Erik Kiviniemi’s award-winning Bladis pojkan guest performs at Lilla Teatern / Erik Kiviniemi’s award-winning Bladis pojkan visits Lilla Teatern

The Bladis Boy is a storytelling performance based on tales that have been circulated in the villages of the Oravais region in Ostrobothnia. It is about the Lingonblad brothers; Julius (born 1880) and Johannes (born 1889) who in their home region were called “Bladis pojkan”. They grew up in simple conditions and lived as they wanted. Their home was like a village tavern, with card games and drinking.  Despite the mischief, they could also behave really well.

“They built their own ethics and morals, and became something of a Robin Hood character,” says playwright and actor Erik Kiviniemi.

“Erik Kiviniemi’s acting craftsmanship in this performance just has to be seen. The people of Ostrobothnia have long since had the chance to see this gem and I am happy that it is finally making a guest appearance with us in Helsinki,” says Lilla Teatern’s artistic director Jakob Höglund.

Erik Kiviniemi is the former theatre director of Wasa Theatre and Vaasa City Theatre. In 2021, he received the Finland-Swedish Playwright Prize from the Boismanska Foundation for his work on the play Bladis pojkan, which is the first play he has written.

Bladis Pojkan premiered at Wasa Teater in the fall of 2020 and received a warm reception. Since then, it has been a popular touring performance.

Bladis pojkan is directed by Wasa Theatre’s director Ann-Luise Bertell. Anders Karls has designed the set and costumes and Håkan Omars has created the music and is the musician during the performance.

The performance is performed in the Oravais dialect.

Bladis pojkan, 27.3.2023, at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, Helsinki. Tickets 27,50€

#bladispojkan @lilla.teatern @hktfi

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

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket office is open by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri at noon. 9-17. Ticket office on the First Line 2, Mon-Fri at noon. 12-17, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (during performance days) at noon. 11-18 and one hour before the start of the performance. Lippu.fi Mon-Sat at. 9 am – 9 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge/mobile call charge) www.hkt.fi

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Erik Kiviniemi’s award-winning Bladis pojkan visits Lilla Teatern

The award-winning monologue Bladis pojkan, written and performed by Erik Kiviniemi, will visit the Swedish-language stage of Lilla Teatern at the Helsinki City Theatre on 27 March. On stage, he will be joined on stage by musician Håkan Omars.

Bladis pojkan is based on the stories of the Lingonblad brothers that have circulated in the Oravais region; Julius (b. 1880) and Johannes (b. 1889), who were known in their home region as “Bladis pojkan” (“Blad’s sons”). They grew up in humble circumstances and lived the way they wanted. Their home was like a tavern where they played cards and drank. Despite their robberies, they also behaved very well at times.

“They created their own ethics and morals and became some kind of Robin Hood characters,” says Erik Kiviniemi, who wrote and stars in the play.

“Erik Kiviniemi’s acting in this performance is definitely worth seeing. The people of Ostrobothnia have had the opportunity to see this gem for a long time, and I’m happy that the performance is finally visiting us in Helsinki,” says Jakob Höglund, Artistic Director of Lilla Teatern.

Erik Kiviniemi is the former director of Wasa Teatern and Vaasa City Theatre. In 2021, she received the Finnish-Swedish Dramaturgy Prize from the Boisman Foundation for her work on the play Bladis pojkan, which is the first play she has written.

The premiere of Bladis pojkan was at Wasa Teatern in the autumn of 2020 and it was warmly received. Since then, it has been a popular touring show.

The play is directed by Ann-Luise Bertell, the director of Wasa Teatern. Anders Karls has designed the set and costumes, and Håkan Omars has created the music and will act as a musician during the performance.

The performance is performed in the Oravais dialect. The performance will not be subtitled in Finnish.

Bladis pojkan, 27.3.2023, Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, Helsinki. Tickets 27,50€

#bladispojkan @lilla.teatern @hktfi

Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12 noon–5 pm, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11 am–6 pm and always one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9 am–9 pm, Sun 10 am–6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi

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 2, 00530 Helsinki