Big Stage Lab: Artistic Design and Production in the Performing Arts II – Video Design for the Main Stage
Helsinki City Theatre is organising the international Big Stage Lab seminar series in 2026–2027, exploring the artistic design and production of large-scale stage works. The series aims to support the professional development and career paths of performing arts professionals.
The second instalment in the seminar series is a two-day event examining video design from the perspectives of artistic design and technical implementation. On Thursday 8.10., artistic designers will present case studies from their own work.
The training day on Friday 9.10. will focus on practical approaches from a touring perspective and explore the opportunities offered by working on a larger scale. Participants will examine how to develop a video system from a small-scale setup into a larger production. The training offers practical tools for video designers at the beginning of their careers and inspiration for those with more experience in the field.
Time: Thu 8.10. at 11–15.30 and Fri 9.10.2026 at 11–15
Venue: Helsinki City Theatre, Studio Elsa (Ensi Linja 2, Helsinki)
The seminar speakers are Estonian cinematographer Ivar Taim, principal camera operator for Rahamaa, which was presented at Tampereen Teatterikesä; visualist Ville Seppänen together with cinematographer Jonatan Sundström; and video designer and media artist Paula Lehtonen together with video designer Ida Järvinen. The seminar will be moderated by Heikki Örn, Technical Director at & Espoo Theatre.
The event provides an opportunity for peer exchange among video design professionals, designers interested in the field and other performing arts professionals, including directors, choreographers and producers.
Seminar day schedule 8.10.
10.30 – doors open
11.00–11.10 – welcome and introduction to the day
11.10–12.10 – Ivar Taim: case Rahamaa
12.15–13.15 – Ville Seppänen and Jonatan Sundström: case Suliko
13.15–14.00 – lunch break at participants’ own expense
14.00–15.00 – Paula Lehtonen and Ida Järvinen: case Toinen tasavalta
15.00–15.30 – summary of the day and closing discussion
15.45–19.00 – informal after-event gathering at Juttutupa
Training day schedule 9.10.
10.30 – doors open
11.00–13.00 – Lauri Lundahl: touring readiness and video systems
13.00–13.45 – lunch break at participants’ own expense
13.45–14.45 – Timo Teräväinen: towards working on the large stage – case Nauravan kulkurin tarina
14.45–15.00 – summary of the day and closing discussion
19.00 – Elina Pirinen: Ghosts of Rosegarden (Tanssin talo, Erkko Hall)
Registration
The seminar languages are Finnish and English. The training day will be held in Finnish. Admission to the events is free with advance registration. Register for the events here by 4.10. at 23.59. You may also choose to attend only one of the event days.
Big Stage Lab participants can purchase a discounted ticket for 19 euros to Elina Pirinen’s Ghosts of Rosegarden at Tanssin talo on 9.10. at 19.00. (price category B, standard discounted price 22 euros). 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 featured in productions by Kansallisteatteri, Svenska teatern and Teatteri Jurkka, most recently Toinen tasavalta. Alongside her theatre work, Lehtonen works as a media artist in the visual arts. Her video works are held 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 several international film festivals.
www.paulalehtonen.net
Ville Seppänen holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Helsinki (Teak) and a master’s degree in film arts from Tallinn (BFM). Seppänen’s visual designs have been seen on the stages of institutional theatres and independent companies across Finland and Europe. He has worked in theatre, contemporary dance and opera as a lighting and video designer, set designer and dramaturg. In addition to his stage work, Seppänen has created documentary films, installations, music videos and music. Seppänen values free thinking and radical art.
www.seppaenen.com
Jonatan Sundström is a Helsinki-based cinematographer, video designer and video artist. He has worked as a freelance cinematographer for more than 15 years and as a video designer for almost 10 years. Sundström has created video designs for theatre productions in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Estonia, and he has received the Videosäde Award twice.
Ivar Taim (ESC) is an Estonian cinematographer working in both film and theatre. For Eesti Draamateater’s sold-out production of Rahamaa (2024), which combines theatre and live cinema, he designed the camera movement, stage action and visual approach and developed bespoke camera technology for the production in close collaboration with director Hendrik Toompere Jr and video director Ove Musting. The production has visited Tampereen Teatterikesä and Dailes Theatre in Riga, among other venues. Taim studied at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School and holds a master’s degree in film arts from the Norwegian Film School. His film credits include The Black Hole (2025), Erik Stoneheart (2022) and As I Fall (2018). He has also worked as a camera operator on the television series Karppi and Mies joka kuoli.
www.ivartaim.com
Lauri Lundahl is a freelance lighting designer and performance technology specialist. A graduate of the Theatre Academy, Lundahl has worked in the performing arts and events across large stages, festival arenas and found spaces. As an artist, he is interested in the relationship between space and light, lighting architecture, landscape and the creation of worlds. Working at the intersection of technology and art, Lundahl takes on a wide range of roles as a designer, technical producer and skilled craftsperson on demanding productions, collaborating with both small independent companies and large-scale productions.
Ida Järvinen currently holds a permanent position as a video designer and producer at Suomen Kansallisteatteri. Her responsibilities include video and live video design, producing video content for the theatre’s marketing and working as a live camera operator. In addition to Kansallisteatteri, she has worked with live video at Q-teatteri and KOM-teatteri, among others. Järvinen has worked as a live camera operator in more than twenty productions over the past 15 years.
Timo Teräväinen graduated from Aalto University as a cinematographer and has worked extensively in film, television and theatre. His large-stage video design credits include Täällä Pohjantähden Alla 2011, Patriarkka, Luolasto, Mahdolliset Maailmat, Sumu and Dosentit at Kansallisteatteri, as well as Let’s Play Business and Nauravan kulkurin tarina at Helsinki City Theatre. At Espoon Kaupunginteatteri, his work has included the Esitystalous trilogy. His longest-standing collaborator has been Juha Jokela.
Organisers
Helsinki City Theatre is organising the international Big Stage Lab seminar series in 2026–2027, exploring the artistic design and production of large-scale stage works. The series aims to support the professional development and career paths of performing arts professionals.
The series’ partners are Cullberg (Sweden), Dansehallerne (Denmark) and the Loisto project (Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Cirko – Center for New Circus, Tanssin talo).
The seminar series is supported by the Nordic Culture Fund
For further information about the seminar series, please contact
Valtteri Raekallio, Director of Helsinki City Theatre’s dance company (valtteri.raekallio@hkt.fi)
Riikka Thitz, Curator of the Stage for Contemporary Performance (riikka.thitz@hkt.fi)
*****
Big Stage Lab: Artistic Design and Production in the Performing Arts II – large-scale video design
Helsinki City Theatre is organizing the international Big Stage Lab seminar series in 2026–2027, focusing on the artistic design and production of large-scale stage works. The aim of the series is to support the professional development and career pathways of performing arts practitioners.
The second installment of the seminar series is a two-day event that explores video design from both artistic and technical perspectives. During the seminar day on Thursday, October 8, designers will present case studies from their own work and creative processes.
On the trainind day, Friday, October 9, the focus will shift to practical working methods from a touring perspective, while also highlighting the opportunities offered by large-scale productions. Throughout the day, participants will examine how to build a video system, progression from smaller-scale setups to more extensive implementations. The training provides practical tools for video designers at the beginning of their careers, as well as inspiration for professionals who have been working with the subject for a longer time.
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)
The speakers at the seminar day will be Ivar Taim, the Estonian cinematographer who served as the principal camera operator for Rahamaa, a production seen at the Tampere Theatre Festival; visualist Ville Seppänen together with cinematographer Jonatan Sundström; and video designer and media artist Paula Lehtonen together with video designer Ida Järvinen. The seminar will be moderated by Heikki Örn, Technical Director at & Espoo Theatre.
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 – Ivar Taim: case Rahamaa (Business as Usual)
12:15-13:15 – Ville Seppänen and Jonatan Sundström: case Suliko
13:15-14:00 – Lunch break (self-funded)
14:00-15:00 – Paula Lehtonen and Ida Järvinen: case Toinen tasavalta
15:00-15:30 – Summary of the day and closing discussion
15:45-19:00 – Informal after-event gathering at Juttutupa
Training Day Schedule, October 9
10:30 – Doors open
11:00-13:00 – Lauri Lundahl: Touring readiness and video systems
13:00-13:45 – Lunch break (self-funded)
13:45-14:45 – Timo Teräväinen: Towards large-scale stage production – case Nauravan kulkurin tarina
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 languages are Finnish and English. The language of the training day is Finnish. Attendance at all events is 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 Toinen tasavalta. 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
Jonatan Sundström is a Helsinki-based cinematographer, video designer, and video artist. He has worked as a freelance cinematographer for more than 15 years and as a video designer for almost 10 years. Sundström has created video designs for theatre productions in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Estonia, and he has received the Videosäde Award twice.
Ivar Taim (ESC) is an Estonian cinematographer working across film and theatre. For the Estonian Drama Theatre’s “Rahamaa” (“Business as Usual”, 2024), a sold-out production merging theatre with live cinema, he designed the camera movement, blocking and visual approach and developed its custom camera technology, in close collaboration with director Hendrik Toompere jr and video director Ove Musting. The production has toured to Tampereen Teatterikesä and Riga’s Dailes Theatre. Taim studied at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School and holds a master’s from the Norwegian Film School. His film credits include “The Black Hole” (2025), “Erik Stoneheart” (2022) and “As I Fall” (2018), and he has operated camera on the Finnish series “Karppi” (“Deadwind”) and “Mies joka kuoli”.
www.ivartaim.com
Lauri Lundahl is a freelance lighting designer and performance technology specialist. A graduate of the Theatre Academy, Lundahl has worked across the fields of performing arts and live events, ranging from large theatre stages and festival venues to site-specific and found spaces. As an artist, he is particularly interested in the relationship between space and light, light architecture, landscape, and the creation of worlds. Working at the intersection of technology and art, Lundahl serves in a variety of roles, including designer, technical producer, and skilled craftsperson on demanding productions, collaborating with both small independent companies and large-scale productions.
Ida Järvinen currently works as a Video Designer and Producer at the Finnish National Theatre. Her responsibilities include video design and live video design for productions, creating video content for the theatre’s marketing, and working as a live camera operator. In addition to the National Theatre, she has worked extensively with live video at Q-teatteri and KOM Theatre, among others. Over the past 15 years, Järvinen has served as a live camera operator in more than twenty theatre productions.
Timo Teräväinen graduated from Aalto University with a degree in cinematography and has worked extensively in film, television, and theatre. His video design credits for large-scale stage productions include Täällä Pohjantähden alla 2011, Patriarkka, Luolasto, Mahdolliset maailmat, Sumu, and Dosentit at the Finnish National Theatre, as well as Let’s Play Business and Nauravan kulkurin tarina at the Helsinki City Theatre. At the Espoo City Theatre, he has worked on productions including the Esitystalous trilogy. His longest-standing artistic collaborator has been Juha Jokela.
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).