free adm Young gymnasts from all over the country will be showing off their skills on the Open Air Stage at Tivoli. Come with the family and prepare to be amazed. (AD)

remind them that nobody should be entitled to judge if is right or wrong. An episode of the appaling So You Think You Can Dance, it ain’t. The only rule is to have fun and laugh, laugh and laugh! Mostly dominated by pop and African savannah music, the line-up also includes ambience, salsa, hip-hop and swing to get those jazz hands working! Bring your kids and feel the beat! (AD)

FILM

Fly me to the Moon Various times; Tycho Brahe Planetarium, Gammel Kongevej 10, Cph V; 85kr; planetariet.dk Can you imagine what it must be like to fly to the Moon? This movie might be in Danish, but it’s still a great ride. Treat your kids to the experience of being aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft – this is one small step they’ll never forget! (AD)

81516-COPENHAGEN

Rhythm is a dancer every Sunday, 14:30-15:15; Absalon, Sønder Boulevard 73, Cph V; ages 2-4 Mum, Dad: bring the small ones along with you and prepare to sing, play and dance together! Have a wonderful bonding time with your kids. Professional musicians with experience of interacting with kids will be present to help you. (AD)

CREATIVE DANCING June 21, 15:45-16:30; 150kr; Absalon, Sønder Boulevard 73, Cph V; ages 4-6

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

MUSIC

SKUBIK

SMK Children’s Workshop June 10, 11:30-16:30; Statens Museum for Kunst, Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K; 30kr + entry; smk.dk Come to a print-making workshop at Denmark’s national gallery. It has our stamp of approval! Make your own prints using potato, beetroot and more. Don’t worry – there will be artists to help you tap into your imagination! (AD)

YOHANN LEGRAND

FLICKR_STEPHEN CHIN

ACTIVITY

wild plants in Denmark. The garden is affiliated to the largest Danish herbaria collections. Right now, the garden’s flowers are in full bloom, but make sure you take a detour into its greenhouses – particularly the famous Palmehus, which was erected in 1874. Come with the family and enjoy the fresh air, sun, green grass and colours of the magnificent flowers! (AD)

LEARN

Tour of the museum Tue-Sun 10:00-16:30; Nationalmuseet, Prinsens Palæ, Ny Vestergade 10, Cph K; free adm; natmus.dk Learn about the old days in Denmark with the family. This is an exclusive tour and activities just for the smallest. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to have fun and learn about Denmark’s history. (AD)

INOUT: MUSEUM

19 May - 9 June 2017

A harbour of refuge for lovers of culture DENISE ROSE HANSEN , COPENHAGEN MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS

ON YOUR marinière – we’re going to the marina. Denmark is the world’s

fifth largest shipping nation, and this maritime streak is tangible in even its most urban and artistic ridges.

Jewels everywhere FROM ITS jewel-encrusted waterfront – it now has an opal to go with its diamond

– to an island dedicated to indulgence, many hours can be spent in the city’s harbour area. So what’s stopping you? Set sail and bon voyage

wherever you might land.

Copenhagen Museums & Attractions

THE BLACK DIAMOND Den Sorte Diamant, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; open Mon-Fri 08:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-19:00; kb.dk

HE ROYAL Library is, well, quite a diamond. Resting on the edge of Copenhagen Harbour, its architecture flows like the water it

confronts. Walking down transverse corridors along wave-like walls, readers and other visitors encounter a compelling convergence between old and modern as the new building leads into its 1906 counterpart. The Diamond’s glass atrium reflects the water – through it, you can see the harbour

and Olafur Eliasson’s Circle Bridge, a structure that keeps up the naval theme by resembling ship masts. From June onwards, the notorious performance artist Marina Abramović (see G2) will reinterpret the library’s permanent exhibition of treasures in a free and interactive installation.

ARCHITECTURE FOR SUSTAINABILITY Danish Architecture Centre, Strandgade 27B, Cph K; open daily 10:00-17:00; 60kr, under-18s: free adm; dac.dk

TROLL further down the waterfront and keep an eye out for an orange roof. Danish Architecture Centre (DAC)

resides in Gammel Dok, a 19th-century warehouse. Though keeping up an impressive exhibition track record, DAC is worth a visit for its view of the waterfront alone, especially in the spring and summer when avid Copenhageners can be seen swimming and

kayaking in the clean harbour water. Why not join them? DAC perceives the city as its biggest exhibition and offers guided city tours that delve deep into how architecture can help change the world, not only aesthetically, but also socially and climatically.

A COSMIC ROOM Nordatlantens Brygge (North Atlantic House), Strandgade 91, Cph K; open Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-17:00; 40kr; nordatlantens.dk

ORTH ATLANTIC House is a cultural centre facing the

17th century waterfront of Nyhavn, world-famous for its colourful, Amsterdam-inspired townhouses. Faroese painter, sculptor, glass artist and adventurer Tróndur Patursson has created the installation Cosmic Room. It is an igloo-shaped glass-and-mirror room lo-

cated on the harbour front. As day becomes night, the igloo turns into a blue, illuminated lighthouse that plays with the idea of infinite space. It’s open until November 2017.

STREET FOOD AND A CRUISE Papirøen, Cph K; open Mon-Wed 12:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-21:00; copenhagenstreetfood.dk , dinoffentligetransport.dk

O DAY SPENT at the harbour front is complete without a round of street food. Copenhagen Street Food in Christiansholm, locally known as Papirøen (‘Pa-

per Island’), is a culinary cruise through the world. Try something you’ve never tasted before from the 39 stalls, which include Turkish, South Korean, French, Moroccan, Danish, Chinese, British, Italian, and Mexican cuisine. Best enjoyed in the sun! Nearby neighbours include the designer Henrik Vibskov, René Redzepi’s two-star Michelin restaurant Noma

(now closed), and Copenhagen Contemporary, an exhibition hall for modern art. From the deck you can see the neo-futuristic Opera House by architect Henning Larsen. For the price of a regular bus ticket, the yellow harbour bus carries you by water to the Royal Playhouse – a cheap alternative to the touristy canal tours.

FOR MORE INSPIRATION FROM THE MUSEUMS, VISIT COPENHAGEN MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS AT CPHMUSEUMS.COM

FILM

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19 May - 9 June 2017

When puerile pasts come back to haunt you BEN HAMILTON

EING RESUSCITATED by a female lifeguard, meeting my match in Wonder Woman, girls with guns – this issue’s list of new releases sounds eerily familiar somehow. Has somebody hacked into the Google browsing history of my teenage youth? Wonder lust? Not guilty! I EXAGGERATE: not guilty on two counts, your honour. Initially placed under siege by Erika Eleniak’s blonde ambition, I had lost interest by the time Pamela Andersen turned up to rescue me from drowning beneath my bedcovers with her strategically-placed arm-bands.

And Wonder Woman and her twirl. I remember little else because it was so dull – like all superhero affairs screened around Saturday tea-time. I might have only been six, but I was already thinking: Where are the guns? The bazookas under the bazookas, fully cocked and ready to be discharged? Guys who like girls who like guns BUT GUNS are no guarantee, are they? I’ve lost count of the number of fast-paced trailers featuring guy and girl-slingers trying to out-Peckinpah the likes of Quentin Tarantino – signed up as executive producer on account of an advisory telephone conversation in between getting laid in Europe, which will be emblazoned across the scene at the start and the end and growled halfway through for good measure. You can cast these films in your sleep. Sexy lady showing some leg – gun of choice: Ruger LCP. Wizened old-timer more suited to Shakespeare – gun of choice: a shotgun. Hardened old school with mob film pedigree – gun of choice: a Colt 45. Smokin’ Aces

(2006), Shoot ‘Em Up (2007) and The Way of the Gun (2000) have them all. And of course, Empire magazine had already crowned them movie of the year with four-page photoshoots before they had even come out. They all flopped, perhaps The Way of the Gun most painfully as it was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, a hot property following his screenplay for The Usual Suspects, who has spent this century decidedly luke-warm. No, that’s being kind – his films (he co-wrote The Tourist and The Edge of Tomorrow) universally suck balls. So, it’s with little hope that we await the release of Free Fire (63 on Metacritic; released on May 24) starring Brie Larsen (leggy lady), Patrick Bergin (wizened old-timer) and Sam Riley (mob-related … surely Brighton Rock qualifies?). Perky, pervy, pointless FROM PINKY to the perky (Ilfenesh Hadera, the fit secretary in Billions) and pervy (The Rock getting wood) cast of Baywatch (Not Released Yet Worldwide; June 1), one of six early summer blockbusters coming out over the next three weeks. Needless to say it will be pants of a bikini variety. No continuity link needed for Captain Underpants (NRYW; June 1), but perhaps you need a Freudian analysis if The Mummy (NRYW; June 1) comes to mind. In the former, an American animation, two schoolboy pranksters hypnotise their principal into believing

he’s a superhero, while the latter makes 2017 only the third year this century in which Tom Cruise has bothered to make more than one film. We wish he hadn’t. Challenging the recent Ben Hur as the most pointless ever remake, it does at least have an appealing villainess in the form of Sofia Boutella (the bladerunner killer in Kingsman: The Secret Service). DC vs Marvel … yawn! COMPLETING the sextet are Alien Covenant (65; May 17), Wonder Woman (NRYW; June 1) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales (NRYW; May 24), and it’s hard to know whether any of them will truly deliver. Wonder Woman looks the best bet thanks to the presence of Israeli force of nature Gal Gadot, the only half-decent element involved in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in the lead role. And, of course, this is technically her genesis film (which tend to be the best), although it will be swiftly followed by appearances in back-to-back instalments of Justice League, the DC Comics riposte to Marvel’s The Avengers (Part 1 is out November 16 – when will it ever end?), which will feature Superman (please be dead), Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. What like Michael Fassbender in Prometheus? Almost, he was an android, and he gets to play two of them in Alien Covenant, a sequel to a prequel – a rare recipe for success in the industry, although at least Ridley Scott’s on board to direct again. Noomi Rapace has an uncredited role, as

does Guy Pearce, but presumably she’s in discovered video footage, so we won’t hold our breath that Salander’s alive. Any relation to Salazar, the revenge-seeking captain (Javier Bardem) in the latest Pirates yawn? We’re going to take a cutlass’s stab in the dark that Salazar is planning to electrocute Jack Sparrow’s earpiece a la the start of Live and Let Die in revenge for his character increasingly looking like an extra from Dances with Wolves. The dishy Brits are back for number five, alongside Stephen Graham (quiet since playing Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire) and Paul McCartney in the obligatory faded musician cameo. Bewitched by this one ELSEWHERE, our film of the month, The Witch (83, May 4), was sneaked out last minute two weeks ago. Hailed as a horror film of “exceptional originality” by the Wall Street Journal, it follows the exploits of a farmer (Finchy from The Office) in a New England wood in the 1630s. Painstakingly researched, like all classic films of the genre it’s all in the mind. You might imagine that the horror continues with the promising Everything, Everything (NRYW; May 25), the tale of a sheltered girl who falls for the boy next door. But he’s not a psycho or a vampire – suddenly we’re interested. Ah, the girl next door – as memories of superheroes, lifeguards and girls with guns fade away, some stay with us until the day we die.

‘THE GROWN-UPS’

DOCUMENTARY OF THE MONTH May 18th-24th: Experience the touching and eye-opening Chilean documentary ‘The Grown-Ups’ about a group of people with Down Syndrome longing for freedom and independence. 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

INOUT:TV

19 May - 9 June 2017

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

BARRACUDA SVT1, MAY 24, 21:00

PICK OF THE WEEK

TWENTY years ago, all Australian TV dramas and soaps looked the same: cheesy, breezy and easy on the eye. Take Sweat, a preposterous series about a school for elite athletes, which could have seamlessly been a subplot of Neighbours. Starring a young Heath Ledger – retrospectively for the purpose of DVD sales his part has been beefed up into a lead – it would have remained a curiosity had it

“Looks like the showers were cold today, boys.”

THE SCHEDULING of New Worlds doesn’t fill you will optimism. Surely if this 1680s miniseries set in the UK and US was good, they’d give it an evening slot? Set 20 years after the events of sister series The Devil’s Whore, the weaker cast suggests the budget was slashed, even though female fans will be pleased they’ve got Mr Grey (Jamie Dornan). Gabriel Byrne ticks that box for the over-50s, so placing him in the 1950s as a pathologist work-

COMING SOON “No flying the coop, Bitch”

proved for The Kennedys: After Camelot (SVT1, May 19 & 26, 21:30), which sees Mathew Perry take on the role of Ted. It’s preferable to ‘The Trumps: After Armageddon’ – so Exposing Steve Bannon (SVT2, May 28, 22:00) will help you brush up on the ideology of the White House that needs to take a hike. While The Islands and the Whales (DR2, May 20, 21:00) will tell you all you need to know about Faroese ‘fishing’. (BH)

DR2, May 25-26,15:10 New Worlds

SOME OF you think Twin Peaks (on HBO Nordic from May 22) is rubbish – and you might have a point. Just a quarter way through the eight-episode first season, co-creator David Lynch left Mark Frost to go it alone (to make Wild at Heart), and it shows. It’s only when Lynch returns for S2 that Twin Peaks

really starts to pick up the pace and become the series that many of us still love today. But then executives pressured the pair to wrap up ‘Who killed Laura Palmer’ sharpish and new story-lines failed to bite, like Agent Cooper’s romance (initially he was supposed to hook up with teenager Audrey Horne, but real-life girl-friend Lara

Flynn Boyle got it shelved). Anyhow, Lynch and Frost, this time with complete control, are returning, as are Cooper and Audrey, but fortunately not Boyle. Elsewhere, The Wizard of Lies (out May 21) stars Robert De Niro as Ponzi scheme fraudster Bernie Madoff and Michelle Pfeiffer as his wife; Kevin Bacon

not been for the emergence of Barracuda, an Australian miniseries with a near identical plot, which is set in the same year, but could not be more different. Partly inspired by the story of swimmer Daniel Kowalski, the immigrant’s son who threatened to depose all-Australian golden boy Kieren Perkins, it’s a thoughtprovoking exploration of the pressure faced by young athletes and the discrimination they often face if they don’t fit the poster-boy vision of what a gold medallist should look like. BEN HAMILTON

ALSO NEW

is (perhaps aptly) the title character in Jill Soloway’s (Transparent) academia dramedy I Love Dick (74); S1 of anthology series Genius (65) focuses on Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush); while Mary Kills People (66) follows a female doctor who kills terminally-ill patients – hopefully with less job satisfaction than Dr Harold Shipman. (BH) CHASCOW

UNCIDUNCI

WONKER

ANOTHER season without a trophy for Spurs, and it will hurt even more if Arsenal upset Chelsea’s double plans in the FA Cup Final. Elsewhere, Ajax play Man Utd in the Europa League Final (K6, May 24, 20:45) and Real Madrid take on Juventus in the Champions League Final (3+, June 3, 19:00). Elsewhere, the French Open starts and F1 continues with the Monaco GP. (BH)

ing at a Dublin morgue – what’s not to like about Quirke (DR2, May 24-26, 23:00)? Well, everything apparently. Also set in that decade is Churchill’s Secrets (SVT1, May 30, 21:50), a made-for-TV drama depicting the British PM’s hushed-up stroke in 1953 that finally brought an end to his political career. Nowhere near as good as The Crown, Michael Gambon is unconvincing as Winston. And the casting hasn’t im-

SPORT OF THE WEEK K6, May 27, 18:15 FA Cup Final: Arsenal vs Chelsea

3+, May 28, 12:30 Formula 1: Monaco Grand Prix

FILM OF THE WEEK Zulu, June 4, 22:35 The Grand Budapest Hotel

TV3, June 4, 21:00 Interstellar

DRK, May 25, 21:30 The Immigrant

Eurosport, May 22-June 11 French Open tennis

COMPARING Metacritic and IMDB is very much like contrasting the jury and public voting at Eurovison. We’ll take Metacritic’s word for it that The Immigrant is worthy of inclusion in this week’s picks alongside Christopher Nolan’s emotionally-taut sci-fi Interstellar and Wes Andersen’s most acclaimed ever film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. (BH)

CPH STAGE is proud to present the largest program up until now, with more than 120 plays, performances and events taking place all over Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. More than 50 performances will be accessible to non-Danish speakers. You will find both Danish and international productions and a long list of other events. Visit cphstage.com for the full program and information. Or drop by the Festival Center at The Royal Theatre / The Playhouse during the festival for personal guidance and tickets. Welcome! cphstage.dk #cphstage

31.05 — 11.06 2017