From Page & Screen to Stage: jonas GardellS “Never Wipe Tears” Adapted into a Musical
Jonas Gardell‘s acclaimed novel trilogy, “Never wipe Tears” ( Aldrig mera hemma), is being reimagined as a musical, set to premiere at Stockholm’s Göta Lejon theater. The story, centered on the lives of a group of young gay men in 1980s Stockholm, explores themes of love, acceptance, and loss against the backdrop of the emerging AIDS crisis.
Gardell emphasizes the authenticity of the narrative: “Everything that happens here is actually true, all the characters have existed and we have a responsibility for them, we have been very careful about that.” He notes the significance of the theatre location, stating, “This is exactly where everything unfolded.”
The musical will feature Ola Salo as Paul, a complex character who even orchestrates a celebratory atmosphere at his own funeral.Paul plays a pivotal role in bringing the central couple, Rasmus and Benjamin, together, initially at a Christmas Eve party.The story follows Rasmus, who arrives in Stockholm from Koppom, Värmland, and contracts AIDS shortly after, described by Gardell as happening “out of stupid politeness.” He finds profound love with Benjamin, who has left the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The journey to bring the story to the stage has been lengthy, spanning six years. The project originated after Gardell penned the script for a 2012 television adaptation. Despite initial resistance – with one executive questioning audience interest in “gays dying of AIDS” – the series proved immensely popular, even prompting nursing homes to adjust viewing schedules to accommodate elderly residents. Gardell recalls the powerful response,including individuals reaching out to share the locations of their children’s graves,stating,”listen,can we tell you where our children are buried,because now we are no longer ashamed.”
fredrik Kempe, who contributed a song to the TV series, instantly envisioned a musical adaptation. “There are very few stories that burst with musicality and I felt that this one did,” he explains, adding that he persistently advocated for the project until receiving approval.
While drawing from the original novels, the musical will offer a slightly altered focus compared to the television series, highlighting the strength of mothers’ love for their sons and the spirit of youthful rebellion. Kempe hopes the production will inspire courage, noting the cyclical nature of pandemics: “There is a constant pandemic, it feels like, whether it is indeed called Putin, corona or AIDS, it is regrettably something that all young people have to live through.”
Gardell expresses aspiring hopes for the musical’s legacy, playfully admitting to being “very bigoted” in his aspirations: “I hope that some of the songs will become part of a Swedish song treasure that will be sung long after me and Fredrik are gone.”
