Rosa Liksom’s The Colonel brings to the stage the harshness and mercy of life and history

The autumn season on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre continues with Rosa Liksom’s new play The Colonel, based on Rosa Liksom’s popular novel (2017). The Colonel, which explores Finland’s recent history, is dramatised and directed by Susanna Airaksinen and interpreted by Heidi Herala, will have its premiere on 2 October.

The fierce and rich-tongued Colonel tells the story of a young girl who admires parades and uniforms and grows into an independent, adult and writer in the wilderness of Lapland. As a framework and inspiration for the protagonist, the colonel, author Rosa Liksom has used the life of the writer Annikki Kariniemi , who is known for her Lapland themes. At the same time, the performance depicts the progress of the young, independent state through the wars, life between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, especially Finland’s relationship with Germany.

“The Colonel’s way of looking at history is incisively accurate. The far right is on the rise again throughout Europe. How easy it is for anyone to start looking for answers in some big and powerful movement. How suddenly cruelty becomes commonplace. Bringing this work to the stage is talking about things out loud,” says director and dramatist Susanna Airaksinen.

“The life of the Colonel is full of contradictions and the kind of story that it has to get out – to be shared with the viewers! It’s about a survival story, about how nature gives people strength and how the only way to survive is to face even the most painful things, only that gives mercy. On stage there is a woman who can talk about the Soviet Union and “Vyyrer”, write wilderness books, enjoy her own sexuality and fall in love with a man much younger than herself. On the other hand, he also suffers terrible mental and physical abuse. A lot of plays have been made about recent history, and in my mind I have hoped that the subject would be approached from a different perspective, e.g. from the point of view of the wife or the child, and then the Colonel appeared and there it was!“, says actress Heidi Herala.

The set design and costumes that draw inspiration from the nature of Lapland were designed by Vilma Mattila, and the rich soundscape of the performance was composed and designed by Johanna Puuperä. The lighting designer is Vesa Eli and the camouflage is designed by Aino Hyttinen. In addition to Heidi Herala, the performance will feature voices from Santeri Kinnunen and Rauno Ahonen.

Age recommendation from 16 years of age.

Premiere of Colonel 2.10.2019 at 7 pm on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5)
Tickets: 16 € – 34 € (incl. pm)

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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 7 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.hkt.fi 

Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests: Helsinki City Theatre, Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788

Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki