Finnish showcase 2014

Tampere Theatre Festival

FINNISH SHOWCASE 2014

1

46TH TAMPERE THEATRE FESTIVAL 4.-10.8.2014

FINNISH SHOWCASE 2014 WELCOME TO TAMPERE THEATRE FESTIVAL’S FOURTH FINNISH SHOWCASE! Finnish Showcase 2014 offers the opportunity to experience some of this year’s best Finnish performances, to meet with the creators of the performances and to hear what is new in Finnish theatre. Finnish Showcase offers an accessible meeting opportunity for international theatre and festival managers, performers, writers and directors and Finnish theatre professionals. During the Festival week there are also gatherings and other smaller events organized especially for Festival’s international guests as a part of the Finnish Showcase programme.

This Showcase booklet gives you information on the Finnish Showcase 2014 programme as a whole; timetable for the Festival week, information on events and directions how to find them plus insight on the artists, performances, discussions and other events presented in the Showcase programme.

Finnish Showcase 2014 is organized by Tampere Theatre Festival and TINFO Theatre Info Finland in collaboration with Centre for Practise as Research in Theatre and Nordic Drama Corner.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Finnish Showcase has its own website with detailed information on programme, each event, the artists and additional materials on Finnish Theatre. www.finnishshowcase.com

MORE INFORMATION

Saara Rautavuoma, producer Tampere Theatre Festival | Finnish Showcase 2014 +358 50 302 0706 saara.rautavuoma@teatterikesa.fi

3

INDEX

Welcome to Finnish Showcase 2014.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Map of Tampere .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Festival Week Programme for International Guests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 PERFORMANCES IN THE MAIN PROGRAMME NOIR | Sonya Lindfors & Zodiak – Centre for New Dance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 DEATH OF A MAN | Dance Theatre Minimi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 POP SLUT | Pop Slut & KokoTeatteri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 TAKE OFF YOUR SKIN | Teater Viirus & Teater 90°. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 POST-SHOWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THREE CASES OF FINNISH THEATRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Case I: Performance Design in Finland: My Works, My Thinking, My Desires – Powered by PechaKucha Case II: Performance Center Eskus and SoSA – Social Space Agency -project Case III: Meet the RedNoseClub INFO & CONTACT INFORMATION Tampere Theatre Festival & TINFO – Theatre Info Finland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4

MAP OF TAMPERE

tu Kuninkaanka FINNISH SHOWCASE 2014 VENUES TTT Klubi Hallituskatu 19 Centre for Practise as Research in Theatre 4th floor, Hämeenpuisto 28 D Hällä stage Hämeenkatu 25 Laikku Stage Old Library House’s Park (near Keskustori) TT Frenckell Frenckellinaukio 2 Tullikamarin aukio Restaurant Telakka Tullikamarin aukio 3 Teatterimonttu University of Tampere, Main Building, Wing D, Kalevantie 4

Theatre Festival Office Tullikamarin aukio 2 Programme Tent & Festival Info Keskustori

5

FESTIVAL WEEK PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL GUESTS TUESDAY 5.8.

12.00-13.00 19.00-20.15

Opening Ceremonies Noir?

Laikku Stage Hällä stage

WEDNESDAY 6.8.

13.30-14.45 14.50-15.30 19.00-20.40 20.45-21.45

Noir?

Noir? -post-show Death of a Man Death of a Man -Post-Show

Hällä stage Hällä stage foyer TT Frenckell TT Frenckell foyer

THURSDAY 7.8.

14.00-15.40 16.00-17.00

Death of a Man RYE BREAD -Get Together

TT Frenckell Restaurant Telakka

FRIDAY 8.8.

12.00- 16.30-17.50 20.00-21.20

Sightseeing Tour of Tampere Pop Slut Pop Slut

Tullikamarin aukio TTT Klubi TTT Klubi

SATURDAY 9.8.

11.00-14.00 19.00-21.00 21.00-22.00

Three Cases of Finnish Theatre – Showcase Event Take Off Your Skin Take Off Your Skin -Post-Show

Centre for Practise as Research in Theatre Teatterimonttu Teatterimonttu foyer

SUNDAY 10.8.

13.00-15.00

Take Off Your Skin

Teatterimonttu

www.finnishshowcase.com www.finnishshowcase.com

6

PERFORMANCES IN MAIN PROGRAMME

7

Sonya Lindfors & Zodiak – Center for New Dance

NOIR?

Choreographed and directed by Sonya Lindfors

The first fully African-Finnish dance piece Noir? is choreographed with the beat, rhythm and attitude of hip-hop. The performance “slams the African-Finnish pressure points on the table: it takes on the tough issues of difference, rootlessness and feelings of shame.” (Jonni Aromaa, Yle News) Besides choreographer Sonya Lindfors, Noir? features two dancers and an actor/rap artist. All four have African heritage but Finland is their home country; this is where they grew up. The number of similar young people in the Nordic countries is growing fast.

Uupi Tirronen

Noir? is poignant and intense. It brings sensitive and painful personal issues to the stage without forgetting to leave room for humor. When done well, playing on stereotypes and preconceptions can be absolutely hilarious.

Every perfomance was sold out in Helsinki. Noir? is an openly political dance piece and as such, a welcome rarity. It is a true plea for tolerance.

PERFORMERS Esete Sutinen, Deogracias Masomi, Julian Owusu and Sonya Lindfors SOUND DESIGNER Hannu Hauta-aho LIGHTING DESIGNER Erno Aaltonen COSTUME CONSULTANT Sanna Levo SCENOGRAPHY CONSULTANT Aino Koski

8

Performances in Main Programme Tue 5.8. 19.00 & Wed 6.8. 13.30, Hällä stage 1h15min Performed in Finnish and English, subtitles in English Meet the Artist POST-SHOW discussion with Sonya Lindfors Wed 6.8. 14.50-15.30 Hällä stage foyer

Dance Theatre Minimi

DEATH OF A MAN Written by Miko Kivinen Directed by Leea Klemola

There is a man, his pregnant wife and his ex-partner. The makings of a good old-fashioned love triangle, which in this case has nothing prudish or affected about it. As usual, Leea Klemola has stayed true to her own keen perceptiveness.

Miko Kivinen is absolutely terrific as Kuolio, the wacky narrator of the performance. Kuolio is a self-appointed (and slightly delusional) reformer with grandiose plans to save the world: mankind is doomed, therefore a new kind of man must be born.

Death of a Man is an unrestrained, grotesque farce and cabaret, which undoubtedly provides plenty of material for the never-ending debate on gender roles.

“Explicitly twisted camp for all your money’s worth!”

(Annukka Ruuskanen, Theatre&Dance+Circus Magazine) PERFORMERS Jukka Horsmanheimo, Johanna Keinänen, Miko Kivinen, Antti Lahti and Liisa Ruuskanen CHOREOGRAPHY Working group LIGHTING DESIGNER Sam Siltavuori SCENOGRAPHY Erkki Saarainen COSTUME DESIGN Mirkka Nyrhinen COSTUMES (production) Virpi Tiittanen MUSIC Kuolio ja Myrkky SOUND DESIGNER Jussi M. Kärkkäinen

Petra Tiihonen

The women are happy to go along with the plan and the two agree to raise the child together. But do things change for the better when the man leaves?

Performances in Main Programme Wed 6.8. 19.00 & Thu 7.8. 14.00, TT Frenckell 1h40min, intermission Performed in Finnish, subtitles in English Meet the Artists POST-SHOW discussion with writer Miko Kivinen and director Leea Klemola Wed 6.8. 20.45-21.45 TT Frenckell foyer

9

Pop Slut & KokoTeatteri

POP SLUT Concept and directed by Sara Melleri Dramaturgy by Iida Hämeen-Anttila In Sara Melleri’s first directing work, five female pop music icons storm the stage to the beat of penetrating club music.

Each one wants to seduce the audience, craves to have all eyes on her; they are noisy, lovely and a lot of fun.

Performances in Main Programme Fri 8.8. 16.30 & 20.00, TTT Klubi 1h20min Performed in Finnish, subtitles in English

Miikka Lommi

Pop Slut is a sparkling musical show, which has borrowed material from artist interviews, music videos and song lyrics.

Madonna, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Britney Spears can tell better than anyone whether success and loneliness always walk hand in hand and what it means to be a female artist – an Independent Woman.

By examining female imagery in popular culture, particularly in music videos, Pop Slut inevitably takes a stand. What kind of gender roles are music videos portraying? What is the real message behind the lyrics?

The talented and versatile actors, their flashy characters, soundtrack, choreography, costumes and makeup all together make a superbly glamorous show.

PERFORMERS Rosanna Kemppi, Heidi Kirves, Iina Kuustonen, Annika Poijärvi and Kreeta Salminen

Strike a pose!

10

SCENOGRAPHY Aino Koski LIGHTING DESIGNER Erno Aaltonen COSTUME DESIGNER Henna-Riikka Taskinen MAKE-UP DESIGNER Mari Vaalasranta SOUND DESIGNER Jussi Österman CHOREOGRAPHY Markku Haussila

Teater Viirus & Teater 90°

TAKE OFF YOUR SKIN Written and directed by Lauri Maijala The setting is Heart Break Hotel, at some time in the future of Finland, after the economic system has collapsed.

When the nation seems to be sliding into total ruin, a massive copper deposit is found under the Western Metro Extension in Helsinki. It could save the Fatherland.

In all its wackiness, Take Off Your Skin is a sharp and clever production which engulfs you in its self-contained world.

“It can be said with certainty that there’s never been a performance like this. At least, not in Finland.” (Suna Vuori, HS)

Performances in Main Programme Sat 9.8. 19.00 & Sun 10.8. 13.00 Teatterimonttu 2h Performed in Swedish, subtitles in Finnish and English

PERFORMERS Maria Ahlroth, Pelle Heikkilä, Oskar Pöysti, Jessica Raita, Viktor Idman, Robert Kock, Peter Kanerva, Celia Hakala

Meet the Artist POST-SHOW discussion with writer-director Lauri Maijala and performers Sat 9.8. 21-22 Teatterimonttu foyer

SCENOGRAPHY, COSTUME and PROP DESIGNER Janne Vasama SOUND DESIGNER Kristian Ekholm LIGHTING DESIGNER Petri Tuhkanen MUSIC Ylermi Rajamaa (Robert Kock, Peter Kanerva)

Cata Portin

Take Off Your Skin gives capitalism a severe whipping in the style of director Lauri Maijala: unapologetically, with a take it or leave it attitude. The unbridled production is scornful of simplistic explanations. It makes allusions to pop culture and other sources, mismatches music genres and gallops headlong from satire to animal fables. The wild story rolls on unstoppably.

11

POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS Post-Show discussions are a great opportunity to meet, chat and ask questions from the artists in a casual setting right after seeing the performance.

NOIR?

Wednesday 6.8. 14.50-15.30 Hällä stage foyer

ARTIST choreographer-director-dancer Sonya Lindfors MODERATOR Harri Kuorelahti, artistic director of Zodiak ORGANIZED BY Zodiak – Center for New Dance

DEATH OF A MAN

Wednesday 6.8. 20.45-21.45 TT Frenckell foyer

ARTISTS writer Miko Kivinen and director Leea Klemola MODERATOR Hanna Helavuori, director of Theatre Info Finland ORGANIZED BY Nordic Drama Corner

TAKE OFF YOUR SKIN

12

Saturday 9.8. 21-22 Teatterimonttu foyer

ARTISTS writer-director Lauri Maijala and performers MODERATOR Hanna Helavuori, director of Theatre Info Finland ORGANIZED BY TINFO – Theatre Info Finland

THREE CASES OF FINNISH THEATRE

Centre for Practise as Research in Theatre, 4th floor, Hämeenpuisto 28

SATURDAY 9.8. 11.00-14.00

Showcase event will give you insight on current aspects and phenomena of Finnish theatre through selection of various presentations.

CASE I

11.00 Performance Design in Finland: My Works, My Thinking, My D esires – Powered by PechaKucha Get acquainted with a selected group of interesting Finnish performance designers. Designers present their own works and thinking through rapid PechaKucha form, 20 images with 20 seconds of introduction per image. Presentation is followed by a discussion.

PechaKucha is hosted by Maiju Loukola Performance designers present: Kimmo Modig (sound designer), Tomi Suovankoski (lighting designer), Samuli Laine (lighting designer, scenographer), Kalle Ropponen (lighting designer, scenographer), Janne Vasama (scenographer), Maiju Loukola (scenographer), Pirjo Liiri-Majava (scenographer, costume designer) and Marja Uusitalo (costume designer).

CASE II

13.00 Performance Center Eskus and SoSA – Social Space Agency -project Hear a compact presentation of Performance Center Eskus, an artistic platform and a synergy house for live art and performance artists in Helsinki. Presentation by Jenny Nordlund, managing director of Eskus.

Get insight on current SoSA – Social Space Agency –project. Presentation by Pekko Koskinen.

Social space – the next frontier. This is the territory of SoSA. Its mission: to explore outside our social conventions, normalcy and routines, to find new forms of living, to expand our “civilization”, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

CASE III

13.30 Meet the RedNoseClub An opportunity to meet Finnish theatre group specialized in theatre clownery, the RedNoseClub, and hear about their upcoming international projects.

13

TAMPERE THEATRE FESTIVAL Tampere Theatre Festival is one of Europe’s most important festivals of professional theatre, serving as a display window for the finest Finnish and international productions. Tampere Theatre Festival is a non-profit organisation founded in 1968. Every year the festival draws over 80 000 visitor to about 350 events. The festival consist of several entities: Main Programme, OFF Tampere fringe festival, Programme Tent, Club Festival Encorebaana, The Great Nocturnal Happening, Finnish Showcase plus Additional Programme of meetings, seminars, discussions and more.

Executive Director Hanna Rosendahl

Artistic Team 2014 Kaarina Hazard, Media researcher, Journalist Mikko Kanninen, Actor, Director, Researcher Mikko Roiha, Director

CONTACT Saara Rautavuoma Producer, Finnish Showcase +358 50 302 0706 saara.rautavuoma@teatterikesa.fi

Kirsti Koski Coordinator for International Guests +358 3 222 8536 kirsti.koski@teatterikesa.fi

Eevamaija Miettinen-Kopsa PR Manager Press Office +358 3 2140992 eevamaija.miettinen-kopsa @teatterikesa.fi

Tullikamarin aukio 2 FIN-33100 Tampere info@teatterikesa.fi www.teatterikesa.fi

TINFO – Theatre Info Finland TINFO

co-operates with professional theatre artists, theatre producers, festival directors, agencies and theatre organizations. facilitates artistic networks by organizing events, seminars, workshops, drama readings and showcases in co-operation with different partners. produces theatre information and statistics on Finnish theatre. provides material and advice on mobility, international networks, artist exchanges and Finnish theatres and artists.

IN COLLABORATION WITH CONTACT Hanna Helavuori Director +358 44 363 1722 hanna.helavuori@tinfo.fi

14

Jukka Hyde Hytti Executive Producer for International Projects +358 50 359 0861 jukka.hytti@tinfo.fi

Sari Havukainen Press and Communications +358 40 561 1516 sari.havukainen@tinfo.fi

WWW.FINNISHSHOWCASE.COM

4.–10.8.2014

tampereenTEATTERIKESÄ t a m p e r e

t h e a t r e

f e s t i v a l