Big Stage Lab: Artistic Design and Production in the Performing Arts II – Video Design for the Big Stage
In 2026–2027, the Helsinki City Theatre will organise the international Big Stage Lab seminar series, which examines the artistic design and production of works on the big stage. The aim of the series is to support the skills and career paths of performing arts professionals.
The second part of the seminar series is a two-day event that deals with video design for the big stage from the perspectives of artistic design and technical implementation. On Thursday 8 October, the artistic designers will go through case examples from their own work. On Friday 9 October, the training day will focus on practical work, especially on tours and on big stages.
Time: Thu 8.10 at 11–15.30 and Fri 9.10.2026 at 11–15
Location: Helsinki City Theatre, studio Elsa (Ensi Linja 2, Helsinki)
The speakers of the seminar day included visualist Ville Seppänen and freelance video designer and media artist Paula Lehtonen. The programme and list of speakers will be specified during August.
The event is a place of collegial sharing for designers working in and interested in video design and other performing arts professionals, such as directors, choreographers and producers.
Seminar day schedule 8.10.
10.30 – doors open
11.00–11.10 – Welcome and the course of the day
11.10–12.10 – the speaker will be confirmed during August
12.15–13.15 – Ville Seppänen: case Suliko
13.15–14.00 – lunch break at your own expense
14.00–15.00 – Paula Lehtonen: Case The Second Republic
15.00–15.30 – Summary of the day and final discussion
15.45–19.00 – informal afterparty, Restaurant FOYER
Training day schedule 9.10.
10.30 – doors open
11:00–13:00 – Morning theme: Tour readiness and video systems
13.00–13.45 – lunch break at your own expense
13.45–14.45 – Afternoon theme: Dream Big – Big Stage Dream Set Up
14.45–15.00 – Summary of the day and final discussion
19.00 – Elina Pirinen: Ghosts of Rosegarden (Dance House Helsinki, Erkko Hall)
Registration
The languages of the seminar and the training day are Finnish and English, and admission to them is free of charge by pre-registration. Register for the events here by 4.10. at 23.59. If you wish, you can only participate in one event day.
Participants of the Big Stage Lab event can get a discount ticket of 19 euros to Elina Pirinen’s Ghosts of Rosegarden performance at Dance House Helsinki on 9 October at 19:00 (for price area B, normal discount price 22 euros). The performance ticket is reserved at the time of event registration.
Speakers
Paula Lehtonen is a freelance video designer and media artist who has done video designs for performances at the National Theatre, Svenska teatern and Teatteri Jurkka, among others, most recently The Second Republic. In addition to working in theatres, Lehtonen works as a media artist in the field of visual arts, and her video works are in the art collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, EMMA and Wihuri. Lehtonen’s short films and video works have been screened at DocPoint and at several international film festivals.
www.paulalehtonen.net
Ville Seppänen has a bachelor’s degree in theatre and a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Helsinki (Teak) and a master’s degree in film and television from Tallinn (BFM). Seppänen’s visualisations have been seen on the stages of institutional theatres and independent theatres around Finland and Europe. Seppänen has worked in theatre, contemporary dance and opera as a lighting and video designer, set designer and dramaturg. In addition to performing arts, Seppänen has made documentaries, installations, music videos and music. Seppänen appreciates free thinking and radical art.
www.seppaenen.com
Organizers
In 2026–2027, Helsinki City Theatre will organise an international seminar series called Big Stage Lab, which examines the artistic design and production of works on the big stage. The aim of the series is to support the skills and career paths of performing arts professionals.
The partners of the series are Cullberg (Sweden) and Dansehallerne (Denmark) as well as the Loisto project (Zodiak – Centre for New Dance, Cirko – Centre for New Circus, Dance House Helsinki).
The seminar series is supported by the Nordic Culture Fund
For more information about the seminar series, please contact:
Director of the Helsinki City Theatre’s dance troupe Valtteri Raekallio (valtteri.raekallio@hkt.fi)
Contemporary performance stage curator Riikka Thitz (riikka.thitz@hkt.fi)
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Big Stage Lab: Artistic Design and Production in the Performing Arts II – large-scale video design
Helsinki City Theatre will organize an international seminar series Big Stage Lab in 2026–2027 focusing on the artistic design and production of large-stage works. The aim of the series is to support the expertise and artistic thinking of performing arts professionals.
The second part of the seminar series is a two-day event focusing on video design for large stages from both artistic and technical perspectives. During the seminar day on Thursday, October 8, artist speakers will present case studies from their own creative practices. On Friday, October 9, the training day will focus on practical workflows, particularly for touring productions and large-stage environments.
Time: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11:00-15:30 and Friday, October 9, 2026, 11:00-15:00
Venue: Helsinki City Theatre, studio Elsa, (Ensi Linja 2, Helsinki)
Among the speakers on the seminar day are visual artist Ville Seppänen and freelance video designer and media artist Paula Lehtonen. The full programme and speaker lineup will be finalized during August.
The event provides a platform for peer-to-peer exchange among professionals working in video design, as well as those interested in the field, including directors, choreographers, producers, and other performing arts practitioners.
Seminar Day Schedule, October 8
10:30 – Doors open
11:00-11:10 – Welcome and introduction to the day
11:10-12:10 – Speaker to be confirmed in August
12:15-13:15 – Ville Seppänen: Case Study: Suliko
13:15-14:00 – Lunch break (self-funded)
14:00-15:00 – Paula Lehtonen: Case Study: The Second Republic
15:00-15:30 – Summary of the day and closing discussion
15:45-19:00 – Informal after-event gathering at Restaurant FOYER
Training Day Schedule, October 9
10:30 – Doors open
11:00-13:00 – Morning theme: Touring readiness and video systems
13:00-13:45 – Lunch break (self-funded)
13:45-14:45 – Afternoon theme: Dream Big – Designing the ideal large-stage setup
14:45-15:00 – Summary of the day and closing discussion
19:00 – Elina Pirinen: Ghosts of Rosegarden (Dance House Helsinki, Erkko Hall)
Registration
The seminar and workshop will be conducted in Finnish and English and are free of charge, subject to advance registration.
Register for the events via the registration link no later than October 4 at 23:59. Participants may choose to attend either one or both event days.
Participants in the Big Stage Lab event may purchase a discounted ticket to Elina Pirinen’s Ghosts of Rosegarden at Dance House Helsinki on October 9 at 19:00 for €19 (Section B; regular discounted price €22). Performance tickets can be reserved when registering for the event.
Speakers
Paula Lehtonen is a freelance video designer and media artist whose video designs have been featured in productions at institutions including the Finnish National Theatre, Svenska Teatern, and Theatre Jurkka, most recently in Second Republic. Alongside her theatre work, Lehtonen is active in the visual arts field as a media artist. Her video works are included in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, and the Wihuri Art Collection. Her short films and video works have been screened at DocPoint and numerous international film festivals.
www.paulalehtonen.net
Ville Seppänen holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Theatre Academy in Helsinki and a master’s degree in cinematic arts from Tallinn (BFM). His visual designs have been presented on the stages of both institutional theatres and independent performing arts venues throughout Finland and Europe. Seppänen has worked in theatre, contemporary dance, and opera as a lighting designer, video designer, set designer, and dramaturg. In addition to his stage work, Seppänen has created documentary films, installations, music videos, and music. He values free thinking and radical art.
www.seppaenen.com
Organisers
Helsinki City Theatre will organize an international seminar series in 2026–2027 focusing on the artistic design and production of large-stage works. The aim of the series is to support the expertise and artistic thinking of performing arts professionals.
The series’ partners include Cullberg (Sweden), Dansehallerne (Denmark), and the Loisto project (Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Cirko – Center for New Circus, Dance House Helsinki).
The seminar series is supported by the Nordic Culture Fund.
For further information, please contact
Valtteri Raekallio, Artistic Director, Helsinki Dance Company (valtteri.raekallio@hkt.fi)
Riikka Thitz, Curator of the Stage for Contemporary Performance (riikka.thitz@hkt.fi).