Åland’s pearl Katrina premieres as a musical / Åland’s pearl Katrina saa ensi-launnsa musikaalina

“Katrina is a timeless story about a woman whose life is tainted by poverty and tragedy. But love, everyday life and zest for life are greater and never disappear from the women who have been hardened on the island,” describes Kaisa Lundán, who has dramatised the play.

“I’ve had the idea of doing Katrina for a long time.  Ever since I almost 10 years ago staged Stormskärs Maja at Åbo Svenska Teater, I have had a longing to return to its world. After I came to Lillan as manager in 2019, a new edition of Katrina was released. I reread the book and had an aha moment. The story must be made as a monologue on our intimate stage,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Sally Salminen’s novel Katrina is one of the most successful Finland-Swedish books ever. It was an international success and has been translated into about twenty languages. The main character, Katrina, is the epitome of a strong and modern woman who walks through fire and water for her family and with sheer willpower steps over every obstacle that fate puts in her way.

Emma Klingenberg plays the role of Katrina and she is accompanied on stage by acting musicians Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo and Senni Valtonen.

Thanks to the collaboration between the three theatres, Katrina will have a long performance period and audiences in three regions of Swedish-speaking Finland will have the opportunity to see the performance, which will be performed at Lilla Teatern, Åbo Svenska Teater and at Wasa Teater in 2024 and 2025.

“It will be great to be able to stage this play on three leading Finland-Swedish stages. There are connections to the different regions both in the working group and in the story itself, and I am proud to introduce Swedish-speaking Finland to this incredibly talented ensemble of top Finnish artists,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Writer Sally Salminen, dramatization Kaisa Lundán, composer and arranger Aili Järvelä, director Jakob Höglund, set and prop design Heini Maaranen, costume design Samu-Jussi Koski, lighting design Tobias Lönnquist, sound design Antero Mansikka, make-up Pia Kähkönen, dramaturg Henna Piirto.

On stage: Emma Klingenberg, Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Senni Valtonen / Maija Pokela.

Katrina, premiere 31.1.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki.

In connection with the premiere at Lilla Teatern, tickets will be on sale for the performances that will be played in the spring of 2025 in Turku at Åbo Svenska Teater and in Vaasa at Wasa Teater.

Ticket price at Lilla Teatern: normal price €39, student price €19.50 (Mon-Thu), pensioner price €36 (Mon-Thu). #musikalenkatrina

The performance is subtitled in Finnish and Swedish via the Subtitle mobile app.

Helsinginberg City Theatre’s customer service is available by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket office at First Line 2, Mon-Fri at 12-17, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) kl. 11-18 and one hour before the performances start.  Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat at. 9-21, Sun kl. 10-18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge/mta) www.hkt.fi

Press images are available in the image bank and press releases in the press room.

Pictured in the press release is Emma Klingenberg. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Communications Planner, Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050- 357 4250.  Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki

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The press release was updated on 19.1.2024 for the titles of the performers.

The Åland gem Katrina premieres as a musical

Åland Sally Salminen’s international bestselling novel Katrina (1936) will have its musical premiere at Lilla Teatern on 31 January 2024. The musical in the form of a monologue is a co-production of Lilla Teatern, Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater. Jakob Höglund directs, Kaisa Lundán is responsible for the new dramatization, and the new composition is commissioned by the award-winning Aili Järvelä. The role of Katrina is played by Emma Klingenberg.

“Katrina is a timeless story about a woman whose life is coloured by poverty and tragedy. But love, everyday life and the will to live grow bigger than these, which will never disappear from the women hardened by the island,” describes Kaisa Lundán, who dramatised the play.

“The idea of making Katrina has been on my mind for a long time. Ever since I directed the play Stormskärs Maja, Myrskyluodon Maija at the Åbo Svenska Teater about ten years ago, I have longed to return to the world of it. After I started as Lillan’s artistic director in 2019, a new edition of Katrina came out, and I had an aha moment. This story must be told as a monologue on our intimate stage,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Sally Salminen’s novel Katrina is one of the most successful Finnish-Swedish works of all time, an international success that has been translated into 20 languages. The protagonist, Katrina, represents a strong and modern woman who, for the sake of her family, goes through all adversities and resolutely steps over every obstacle that fate throws at her.

Emma Klingenberg plays Katrina, and she will be joined on stage by acting musicians Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo and Senni Valtonen.

Thanks to the collaboration between three theatres, Lilla Teatern, Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater, Katrina will have a long performance season and the audience will have the opportunity to see the performance in 2024–2025 in three different regions, Uusimaa, Southwest Finland and Ostrobothnia.

“It’s great to be able to perform this play on three leading Finnish-Swedish stages. Both the working group and the story itself have connections to different areas, and I am proud to highlight this incredibly talented group of top Finnish artists,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Author Sally Salminen, dramatization Kaisa Lundán, composition and arrangement Aili Järvelä, direction Jakob Höglund, set design and prop design Heini Maaranen, costume design Samu-Jussi Koski, lighting design Tobias Lönnquist, sound design Antero Mansikka, make-up Pia Kähkönen, dramaturg Henna Piirto.

On stage: Emma Klingenberg, Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Senni Valtonen / Maija Pokela.

Katrina premiere 31.1.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki.

In connection with the premiere at Lilla Teatern, tickets will go on sale for the spring 2025 performances at Åbo Svenska Teater in Turku and Wasa Teater in Vaasa.

Tickets at Lilla Teatern: basic ticket €39, student ticket €19.50 (Mon-Thu), pensioner ticket €36 (Mon-Thu). #musikalenkatrina

The performance will be subtitled in Finnish and Swedish using the Subtitle mobile application.

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi

Press photos can be found in the media bank and press releases in the newsroom.

In the photo of the press release, Emma Klingenberg. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:

Communications Coordinator Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050-357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki