Healing Christmas therapy in the midst of the polar night

Jyrki Karttunen’s and Helsinki Dance Company’s Christmas Calendar for Adults offers healing Christmas care for those who occasionally feel like an outsider in their relationship with Christmas traditions. The new dance theatre will premiere on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre in the middle of the darkest season and accelerating Christmas preparations on 15 November.

The well-known Christmas carols and traditions with the company’s Christmas party, Lucia processions and elf games are implemented in the Adult Christmas Calendar as new and partly improvised interpretations. The performance combines Christmas fantasy with the preparation rituals and clichés of the pre-Christmas period, which remain unchanged from year to year.

Choreographer Jyrki Karttunen, known for his gentle and humorous style, goes one step further in the humour of his new work.

“I wanted to test how a farce is made with dance theatre,” Karttunen says.

“Personally, I have never felt that I can fully empathize with an orthodox Christmas. I wanted to bring a strong humorous perspective to the whole fuss,” he continues.

On stage, you will see multi-talented performers who have become familiar both as dancers and actors: Jyrki Kasper, Jyrki Karttunen, Heidi Naakka, Emilia Nyman, Mikko Paloniemi, Tiina Peltonen, Katri Soini, Leenamari Unho and Mikko Vihma.

The dramaturg of the Christmas calendar for adults is Sanna Niemeläinen. The set and lighting are designed by William Iles, and the costume designer is Laura Dammert. The sound designer is Mauri Siirala, and the camouflage is designed by Henri Karjalainen.

Premiere of the Christmas Calendar for Adults on 15.11.2017 at 7 pm on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5).
Tickets: 15 – 30 € (incl. pm)