Män kan inte rapetas får premiere på Lilla Teatern / Miesta ei kan raiskata saa premiere at Lilla Teatern

On Saturday 5 September 2020, it will be the premiere of perhaps the most important milestone of Nordic feminism, Men Cannot Be Raped (1975) by Märta Tikkanen. Swedish Sara Giese is directing the classic, which fifty years after its publication is still highly topical.

With Men Can’t Be Raped , Lilla Teatern’s new artistic director Jakob Höglund begins his own repertoire of plays. Höglund took office in November 2019, and already knew then that he wanted to give new life to Märta Tikkanen’s classic. “As a book, it has not received the attention it deserves in Finland. It is high time that this important classic has its Finnish stage premiere,” says Höglund.

The story is about Tova Randers, a divorced mother of two and a librarian, who is raped on her 40th birthday. Instead of reporting the rape to the police, Tova takes revenge by raping the man who raped her. But unlike the man, Tova intends to report herself to the police and stand for what she has done.

It was in the summer of 1970 when Märta Tikkanen came across an article in the Danish daily newspaper Politiken. A man had rushed into the police station in the town of Randers and told him that he had been raped by a woman. He was met with the same laughter as Tova in the book and play. “I thought the story was fantastic,” says Märta Tikkanen.

Director Sara Giese describes it as an honour and challenge to stage the play on the book’s home turf. “We want to get as close to the novel as possible, in terms of geography and time markers.” She promises an end that is not suitable for the faint-hearted. “It’s a war story, a story of righteous revenge.”

The main role of Tova Randers is played by Minttu Mustakallio, who has won an award for television and film work and has extensive stage experience from the Finnish National Theatre and Ryhmäteatteri, among others.” It feels great to be able to do Märta Tikkanen in her original language,” says Mustakallio.

Men Can’t Be Raped was staged last year at the Stockholm City Theatre by Lo Kauppi. She and director Sara Giese are responsible for the dramatization for Lilla Teatern. The set and costume design is by Swedish Sven Haraldsson, the music is composed by Robert Kock, the make-up is by Milja Mensonen, the lighting design is by Ville Aaltonen, the sound design is by Niklas Lundström and the choreography is by Ulriikka Heikinheimo.

Abuse of power and sexual harassment have swept the world, shining a spotlight on the skew that still exists between the sexes: Who can abuse another, and whose story is believed?  As part of this autumn’s 80th anniversary, Lilla Teatern will arrange discussion events and artist meetings around the play’s theme.

Men Can’t Be Raped, premiere 5.9.2020 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30.

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A Man Can’t Be Raped premieres at Lilla Teatern

On Saturday, 5 September, Märta Tikkanen’s classic work Män kan inte våldtas (1975) will have its Finnish premiere at Lilla Teatern. Swedish director Sara Giese directs the work, which is still as relevant as it was when it was published 50 years ago.

Män kan inte våldtas is the first performance in the programme planning of Lilla Teatern’s artistic director Jakob Höglund . Höglund started his term in November 2019 and already knew then that he wanted to create a lift for Tikkanen’s iconic work. “The book has not received the attention it deserves in Finland, and it is high time that this important classic is seen on the Finnish stage,” says Höglund.

The story is about Tova Randers, a divorced mother of two and a librarian who is raped on her 40th birthday. Tova does not report the incident to the police, but decides to take revenge.

In the summer of 1970, Märta Tikkanen came across an article in the Danish newspaper Politiken in which a man had rushed to the Randers police station and said that he had been raped by a woman. He was laughed at in the same way as Tova was in the book and in the performance. “I think the story was great,” says Märta Tikkanen.

It is an honour and a challenge for director Sara Giese to direct a play in the home region of the book. “We want to get as close to the novel as possible. Giese promises a final climax that is not suitable for the most sensitive. “It’s a war and just revenge.”

The main role of Tova Randers is played by Minttu Mustakallio, an award-winning TV and film star and long-time actress. “It feels great to be able to play Märta Tikkanen in the original language,” says Mustakallio.

Män kan inte våldtas premiered last year at the Stockholm City Theatre under the direction of Lo Kauppi . He and director Sara Giese are responsible for the dramatisation of the version to be seen at Lilla Teatern. The set and costume design is by Swedish Sven Haraldsson, the music by Robert Kock, the make-up by Milja Mensonen, the lighting design by Ville Aaltonen, the sound design by Niklas Lundström and the choreography by Ulriikka Heikinheimo.

Sexual harassment is still topical. Who is abusing and whom, and whose story is believed? As part of its 80th anniversary year, Lilla Teatern organizes public events and artist meetings related to the theme of the performance.  

Män kan inte rapetas, premiere 5.9.2020 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30.  Performed in Swedish, with Finnish subtitles.