Eplene i Messehagen

The Musical Theatre Production Eplene i Messehagen (The Apples in the Messe Garden)

From internal songs shared among friends to performing for thousands of enthusiastic Trønders, this group has experienced more than they ever imagined. With hits like Panzerfylla, Læven, and Apparatet, the band brings an evening of energy and atmosphere! But wait – that’s a different event. Let’s focus on the musical theatre piece:

Eplene i Messehagen is a musical theatre production that explores the tensions between mine workers and management, broken dreams, class divides – all wrapped in humour and powerful music. Have you seen it? Heard the music? Been to Malm? Now’s your chance to experience Eplene i Messehagen – whether for the first time or once again. Since its premiere in 2008, this acclaimed production has been seen and heard by over 35,000 audience members. The mining history of Malm is told through themes of class, love, and hope – with a generous dose of humour and unforgettable music. Written and composed by Rasmus Rohde, this is musical theatre of a rare kind.

The Title

The name refers to the apple trees in the garden of Messa, the director’s residence at Fosdalens Bergverk, which operated the mine in Malm from 1906. No workers were allowed inside until 1980, though local youth often snuck into the garden to steal apples.

Rasmus Rohde

Rasmus Rohde wrote both the lyrics and music for Eplene i Messehagen. The script is inspired by company newsletters from Fosdalens Bergverk and interviews with mine workers and locals from Malm. The story is not a documentary, but a fictional narrative based on events that could have happened. Rasmus is a musician, lyricist, composer, and playwright. He studied music and history and is a trained screenwriter from the Norwegian Film School in Lillehammer.

Messehagen

Messehagen is the garden of Messa, a grand villa in Malm that served for many years as the residence of the director of Fosdalens Bergverk. Built in the 1930s, the villa overlooks the Beitstadfjord. The director lived there until 1946, and in the early 1950s, the house was converted into a company residence.

The large property included fruit trees and a private tennis court. Each year, company officials were invited to Christmas gatherings at Messa, but workers were never allowed inside. It wasn’t until the 1980s that ordinary people saw the interior.

Messa was located on the east side of the Ressem River, across from Ressemlia, where company officials lived in elegant detached houses – nicknamed “Latterlia” (Laughter Hill). On the other side of the river, workers lived in Malmlia, an area known locally as “Korea.” While housewives in Korea shopped at local stores, some of the officials’ wives were chauffeured to Trondheim for exclusive shopping trips.

Around 1960, the director paid about NOK 80 in rent for the villa and earned NOK 15,000 more annually than the Prime Minister.

A Community Shaped by Mining

Mining deeply influenced the local community. In the 1950s, record numbers were employed at the mine, bringing strong tax revenues to the village. A modern school and new community centre were built, and cultural life flourished. At the mine’s 50th anniversary in 1956, a festive dinner for 1,400 people was held in a giant tent at the school grounds, with Norwegian entertainment legend Leif Juster among the performers. Today, the director’s villa is privately owned. No one lives there, but it is occasionally used for events.

Presented by: Gruveteater