The energetic and fast-paced Marathon Dance continues the cooperation between the City Theatre and the Theatre Academy
On 18 April, the premiere on the small stage will take place on the small stage, based on Horace McCoy’s novel Shooting Horses (1935), featuring 12 third-year students of the Theatre Academy. The work is directed by Heidi Räsänen. Marathon Dances is the fourth co-production of the collaboration between HKT and the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, which began in the spring of 2021.
Marathon Dances takes the audience into the depths of nostalgia and apocalyptic adventure. The pace is wild and every second counts. People’s basic needs are hard currency when fighting for survival – then the song from the human heart echoes louder than ever before. The performance evokes breathtaking horror and makes the heart rate rise. Marathon dances inspire you to keep going, even if the world around you collapses.
Marathon Dances is based on Horace McCoy’s novel Shooting Horses (1935), and it has been adapted for the stage by Ray Herman. The book tells the story of a brutal form of entertainment that gained great popularity in the United States during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In the hope of a cash prize and fame, young people came from every corner of the United States to try their luck in competitions called marathon dances, which were like modern-day reality TV. Marathon Dances is a classic drama that is touching, funny and tragic at the same time.
The work features the third-year students of the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki: Youssef Asad Alkhatib, Nomi Enckell, Patrik Hvitsjö, Tellervo Jalas, Ronja Orasta, Meri Luukkanen, Toni Nikka, Jessica Penttilä, Lauri Qvick, Aapo Salonen, Aino Sihvonen and Veeti Vekola.
The play is directed by Heidi Räsänen and choreographed by Antti Lahti. The set design is designed by Vilma Mattila and Pekka Korpiniitty, the costumes by Elina Kolehmainen and the camouflage by Henri Karjalainen. The lighting design is by Outi Vedenpää and the sound design by Janna Hyrynkangas. The play has been translated into Finnish by Esko Elstelä.
The performance is a continuation of the collaboration that began in the spring of 2021 between the Theatre Academy’s Degree Programme in Acting and the Helsinki City Theatre, in which third-year students of acting come to the Helsinki City Theatre in the spring and prepare a performance as their bachelor’s project together with professionals from outside the school.
Marathon Dances premiere 18.4.2024 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5).
Tickets: basic ticket €31, student ticket €15.50 (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket €28 (Mon-Thu)
#maratontanssit #uniarts #taideyliopisto #teatterikorkeakoulu @hktfi
Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 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
In the photo: Veeti Vekola, Nomi Enckell, Aino Sihvonen, Toni Nikka, Meri Luukkanen, Lauri Qvick, Aapo Salonen, Youssef Asad Alkhatib and Tellervo Jalas. Photo by: Noora Geagea.
Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki