HKT’s spring season continues with a hilarious comedy told from the Soviet Union’s point of view
After the premieres in January and February, the Helsinki City Theatre’s spring season continues with a gnarled comedy written and directed by Kari Heiskanen. The new play Stalin’s Sweet Whip depicts the time of the Control Commission for the first time from the Soviet Union’s point of view. Other premieres in March include Marcus Rosenlund’s debut play, Morfars Mauser, which focuses on school bullying , and Carl Knif’s dance piece Two-Colour Fugue. The guest programme will feature the popular doctor comedy Saikkua, kiitos! PART 3, Aulikki Oksanen’s 75th anniversary concert Helise, taivas!, the musical comedy Det perfekt livet and the stand-up tours About a Week of Stand-Up and Iikka Kivi: Spede Is Dead.
Spring on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre offers a rare treat for lovers of history and good comedy. Written and directed by Kari Heiskanen, Stalin’s Sweet Whip opens up the period after the Continuation War, the so-called years of danger. 1944-1948, when the Finns were afraid of occupation. This time, however, the period is depicted from the perspective of the Soviet Union, and it has not been possible to avoid the comedic features.
“As Russia continues to try to strengthen its hegemony in various ways by confusing, provoking or using violence, it is worth asking whether there are any points of comparison in history on how to react to a threat that is not always known whether it is imaginary or real. The activities of the Control Commission are a huge exception in Finland’s narrative, a foreign country’s army putting a bridle in the mouths of Finns,” says Kari Heiskanen.
The events of the play, which mixes historical fact and fiction, take place in the premises of the Soviet Control Commission in Hotel Torni. The main character is Stalin’s trusted man, the head of the commission, Colonel General Andrei Zdanov, who feels that he has fallen out of favor with Stalin and takes the Helsinki assignment as a punishment. He decides to act efficiently and get back home quickly, but stubborn Finns do not make his job easy. The play also features Mannerheim and Urho Kekkonen, among others, who begins to lay the first stones on his presidential path.
Sixten Lundberg will play the role of Zdanov, Joachim Wigelius as Mannerheim, and Petja Lähde will step into Kekkonen’s shoes.The other roles are played by Pekka Huotari, Risto Kaskilahti, Merja Larivaara, Tuukka Leppänen, Jari Pehkonen, Pihla Pohjolainen and Aino Seppo.
The set design was designed by Antti Mattila and the costumes by Marjatta Nissinen. The video design is by Toni Haaranen, the lighting design by Kari Leppälä and the sound design by Aleksi Saura. The camouflage was designed by Aino Hyttinen. The play will have its premiere on March 5 on a small stage.
Other premieres in March include Marcus Rosenlund’s debut play Morfars Mauser at Lilla Teatern, which focuses on school bullying, and Carl Knif’s dance piece Two-Coloured Fugue, which will premiere on 19 March at Studio Pasila.
The guest programme will feature the popular doctor comedy Saikkua, kiitos! In addition to PART 3 , Aulikki Oksanen’s 75th anniversary concert Helise, taivas! as well as the stand-up tours About a Week of Stand-Up and Iikka Kivi: Spede Has Died on the Arena Stage. Lilla Teatern will host the musical comedy Det perfekt livet, directed by Jukka Nylund and about friendship and family life.
From the autumn season, the programme will continue on the big stage with the enchanting musical The Little Mermaid and The Angry Widow, based on Minna Lindgren’s favourite novel. The programme on the small stage will continue with The Colonel, starring Heidi Herala, and in the foyer, Tahvo and Bella, who charmed the youngest members of the family. Taneli Mäkelä’s touching interpretation of The Man Who Loved Order will continue on the Arena stage, and the all-time favourite Stones in the Pocket, Fingerpori, based on Pertti Jarla’s comic, and the stand-up club Club act!one will continue on the Pasila stage.
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Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
11.1.2020 Actual events Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Joakim Groth
29.1.2020 Starburst on a small stage, dir. Mika Eirtovaara
30.1.2020 Humming ridge on the big stage, dir. Lauri Maijala
6.2.2020 Le Coq – Battle for a Restaurant on the Arena Stage, dir. Heikki Vihinen
5.3.2020 Stalin’s Sweet Whip on a small stage, dir. Kari Heiskanen
11.3.2020 Grandpa’s Mauser Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Michaela Granit
19.3.2020 Two-colour fugue studio in Pasila, chor. Carl Knif
9.9.2020 Tatu and Patu in Helsinki on the big stage, dir. Sami Rannila
Visits
27.2.2020 Saikkua, thank you! PART 3 studio in Pasila, dir. Otto Kanerva and working group
28.2.2020 Iikka Kivi: Spede has died on the Arena stage
6.3.-3.4.2020 About a week of stand-up on the Arena stage
8.3.2020 Ring, heaven! On the Arena stage
23.-27.3.2020 The Perfect Life, Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Jukka Nylund
Public events
Coffee with a writer events in the foyer of the main stage. Free admission. Heidi Herala, Aino Seppo and Eija Vilppas will be joined by Johanna Venho on 12 March at 5 pm, Pajtim Statovci on 2 April at 5 pm and Antti Heikkinen on 5 May at 5 pm.
Wednesday’s backstage tours
Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 9 am – 5.30 pm, Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 11 am – 7 pm and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 am – 9 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge)
www.hkt.fi, @hktfi
Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests: Helsinki City Theatre, Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki