Years in the making, a new musical adaptation of Jonas Gardell’s celebrated novel trilogy is set to premiere this fall at Stockholm’s Göta Lejon theater, offering a theatrical exploration of love, loss, and resilience during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1980s Sweden. The production, based on a story initially met with resistance from television executives who questioned public interest in depicting the realities of the epidemic, aims to honor the lives and stories of those impacted by the disease [[1]]. Gardell’s work, and now this stage adaptation, continues to spark conversations about remembrance, societal stigma, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
A new musical based on Jonas Gardell’s acclaimed novel trilogy is set to premiere at Stockholm’s Göta Lejon theater, bringing a poignant story of love and loss during the early AIDS crisis to the stage.
The production, years in the making, centers on the relationship between Rasmus and Benjamin, two young men finding their place in 1980s Stockholm. Gardell, the author of the original work, emphasized the importance of authenticity, stating, “All that happens here is actually true, all the characters have existed and we have a responsibility to them, we have been very careful about that.”
A Celebration of Life Amidst Tragedy
Ola Salo will portray the flamboyant Paul, a character who orchestrates a memorable, even celebratory, wake for himself and plays a pivotal role in bringing Rasmus and Benjamin together at a Christmas Eve party.
Gardell’s story follows Rasmus, who travels from the Swedish countryside to Stockholm and unknowingly contracts HIV shortly after arriving. He finds solace and deep connection with Benjamin, who has left the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. The musical delves into their passionate relationship against the backdrop of a rapidly escalating health crisis.
The project faced initial resistance after Gardell first pitched it as a television series in 2012. “But someone wanted to stop it and said ‘who wants to see gay men die of AIDS?’” Gardell recalled. He was ultimately proven wrong, as the series resonated deeply with audiences. “Quite a few showed it. When the TV series finally aired, nursing homes moved bedtime forward because the elderly wanted to watch,” he said, adding that many viewers found the courage to share their own stories of loss. “Not to mention all those who said: ‘excuse me, can we tell where our children are buried, because we are no longer ashamed.’”
Fredrik Kempe, who composed a song for the original television series, immediately envisioned a musical adaptation, calling it “Sweden’s finest love story.” He persevered, “I felt that this story just sparkled with musicality, and I kept pushing until I got a yes.”
The creative team spent six years developing the musical, affectionately referring to it as “the best thing we’ve ever done.” They’ve drawn from the novels, but also shifted the focus to explore the love of mothers for their sons and the rebellious spirit of youth.
Kempe hopes the musical will offer a message of resilience, noting, “There seems to be a constant pandemic, whether it’s called Putin, corona or AIDS, it’s unfortunately something that all young people have to live through.”
Gardell, looking ahead, expressed his grandest hope for the production: “I hope that some of the songs will become part of a Swedish songbook that will be sung long after Fredrik and I are gone.”
