Country: Sweden

Biography

Rasmus Lindgren is a critically acclaimed actor who has been part of the ensemble at Backa Teater since 2003. He graduated from the Malmö Theatre Academy in 2001 and completed a master’s program in advanced acting at the University of Gothenburg. He has performed at international festivals in Paris, Venice, and Warsaw. Rasmus was awarded the Gothenburg City Cultural Grant in 2023.

As both actor and director, Rasmus has worked extensively in documentary and interdisciplinary projects exploring themes such as belonging, family, home, and authenticity in an increasingly alienated world. His acclaimed production Rött kort was selected for the Swedish Biennial in 2015. He has directed for leading institutions like Unga Klara, Folkteatern, and Regionteatern Blekinge-Kronoberg.

Rasmus is also a dedicated teacher who frequently collaborates with amateurs and youth ensembles and has trained in leadership for stage directors with Gaia Leadership. He has created sound-based works for Göteborgs Konsthall and a short film screened at the Gothenburg Film Festival. He has collaborated with prominent artists such as Ruben Östlund, Gabriela Pichler, Mattias Andersson, Johan Renck, and Suzanne Osten.

In autumn 2025, he will perform in Mohammad Al Attar’s new play Fear and 2026 he is engaged as director for a new play at Backa Teater.

Biography

Eleftheria Gerofoka was born and raised in Greece. She graduated with honors from the National Drama School of Athens at the age of 21 and studied journalism and philosophy at Athens University. Since then, she has performed in numerous theatre productions—both classical and contemporary—across Europe.

She received the Best Actress Award at the Athens International Film Festival for her leading role in When Fish Fly, directed by Vilka Tzouras.

Since 2011, she has been based in Sweden. She was a core member of Angereds Teater in Gothenburg, where she worked as both an actress and director, and she is currently part of the permanent ensemble at Backa Teater, appearing in a number of acclaimed productions.

Her directing work includes children’s and political theatre such as Cargo (in collaboration with Circus Debre Berhan), Bananhuset, The Baron in the Trees (inspired by Italo Calvino), and the unique theatrical adaptation Himmel över Göteborg, based on the work of Wim Wenders. All her productions have been critically acclaimed, and she is widely recognized as one of the most authentic and distinctive directors working today.

Eleftheria speaks six languages: Greek, Swedish, English, French, Russian, and Turkish. She has trained internationally with Bob Wilson, Romeo Castellucci, and Theodoros Terzopoulos, and has participated in residencies and labs including LOLA ARIAS, Onassis Cultural Centre, Berlinale Talent Campus, Sarajevo Talent Campus, and Künstlerhaus Mousonturm.

Her artistic work merges embodied performance, poetic language, and political urgency, often exploring themes such as memory, migration, and mother-daughter relationships.

Social media: https://www.instagram.com/elgerofoka/  @elgerofoka

The Little Girl with Gortsa

IDEA AND INITIATOR Eleftheria Gerofoka

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Eleftheria Gerofoka, Rasmus Lindgren

PERFORMED BY Eleftheria Gerofoka, Vasiliki ”Kiki” Gerofoka

LIGHT AND ROOM Bella Oldenqvist

SOUND Jonas Redig

DRAMATIC TEXT Christina Ouzounidis

ARTISTIC MENTOR Lola Arias

DRAMATURGE Kristina Ros

MOVEMENT INSTRUCTOR Joseba Yerro Izaguirre

A co-production between Backa Teater and Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival A part of PROSPERO NEW – European Platform for the Promotion of Emerging Artists

Synopsis:

Eleftheria’s mother, Kiki, is illiterate. Letters remained mysteries — secret curlicues dividing her from the initiated. Yet the stories within her needed to be told. A necessity so strong she created her own alphabet.

The Little Girl with Gortsa is a personal and poetic play about a mother who grew up in a refugee village in northern Greece, shaped by stones and tobacco, where survival demanded hard work. It also follows her daughter, who leaves to pursue her dreams, with her mother’s fairytales as comfort. The performance explores shame and love, class and origin, driven by the need of self-expression.

Touring dates upcoming: To be announced.

Previous dates: WORLD PREMIERE on August 30, 2024, Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival

REVIVAL on March 26, 2025, at Backa Teater in Gothenburg

GUEST PERFORMANCE on May 24. 2025, at Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin

Contacts for interests: Lisa Nowotny, producer