Note: No longer in repertoire!

Juha Vakkuri’s intense historical play Mannerheim and the German Kiss opens up new perspectives on the real years of danger in Finland’s history and the country’s permanent dependencies on two great powers. At the same time, the play draws a fresh and humane full-body picture of Finland’s first great man, who saved his country twice.

Director Kari Heiskanen says:

“The play depicts Finland’s reliance on Germany in the Civil War and the Continuation War. Both times we were in danger of being run over by our ally.

Finland succeeded in gaining independence due to the favourable situation created by the collapse of the imperial power. But independence, a republican form of government or sovereignty were not set in stone in the beginning. The danger of Bolshevism and the turmoil of the civil war led the right-wing forces to resort to the idea of stabilizing conditions through centralized power. But the project of a German prince as King of Finland is nothing compared to the fact that Finland gave Germany a free hand to interfere in the country’s internal affairs to the extent that it can be said that it will be a vassal.

Mannerheim and the German Kiss depicts the moments when Finland was at a crossroads and faced with an uncertain future, it had to choose a path to follow. At such moments, the personal qualities of leaders, their strengths and weaknesses come to the fore.

Mannerheim’s childhood home was shattered already in his early youth, and he never managed to create a happy family life in his adult life.

A romantic would perhaps ask what kind of leader Mannerheim would have become if Kitty Linder had agreed to marry him? Would he have become a different kind of leader, a different kind of man? Would he have been good enough for family life? The only person Mannerheim could rely on over the years was his horse.”

 

The performance rights of the play are supervised by Agency North / The Finnish Playwrights and Scriptwriters’ Association.

 

“Asko Sarkola builds a clear picture of Mannerheim – the City Theatre’s play depicts the war as an extension of diplomacy” Helsingin Sanomat 27.10.2017 – Lauri Meri

“The play follows like a suspense story, the fast-paced direction does not get stuck in a single scene.” Help Blogs 26.10.2017 – Liisa Talvitie

“Asko Sarkola’s Mannerheim is firm and unwavering. This, of course, is demanded by an issue that repeatedly ends up on his desk, the fate of the Finnish people. Sarkola’s way of flashing other kinds of features of his hard-boiled character is quite astonishing.” Etelä-Suomen Sanomat 28.10.2017 – Anu Puska

“A strong and warm recommendation! This is one of this year’s cultural acts.” Eeva blogs 30.10.2017

Last performance on Wed 28.2.18 at 7 pm!

View the programme