Helsinki City Theatre’s premieres at the beginning of the year feature interesting novelties and a fresh interpretation of the classic
The Helsinki City Theatre’s premieres in January-February 2019 include Cherry Orchard directed by Lauri Maijala, Tahto about skier Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Comeback – rapping splashes set in the Finnish rap world, the French farce novel Ens lite lungn i huset, Fingerpori based on the popular comic strip and Ima Iduozee’s choreography for Helsinki Dance Company.
The spring season on the City Theatre’s main stage will open with a fresh interpretation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard by Lauri Maijala, who has been hired as HKT’s director, on 28 February.
Ranevskaya, the landlady of the old noble manor, returns home from a years-long trip abroad. In addition to servants, relatives and acquaintances, she is faced with a silent tragedy for the family and extensive financial difficulties, to solve which the merchant Lopahin proposes to cut down the cherry orchard surrounding the house and sell the area for villa plots. Everyone must find a new direction for their lives to replace the past.
The cast includes Heidi Herala (Ranevskaja), Tommi Eronen, Sonja Kuittinen, Emilia Sinisalo, Kari Mattila, Chike Ohanwe, Jouko Klemettilä, Aino Seppo, Petrus Kähkönen, Sanna Majuri, Seppo Maijala, Heikki Ranta and Unto Nuora. The stage will also feature a four-piece string quartet, for which the music has been composed by e.g. Lauri Porra, known from the band Stratovarius.
There will be a new farce on the Arena stage when Comeback, which is set in the rap world, premieres on 30 January. Written and directed by Sakari Hokkanen , this Finnish novelty tells the story of rapper Biiffi, who is preparing for a sold-out comeback concert at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The events take place in the suite of the Camp Hotel, where Biiffi is supported by Finnish rap veteran Mela and manager Taina Kovanen, who has a full job to keep the rappers in concert shape. The role of Biiffi is played by Peter Kanerva and the other roles are played by Minna Koskela, Janna Räsänen, Sauli Suonpää and Eija Vilpas.
There will also be new Finnish music on the small stage. Inspired by real life, written by Aina Bergroth and directed by Sini Pesonen , Tahto tells the story of Olympic medallist Aino-Kaisa Saarinen in all its harshness and sensitivity.
Already as babies, Aino-Kaisa and her twin sister lie next to each other with small wooden skis in their hands. Did Aino-Kaisa choose skiing or did skiing choose her? Ever since she was a child, Aino-Kaisa has been attracted to competition, and regardless of physical and mental limits, a strong will drives her forward. Aino-Kaisa’s boots will be played by Sanna June Hyde and the other roles will be played by Rauno Ahonen, Risto Kaskilahti, Santeri Kinnunen, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Leena Rapola, Mikko Virtanen and Linda Zilliacus. The play will premiere on 24 January.
Comics come to life and black humour blooms at Studio Pasila’s Fingerpori from 7 February. The comedy based on Pertti Jarla’s popular comic strip is written by Petja Lähde and directed by Pertti Sveholm.
The events take place in the absurd town of Fingerpori, whose idyll is suddenly shattered as the Finnish government intends to forcibly annex Fingerpori to Helsinki. Heimo Vesa will be tasked with showing decision-makers that Fingerpori, its unique population and culture must be preserved independently. Participating in the independence campaign are Mayor Homelius, the major criminal Pahani Julmu, Rivo-Riitta, Hangover Day, Black Mask and Jesus. The role of Heimo Vesa is played by Jari Pehkonen and the other 60 characters are played by Helena Haaranen, Pekka Huotari, Juha Jokela, Sanna Saarijärvi, Antti Timonen and Leenamari Unho.
The guest choreographer and director of Helsinki Dance Company’s spring premiere is Ima Iduozee. The dance novelty Bonfire: The Wandering Bands of Storytelling Sapiens will premiere at Studio Pasila on 27 February. The performance is a celebration of the performance of the City Theatre’s multidisciplinary dance group, which operates in the middle ground between dance, physical theatre and visual performing arts. The performers in the work are Sofia Hilli, Jyrki Kasper, Heidi Naakka, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne and Inka Tiitinen.
Lilla Teatern’s spring novelty is the award-winning French author Florian Zeller’s Ens lite lungn i huset (Une Heure de tranquillité, 2013). The farce novelty, translated by Gunilla Hemming and directed by Jaakko Saariluoma , will premiere on 2 February.
The play tells the story of Marcus, who has planned to spend a quiet morning at home enjoying and listening to a new jazz album of his dreams that he found at a flea market. The whole world just seems to be against the plan. He would only like to have an hour of alone time, but that’s when his wife, son, lover and tenacious neighbor all need attention. A quiet morning threatens to turn into a nightmare or at least a plumbing renovation. The fast-paced farce stars Robert Enckell, Wilhelm Enckell, Max Forsman, Sixten Lundberg, Pia Runnakko and Åsa Wallenius.
Based on Tove Jansson’s novel, Sommarboken returns to Lillan’s repertoire from 22 February. Directed and choreographed by Jakob Höglund, the play depicts the friendship between a girl named Sophia and an old grandmother and spending the summer together on an island in the Gulf of Finland. When one person’s life is already starting to fade, the other is still completely ahead of it. The roles of the beloved classic are played by Jessica Grabowsky and Sue Lemström. Sound designer Hanna Mikander will also be seen on stage.
In addition to their own premieres, Martti Suosalo’s masterful monologue The Best in Life will be seen as a guest performance on the small stage from 1 February. A hopeful and sadly funny play about the son of a chronically depressed mother who tries to cheer up his mother by listing the things that make life worth living. Based on a text by British author Duncan Macmillan , the performance is directed and translated into Finnish by Pentti Kotkaniemi.
HKT’s spring season programme continues with the phenomenally popular musical Kinky Boots and the comedic crime thriller Kaasua, Inspector Palmu! on the big stage. The programme of the small stage will continue with the classic The Groke Opera for the whole family, the drama novel Kekkonen and the Kremlin Dance School based on real events, and the recent sequel to the Ibsen classic Dollhouse, part 2. Studio Pasila’s repertoire continues with the long-time favourites Stones in Your Pocket and Club act!one. At Lilla Teatern, Maria Braun’s marriage continues for the spring season.
Read the new Theatre Extra here.
Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre:
Maria Braun’s Marriage 31.10.2018 Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Cilla Back
Twelve Gifts to Santa Claus on 1.11.2018 in the foyer of the small stage, dir. Kimmo Virtanen
Dollhouse, part 2 15.11.2018 on a small stage, dir. Liisa Mustonen
Gas, Inspector Palmu! 29.11.2018 on the big stage, dir. Heikki Kujanpää
ShedHelsinki: Adventure on Christmas Night 8.12.2018 in studio Pasila, dir. Marco Bjurström
Tahto 24.1.2019 on a small stage, dir. Sini Pesonen
Comeback – Rapping Splashes 30.1.2019 on the big stage, dir. Sakari Hokkanen
Even a little calm in the house 2.2.2019 Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Jaakko Saariluoma
Fingerpori 7.2.2019 studio in Pasila, dir. Pertti Sveholm
Bonfire: The Wandering Bands Of Storytelling Sapiens 27.2.2019 studio in Pasila, chor. Ima Iduozee
The Cherry Orchard 28.2.2019 on the big stage, dir. Lauri Maijala
Visits:
Jukka Lindström: Interjection 3.-15.11.2018 at the Arena Stage
Stella goes Hollyböle, 1.-29.11.2018 studio in Pasila
Stella P. by night 10.-30.11.2018 studio in Pasila
Musique pour les cafés with Arttu Takalo 22.11.2018 at Lilla Teatern
Tauro & Ahlfors – songs for ugly throats 24.11.2018 Lilla Teaternissa
Theatre Josefina: Night of Confessions 1.12.2018 Lilla Teaternissa
ShedHelsinki: An Adventure on Christmas Night 8.-28.12.2018 studio in Pasila
Emma Salokoski & Ilmiliekki Quartet album release concert (K18) 31.12.2018 Lilla Teatern
The Best in Life 1.2.2019 on a small stage, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi