Big Stage Lab: Artistic Design and Production in the Performing Arts

29.5.2026

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 topic of the first part of the seminar series is touring and co-production activities of theatre and contemporary dance from the perspectives of both the groups organising the productions and the receiving parties. After the seminar, those interested will have the opportunity to participate in small group work, where they will delve deeper into case examples under the guidance of international professionals.

Time: Thursday 20.8.2026 at 9.30–13.30
Location: Helsinki City Theatre, foyer of the main stage (Eläintarhantie 5, Helsinki)

The seminar consists of three speeches, during which the audience has the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the discussion sparked by the speeches.

The speakers will be Emmy Astbury, Executive Producer of the Swedish dance company Cullberg, Oliver Chrzanowski , an independent theatre producer based in Berlin, and Petteri Laukkanen, Technical Director of Dance House Helsinki. The event was moderated by Virve Sutinen.

The seminar is a place of collegial sharing for performing arts professionals and students in the field interested in and working with different production models, such as designers, choreographers, directors, producers and others interested in the subject.

The language of the event is English and admission is free with pre-registration. Coffee and tea will be served at the event.

Seminar programme

9.00 – doors open
9.30–9.40 – Welcome words: Valtteri Raekallio (director, Helsinki Dance Company) and Riikka Thitz (curator, Contemporary Performance Stage)
9.40–10.40 – Emmy Astbury: Case Cullberg – touring with dance in Sweden and internationally
10.45–11.45 – Oliver Chrzanowski: Peculiarities of theatre – touring globally and co-production in Germany
11.50–12.50 – Petteri Laukkanen: Dance House Helsinki – Touring productions from the perspective of a receiving theatre
12.50–13.30 – Summary and joint discussion
13.30–14.30 – Lunch break at your own expense for small group participants
14.30–16 – Small group work

After the seminar, a small group session will be held that delves into the case examples in more detail. The working language of the small groups is English. You can choose one of the following breakout groups:

Group 1 – Emmy Astbury: The freelance dance creator and the institution – how to build collaborations? (10 places)
Group 2 – Oliver Chrzanowski: Making ends meet – How to create news ways of collaboration? Funding and working in the independent scene in Germany (10 seats)
Group 3 – Petteri Laukkanen: Hosting touring productions: Technical, spatial and organisational realities (10 positions)

Registration

Speakers

Emmy Astbury works as an executive producer at Cullberg, one of Sweden’s leading contemporary dance companies. He is responsible for the company’s international productions and touring activities. Astbury has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts and specialises in contemporary dance, artistic collaboration, production and development in the Nordic and international art scene.

Oliver Chrzanowski began his career in 2008 at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. In 2009, he moved to the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz theater, where he was responsible for the production of international tours until 2020 and carried out about 100 tours to more than 40 countries on five continents. He worked for two years as a production manager at Windcatcher-Productions, a documentary film company. He currently works in Berlin as an independent theatre and touring producer in the independent field and in state theatres.

Petteri Laukkanen is the Technical Director of Dance House Helsinki, who has previously worked at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. Her work focuses on technical infrastructure, production processes and international collaboration in the field of performing arts. In addition to his institutional work, he has worked for decades as an entrepreneur, sound designer, producer and technical consultant in the performing arts, music and media. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the Sibelius Academy’s Master’s Programme in Art Management and Entrepreneurship.

Virve Sutinen has extensive experience in the field of performing arts: she has worked as the artistic director of the Tanz Im August festival and Dansens Hus, among others, and has been responsible for the performing arts programme at the Kiasma Theatre. Sutinen has held several international positions of trust and has been involved in founding international networks such as EDN, ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform and Big Pulse Dance Alliance. She is currently writing about retrospective practices in contemporary dance, consulting for the Powerhouse International Festival and the Performing Arts Fund of the Netherlands, among others. Sutinen’s latest initiative is Ars Navitas ry, founded with Sanna Rekola, whose Nordic project Moving in Time – Stories of Dance Makers captures the silent and intangible heritage of the dance industry.

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

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 first part of the seminar series examines touring and co-production practices in theatre and contemporary dance, from the perspectives of both producing groups and receiving organizations. After the seminar, participants will have the opportunity to join small-group sessions that delve deeper into case studies led by international professionals.

Time: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 9:30–13:30
Location: Helsinki City Theatre, Main Stage foyer (Eläintarhantie 5, Helsinki)

The seminar consists of three presentations, during which the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in discussion.

The speakers include Cullberg’s Senior Producer Emmy Astbury, Berlin-based independent theatre producer Oliver Chrzanowski, and Petteri Laukkanen, Technical Director of Dance House Helsinki. The event will be moderated by Virve Sutinen.

The seminar is a collegial space for sharing different production models, aimed at performing arts professionals and students interested in or working in the field, such as designers, choreographers, directors, producers, and others interested in the topic.

The working language of the event is English. Participation is free with advance registration. Coffee and tea will be served.

Seminar programmes

9:00 – Doors open
9:30–9:40 – Welcome remarks: Valtteri Raekallio (Artistic director, Helsinki Dance Company) and Riikka Thitz (Curator, Stage for Contemporary Performance)
9:40–10:40 – Emmy Astbury: Case Cullberg – touring with dance in Sweden and internationally
10:45–11:45 – Oliver Chrzanowski: Peculiarities of theatre – touring globally and co-production in Germany
11:50–12:50 – Petteri Laukkanen: Dance House Helsinki – Touring productions from the perspective of a receiving theatre
12:50–13:30 – Summary and joint discussion
13:30–14:30 – Lunch break for participants in small group sessions (at one’s own expense)
14.30-16.00 – Small Group Sessions

After the seminar, a small-group session will be organized to explore case studies in more detail. The working language of the groups is English. You can choose one of the following groups:

Group 1: Emmy Astbury: The freelance dance creator and the institution – how to build collaborations? (10 places)
Group 2: Oliver Chrzanowski: Making ends meet – How to create news ways of collaboration? Funding and working in the independent scene in Germany (10 places)
Group 3: Petteri Laukkanen: Hosting touring productions: Technical, spatial and organisational realities (10 places)

Registration

Please register here for the seminar and the small group sessions by Sunday, August 16 at 23:59.

Speakers

Emmy Astbury is Senior Producer at Cullberg in Stockholm, where she manages international productions and touring projects for one of Sweden’s leading contemporary dance companies. With over 20 years of experience in the performing arts sector, she specialises in contemporary dance, artistic collaboration, production management, and cultural development across the Nordic and international arts landscape.

Oliver Chrzanowski started his professional career in 2008 at Deutsches Theater Berlin and changed to Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz in 2009, where he was responsible for the international touring production management until 2020 and realized around 100 tours to over 40 countries on five continents. After two years as production manager for Windcatcher-Productions (documentaries for TV and cinema) he now works as an independent theatre and touring producer for the free theatre scene as well as for state theatres in Berlin.

Petteri Laukkanen is the Technical Director at Dance House Helsinki and previously worked at Finnish National Opera and Ballet. His work focuses on technical infrastructure, production processes, and international collaboration in the performing arts. Alongside his institutional work, he has worked for decades as an entrepreneur, sound designer, producer, and technical consultant in the performing arts, music, and media sectors. He holds a Master of Music degree in Arts Management from the Sibelius Academy.

Virve Sutinen has extensive experience in the field of performing arts. She has served, among other roles, as the artistic director of the Tanz Im August festival and Dansens Hus, and has been responsible for the performing arts programme at Kiasma Theatre. Sutinen has held numerous international positions of trust and has been involved in founding international networks such as EDN, ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform, and Big Pulse Dance Alliance. She is currently writing about retrospective practices in contemporary dance and works as a consultant, for example, for the Powerhouse International festival and the Dutch Performing Arts Fund. Her most recent initiative is Ars Navitas Association, founded together with Sanna Rekola, that documents the intangible cultural heritage of the dance field.

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).