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Step into the Shadow World

Welcome to a world where you create your own story—a world where the boundaries of reality dissolve and imagination takes over. LARP, or live-action role-playing, is a form of theater without an audience and a growing scene both internationally and here at home. We met with the organizers behind the Skuggsagor LARP in Skellefteå, who take us into a world of magic.

Larp, or live-action role-playing, is an interactive and improvised form of theater without an audience, in which participants portray fictional characters in a world they create together. Through costumes, props, and acting, participants experience a story that they themselves help shape. The role-playing usually takes place over a weekend and is often organized into campaigns that span a longer period of time.

The world that is brought to life is up to the organizers and participants. Just as in theater, film, and literature, there is a wide variety of genres to choose from—ranging from realistic depictions of war to post-apocalyptic scenarios and magical worlds of knights. We spoke with Tinah and Tobias Ekwall, two of the organizers behind the fantasy campaign *Skuggsagor*.

- LARP offers a chance to experience something completely different and to be someone else for a while. The genres differ greatly, and tastes vary. For example, I personally wouldn’t go to a war LARP, while others love it and might not be at all drawn to fantasy LARPs. The fantasy genre, in particular, often has strong ties to the outdoors and crafts, and many are drawn to the opportunity to experience the spirit of the times,” says Tobias.

Person med pilbåge i skogen

What began as participation in events organized by others eventually evolved into greater responsibility behind the scenes.

“At first, we took part in other organizers’ LARPs. When it turned out that one of them was going to be shut down due to a lack of organizers, we thought maybe we could take it over.” It was a post-apocalyptic LARP, and we ended up running that campaign for six years,” says Tinah.

The LARP scene is growing both internationally and here in the north. The format is constantly evolving, especially when it comes to safety and consent. These are issues that are being discussed more and more, and Skuggsagor in Skellefteå was an early adopter of clear guidelines on gender equality—something that is now standard practice.

- At Skuggsagor, we were early adopters in actively working on gender equality. There are many stereotypes, especially in the fantasy world, and a few years ago, the language was much harsher. It’s something we feel we’ve successfully worked to eliminate. Today, both safety and gender equality policies are standard, says Tinah.

- Consent in LARP is incredibly important, adds Tobias. It’s important to be clear that you can “act” like you’re fighting, but that it’s not real. You can always say “stop” and check in with each other afterward to see if it felt okay.

Hand som håller i tärningar

In and around Skellefteå alone, the number of campaigns has increased in recent years, and interest is growing among all age groups. Skuggsagor has had participants ranging in age from 15 to 60. Tinah and Tobias now hope that even more people will discover this form of theater.

“It’s all about finding your genre—then you can almost always find something that suits you. We’re beginner-friendly and want people to be able to participate even if they’re complete beginners. If you’re interested in Skuggsagor, feel free to get in touch with us.” There’s a bit of a barrier to entry since you need costumes and equipment, but we have some items you can borrow.

Although Skuggsagor has an age limit of 15, there are other campaigns aimed at children and young people. For younger participants, Tinah and Tobias recommend Academia Octavia, a campaign with lower barriers to entry and fewer requirements.

“It’s very ‘come as you are’ and Harry Potter-inspired,” says Tobias.

Text: Sofia Hedström

Photo: Tilda Olofsgård

Beyond our world lies another: the Shadow World, the Land of Twilight, or the Shadow Realms. There lies a strange land where the darkness is denser, the laws of physics are distorted, and spirits roam the earth. In certain places, the boundary between the physical world and the Shadow World is thinner. One place notorious for this is the Shadow Forest—the deep forest that separates the cities of the Archipelago from the moors and mountains of Kargamarken. In such places, a careless choice of path can lead you into the Shadow Realm. There, spirits, subterranean beings, and elven folk may also emerge from their shadow-shrouded realms. Most people fear or respect these mysterious beings.