Two Beers: Tanita Skyttermoen Guldbrandsen
Two Beers with Tanita Skyttermoen Guldbrandsen
«If you’re doing anything – do it 100%”
If you haven’t heard of Åsa-Britt or seen an active, blonde girl from Bergen running around Samfunnet around the times of UKA (and all the other times), it is certainly about time! The woman is no other than Tanita Skyttermoen Guldbrandsen. Drama, revue and acting is in her blood (and in a bachelor’s degree), but she ended up studying landscape architecture in Ås.
Journalist: Ingvild Lauvstad
Translator: Pauline Marie Søndenå
Photographer: Lina Grünbeck
Photographer: Lina Grünbeck
Acting and theater from day one
We are not surprised to find Tanita in the make-up and costume attic, which she says is her favorite room in Samfunnet. She has spent countless hours in here, and she thinks of both Samfunnet and her shared housing across the train tracks as “home”. It is clear from the beginning that the building has given her many experiences to be grateful for. The conversation already gives us a feeling of being part of the student life Tanita has experienced.
The interest of drama came early and Tanita always knew she wanted to be an actress. She went straight to study drama in high school and after that there was a short way to a bachelor in acting in London. Acting is, for Tanita, a way to tell another person’s story. Even though she didn’t end up with an acting career in the end, she has learned a lot about empathy, compassion and being able to understand other people.
From bachelor in London to master in Ås
After the bachelor, the freelance life began, with all its highs and lows, and there were plenty of reminders that this was a challenging profession. There were three years with work – and enough economy to make you “know the tax administration by heart”. Tanita can still joke a bit about it, even though it was a great life experience. After a quarter life crisis and even reduced hearing, it was enough: Tanita needed a more stable job. She took half a year break in Sicily (which she strongly recommends for others too!) and then the hunt for a study program began – but what did she want to become?
It wasn’t made clear before she found, in a tiny cozy white wooden house, an office for landscape architecture. “Landscape architecture – dude, that sounds amazing!”. And just like that the actor life turned into a student life with a completely different subject. Tanita has not regretted it one bit.
Photographer: Lina Grünbeck
First impressions of Ås
Tanita knew nothing of Ås and remembers how her first impression was that Aud.Max. was a very sad building. That view has of course changed now that she has been a part of everything that happens on the inside! Her interests were quickly shared between the photography committee, NGA and Bergensforeninga Breiflabben. After a while, there was a generational change in NGA, and the actor from Bergen felt called to join IVAR. After two years in each choir, Tanita is now a gammelrøy. She sees it as part of her studies coming to an end, to let the younger students take the place and get the experiences.
The revue adventure begins
But if there was one thing that Tanita couldn’t miss being a part of, it was the UKE-revue. She was on stage as a part of the revue group in 2018, and her tone is warm and her smile wide when she talks of that time. After the revue in 2018, she was done acting in revues, but she was absolutely not done with revues! During the UKE-revue 2020, her job was behind the stage as a revue assistant. Tanita is excited and she thinks it is just as interesting to work behind the stage as on it. She wrote many of the skits for the revues of 2018 and 2020 and you get the impression that she still has plenty of ideas ready. Today, she is the Head of Revue in Samfunnet, and works with Agrarmetropodden – Samfunnet’s own podcast! Other than her studies, revue and acting, she loves to bathe and misses a good bathing place in Ås. The theme of her masters is bathing places!
Åsa-Britt – won the hearts of more than just the students
If there is anybody who has played many roles, it has got to be Tanita. But a more known and cherished role then Åsa-Britt Johansen can’t be found in Ås. Tanita tells us that Åsa-Britt was pure improvisation during the rehearsals for mini-UKA 2018. Gradually, the old lady develops in the actor’s mind, with good help from the rest of the revue ensemble. A Facebook profile was made and lots of fun were posted, especially in the Facebook group Ås kommunes venner – everything in the true spirit of Åsa-Britt! Tanita can reveal that the students are not the only ones who love Åsa-Britt – the profile even got messages from old men in search of love. Tanita laughs about the whole thing, and seems to really care for this old, funny lady. She tells us about a big, old white wooden house by Korsegården, which she thinks must be Åsa-Britt’s home. Tanita drove past it one day, and saw it was renovated. Tanita seems a bit sad that Åsa-Britt may be gone, before she remembers that she could have found herself an elderly home or an apartment with an elevator. Where she has gone, only time can tell…
Photographer: Lina Grünbeck
Photographer: Lina Grünbeck
Just try it!
If there is anything Tanita is left with after her time in Ås, it is definitely that the environment is so diverse. She has rediscovered her passion for acting and discovered that you just have to jump into things and try them, and at the same time, there is room for error. Ås has taught her to also give others the same space to be themselves and try and fail. A mistake Tanita thinks the made, was trying to write an erotic short story for Tuntreet. She is not tempted to try that again! The good thing is that there is always position to take at Samfunnet instead. “If you’re doing anything – do it 100%”.
Greetings for Tanita
Dear Tanita.
As I am writing this, I am sitting with a smile on my face. Because, that’s the kind of person you are, the one you get really happy thinking of and even happier spending time with. Through everyday life, lunch breaks, group assignments and study trips, you are always the one to join in on the fun and always the one to give a smile.
In addition to being awfully good at everything you do, you are a rare combination of humor, curiosity, wisdom, empathy, patience, ability to communicate and commitment. No less. As your classmate, I find it hard no not use these qualities to my own advantage. For instance, by using you as a sparring partner for my silly ideas and thoughts, text editor and a guide in life generally. You make people around you think and reflect, and you always have a positive comment and good constructive criticism to give.
I will maybe never be able to repay all the good help you offer, but I will continue to do my best with coffee and cozy times for the time being. It has been an honor to spend four years of my studies in Ås with you and I’m looking forward to the rest of our last year in Akropolis!
A big hug and a good cup of coffee from Natalie
TRALALALANITA
Tanita, Jåsspeisen, Tanitix, Talentina, Ms. Gold, Ås’ Beyoncé, Queen, God, cherished lady, many names. You came through the door as Carolina to be a UKA-actor in 2018, and we have all been captured by your stormy winds ever since. Well, since then you’ve managed to creep deep into our hearts, and we feel that we have managed to creep into our heart too. You know that stuff, making us feel nice and good, and you have one of those smiles that just make you feel at home immideately. And despite your incredible talent, your inexhaustible creative brain and your lovely nature, you’re always humble and have far too few diva moments (one every once in a while you have to allow yourself). Ås does well with you in charge of both this and that, because, in addition to all the crazy ideas, you manage to keep everything in order. You are a complete package. And we should be thankful, because imagine all you have done to give the people of Ås good entertainment, especially revue! You say it well: «I have used far too much time on this, considering that it’s just nonsense!». But if there is anything we have benefited from, it is all the nonsense you think of. We are looking forward to year after year with more Tanita, on stage, behind manuscripts, on screens, on radio, on visits, on a picnic in a self-drawn park (possibly on the Sotra bridge) and in our hearts.
The warmest hug you can imagine from Ingrid and Synneva and the rest of your revue crowd.
Dear Tanita
Wow!
The best!
Good as gold, that’s you!
Tanita, you’re a jack of all trades! You have conjured an easter crime story, Norwegian National Championship in student revue and a true crime and conspiracy-revealing Halloween special! She is quite simply the cornerstone in our creative machinery.
A little over half a year ago, you sat down to write a radio crime story lasting five to ten minutes. Today, you have built up a manuscript portfolio longer than an average master’s thesis. Following your wirting projects has been like trying to remember how tall ceiling ofAud. Max. is. Still, your ambitious projects have not been any bother, rather the opposite! As long as one is working with you, it doesn’t matter how long it takes. In a way, it can be compared to eating a chicken baguette with curry sauce: it doesn’t matter how long it takes, because you enjoy every bite.
Thats what she said!
No, wait.
I lost my train of thought.
Anyways – it’s not that important!
The point is: We take off our helmets and lick the dust. You’re working harder than Rudolf Risvang, have a voice prettier than Kåre Cortado and a working spirit bigger than Jonny from Stovner. No matter if we’re talking about the producer of the revue championship, author of radio theater, or just someone you met at Click. You’re a delight to exist alongside.
A big hug from us,
In Agrarmetropodden’s drama department.
