A fast-paced stage fairy tale in the spirit of a rough rock musical
The dogs live in Väinölä in peace, in harmony with nature. But when Louhi and her wolf henchmen stop to rest in the village, she has a wild plan in her head: to steal the sun from the sky. Väinölä’s idyll is shattered when Louhi begins to carry out her intentions.
Who Captured the Sun is based on Mauri Kunnas’s Kalevala of Dogs, whose initial setting and the confrontation between greed and nature conservation spoke to writer-director Liila Jokelin.
In his opinion, the idea of robbing the sun in all its absurdity describes this time well: “It seemed timely that the villain in the story wants to steal natural resources in order to get rich.”
Jokelin thought it was fun to start building an adventurous, humorous and musical stage fairy tale from these ingredients and the mythical elements of the Kalevala.
“We are loyal to Mauri Kunnas’s world and strive to preserve its recognizability, but the aesthetic choices also involve our own interpretation.”
Kalevala meets rock
The play Who Captured the Sun has a rough, rock musical spirit, Jokelin describes. In addition to rock and pop influences, the music includes nuances of folk music.
Jokelin has composed the songs together with multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Lauri Schreck at his home studio. The work began after the script and lyrics were ready.
“At the very beginning, we split the songs in half. I made bases for my own parts at home with the guitar and took them to Lauri. Lauri, on the other hand, had made the bases for his own legs. Then we built the musical dramaturgy and other instruments for each song together,” Jokelin says.
In their compositions, the script has largely determined the musical choices they make. “We always started with the lyrics of the songs and the situation we are in at any given time in the story.”
Jokelin has also worked as a singer-songwriter for a long time and has recorded two albums. “I started making songs in my twenties and performing them in public at the age of 24. Since then, I’ve been actively touring solo, with different duo formations and with a band.”
He believes that the musical’s lyrics in particular are recognizable to those who are familiar with his previous musical production. “But of course, when we have had another composer as a partner, his handprint can also be heard in the music.”
Joy for the whole family
Jokelin grew up in the theatre. His family includes several theatre workers, and already as a child he spent time in rehearsals and went to see performances.
Theatre fascinates her especially because it combines many art forms and is at the same time a holistic and bodily experience. “Theatre takes place in the present moment and creates an interactive relationship between the audience and the performers. There is magic in it that still goes under the skin after 35 years.”
Jokelin says that he has not given much thought to making a play for children. “As a child, I watched everything from Disney cartoons to adult films. I don’t want to underestimate the child, but primarily make them a work of art.”
From the play Who Captured the Sun , he aims to make a spectacular-like performance that will feature costumes, great emotions and spectacular numbers.
Jokelin hopes that child viewers will experience the play as an adventure and gain new insights from it, for example, about the importance of nature to humans.
“But there is humour for adults as well. There is a lot to be gained in children’s theatre if everyone enjoys the work, because then it becomes a shared experience for the whole family.”
Text Ida Henritius