Kari Heiskanen’s gloomy comedy about Stalin’s confidants premieres at the City Theatre

Kari Heiskanen’s long-awaited new play, Stalin’s Sweet Whip, which combines history and comedy, will premiere on 5 March on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre. From the Soviet Union’s point of view, the play depicts the period after the Continuation War, the so-called Continuation War. years 1944-1948, when the Finns were afraid of occupation.

“From the Finnish point of view, the era has been written about quite comprehensively, but not much about how the Soviets lived or experienced their assignment in a former enemy country. While writing the play, I soon noticed that I began to take an ironic distance from these Stalin’s confidants and minions, and the story began to stagger in the direction of comedy,” says writer and director Kari Heiskanen.

“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 actions 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,” Kari Heiskanen continues.

“Finland’s narrative is more than just the Winter War, Mannerheim, the victory in the fight against the Continuation War and the Unknown Soldier giving the soldiers a voice. The story also includes humiliating the losing country with an armistice agreement, submitting to humiliation and building a new policy for the country to appease the winner,” Heiskanen adds.

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 suspected that agreeing to be a spittoon would pave the way for success later on.

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.

Stalin’s Sweet Whip continues the series of historical plays directed by Heiskanen, which are united by a foreign state’s entanglement in the country’s independence. Previous plays have included Juha Vakkuri’s Mannerheim and the German Kiss (2017) and Heiskanen’s Kekkonen and the Kremlin Dance School (2018).

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. 

Premiere of Stalin’s Sweet Whip 5.3.2020 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5)
Tickets €19.50 – € 39
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 
#stalininsuloinenruoska #hktfi

Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
 

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