Lempi premieres in November and is a strong play about love, passion and the power of fate
On the small stage on 21 November, Lempi, based on Minna Rytisalo’s award-winning debut novel (2016), will premiere.The intense drama has aroused the interest of the audience, and almost 60% of the tickets have already been sold and reserved before the premiere. The play, which is set during the Lapland War, is directed by Miika Muranen and stars Ursula Salo, Sauli Suonpää and Vappu Nalbantoglu.
“The staging of Lempi’s story has been exceptionally intense. An unfortunate shadow cast on the making of the drama set in the Lapland War is created by the current world situation. I have gained an extremely enthusiastic working group that throws itself into this world of the work with tremendous force. In addition to Rytisalo’s fine text, the music composed for the work by composer and sound designer Aleksi Saura transports the audience through nature and emotional terrain,” says director Miika Muranen, who has also dramatised the work together with Sinikka Sanelma.
The year is 1944. In the borough of Rovaniemi, twin girls Lempi and Sisko are living their youth in the midst of the attention of German soldiers. Sisko, who has found her own love among the soldiers, challenges her sister to bet, as a result of which Lempi falls in love with young Viljami and becomes pregnant. A war breaks out and Lempi stays in a remote village in Lapland with a maid girl named Elli. When Viljami returns home from the front, Lempi has disappeared. No one knows where and why. Lempi, who is voiced by Krista Kosonen, is not seen in the play, but her life story unfolds based on the stories told by Viljami (Sauli Suonpää), Elli (Vappu Nalbantoglu) and Lempi’s twin sister Sisko (Ursula Salo).
“The play makes you think about how decisions made in the moment, words spoken out loud and random events can have far-reaching consequences. What does the need and longing to be loved and accepted make a person do and how far do they go?”, says actress Ursula Salo, who received the Ida Aalberg Prize this autumn. “The story is also touching how a person is able to move on with life despite difficult experiences and losses,” she continues.
“In the work, I am fascinated by the differences between the strong inner world of the characters and the concrete world of the play, which create human contrasts in the situations. It has been especially important to be in touch with myself, because that is the best way for my character Viljami’s thoughts to open up into action and emotions,” Sauli Suonpää adds.
“In Lempi, I am struck by real historical events from the Continuation War and the Lapland War, which are specified in the fates of private individuals. The magnificent novel comes alive in the hands of a skilled director and even takes on thriller-like features. Love seems to both destroy and heal its powers,” says Vappu Nalbantoglu.
The set, projection and costume design of the work, as well as the images and videos used in the set design, are the work of Reija Hirvikoski. The lighting design is by Kari Leppälä, the composition and sound design by Aleksi Saura, and the camouflage is designed by Tuula Kuittinen. The dramaturg has been Sanna NiemeläinenDirector Miika Muranen’s previous director, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap, was performed on the Arena stage and on the big stage to full audiences in the 2023–2024 performance year.
Read the director’s interview on the theatre’s website: What happened to Lempi? Premiere of Lempi on 21.11.2024 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) #lempi @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 First line 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 in the press release: Vappu Nalbantoglu, Ursula Salo and Sauli Suonpää. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests: Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki