Kultalampi is a touching story of many generations

Ernest Thompson’s play Kultalampi will premiere on the Arena stage of the Helsinki City Theatre on 8 September. The wistful and touching depiction of family, a long relationship, inevitable change and the transience of everything has spoken to audiences decade after decade. The main roles in the play, directed by Tuomo Aitta, are played by Heidi Herala and Juhani Laitala.

Norman (Juhani Laitala) and Ethel (Heidi Herala) have once again come to their villa in Kultalampi to spend the summer. Everything is almost the same as before, but Norman’s memory has begun to fail and his ability to enjoy life is weakening. Ethel runs her everyday life and tries to keep everything the same. Therefore, this 48th joint summer at Kultalampi is full of special wistfulness and a feeling of giving up. The daughter arrives to celebrate her father’s 80th birthday with her new boyfriend, and the parents promise to take their daughter’s new spouse’s 13-year-old son with them for the summer. A surprising summer visitor gives Norman’s life a new direction; The fishing equipment is dug out and she and her son go to the lake.

“I believe that the play has a lot of relatability for people of different ages. When you have lived in a long marriage, you may come across things that you have heard about, but suddenly when they come to you, they surprise you. Then you just have to learn to live with them. Fortunately, there are black-throated divers, wild strawberries and a lot of good things that nature offers and that give so much strength and joy,” says actress Heidi Herala.

“Kultalampi touchingly depicts not only a long relationship, but also the relationship between parents and children and between a grandparent and a grandchild. We have the perfect cast for this, where different generations meet. The youngest to take turns in the role of Bill Ray Jr. are Vertti Uusitalo and Kuura Rossi, who are already familiar from the City Theatre’s musicals, and who has also received an international film award,” says director Tuomo Aitta, who is visiting the City Theatre for the first time.

The other roles in the play are played by Jussi Puhakka, Emilia Sinisalo and Sauli Suonpää. The music is composed by Kalle Chydenius, who is also responsible for the sound design together with Eero Niemi . The set design was designed by Katariina Kirjavainen and the costumes by Sari Suominen. The lighting design is by Valdemar Virtanen, and the camouflage is designed by Jutta Kainulainen.

Kultalampi premiered on Broadway in 1979 and was a huge success. Since then, the play has been performed around the world. The play was first performed at the Helsinki City Theatre in 2000. A film was made about Kultalampi in 1981, starring Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda. The film became a classic loved by audiences. It received three Oscars and three Golden Globes, as well as a Bafta.
 

Kultalampi premiere 8.9.2022 on the Arena stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Hämeentie 2)
Tickets: student ticket 22 € (Mon-Thu), pensioner ticket 41 € (Mon-Thu), basic ticket 44 €

Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, First Line 2, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., tel. 0600 900 900 (€2/min + local network charge) www.hkti.fi
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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