The playful and hopeful Time of Joy tells about life choices and relationships

A mother and an adult daughter meet for the first time in a long time. They are still waiting for the family’s son, Aksle, who will soon join them. When Aksle finally arrives, he has news. He has decided to leave his whole life and disappear. He has packed his things and is about to drive away. After Aksle’s departure, the mother goes to meet Aksle’s life partner to better understand her son’s decision. The mother ends up at a party, meets strangers, and the answers she receives surprise everyone in the end.  “The Time of Joy is an exceptional play in terms of its structure. It takes you on a journey where you may not always know where you are going, but it rewards the viewer as you start to open up gradually. The Time of Joy is an event where people come and go, and where those encounters form new connections. Like life,” says director Tatu Hämäläinen. The Time of Joy is about modern relationships – love relationships, affection between siblings, challenging parenthood and friendship. It tells the story of mothers, daughters, brothers, neighbours, acquaintances and strangers whose lives meet each other.  The cast includes Heidi Herala, Mitra Matouf, Rasmus Slätis, Rauno Ahonen, Jouko Klemettilä, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Ursula Salo and Sauli Suonpää. The electroacoustic music of the performance is composed and performed live by the artist Islaja. The play is directed by Tatu Hämäläinen. The set design, costumes and lights are designed by Chrisander Brun and the sound design is by Eero Niemi. The camouflage was designed by Jutta Kainulainen. The play has been translated into Finnish by Ari-Pekka Lahti, who also acts as the dramaturg of the work. The choreography and movement are the work of Maria Saivosalmi and Tatu Hämäläinen. Tid for glede, written by Norwegian Arne Lygre, premiered in Oslo in 2022, where it was a hit with audiences and critics. Lygre is one of Norway’s most significant contemporary playwrights, whose work has received a lot of international attention. His plays have been translated into more than 20 languages and are constantly performed all over Europe. Tatu Hämäläinen is a theatre director who graduated from the Dramatic Institute in Stockholm in 2010. Her work includes both plays and theme-based projects. After graduating, Hämäläinen worked as a permanent director at the Stockholm City Theatre. Since 2014, she has worked as a freelance director around the Nordic countries, with employers such as Dramate in Stockholm, Det Norske Teatret and Nationaltheatret in Oslo. The Time of Joy is his first production for institutional theatre in Finland. The Time of Joy is part of the World on Stage project, launched and funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, which supports the translation and performance of stage works in Finnish theatres.  Read the director’s interview on the theatre’s website: The Picture  of a Modern ManThe premiere ofTime of Joy on 5.9.2024 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5). Tickets: basic ticket €41, student ticket €20.50 (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket €38 (Mon-Thu) #ilonaika @hktfi Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/from min+local network charge) www.hkt.fi In the photo: Heidi Herala and Mitra Matouf. Photo: Chrisander Brun. Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki