Stella Polaris, who turns 30, celebrates this autumn at Studio Pasila
Improvisation theatre Stella Polaris, which has been a pioneer of improvisation since 1990, celebrates its 30th anniversary in September and December at the Helsinki City Theatre’s studio Pasila. The jubilee performance season starts with the launch of a book about the story of Stella Polaris on 5 September and continues with the Stella Polaris 30 years! performance.
The book The Story of Stella Polaris – and Its Significance for Improvisation, edited by cultural anthropologist Meri Parkkinen, will be published on 5 September at Studio Pasila. The book, which offers hilarious stories , takes a peek into the unique world of Stella, and at the same time introduces the reader to the history of improvisation in Finland over three decades.
Actress and lecturer in acting at the Theatre Academy Tiina Pirhonen talks about the group’s genuine curiosity about improvisation:
“At first, the Espoo Theatre offered rehearsal spaces, but we also rehearsed in one of Eija Ahvo’s empty apartments and who knows where. Just for the joy of practicing!”
“I was fascinated by how sovereign Outi (Mäenpää) and Tiina, for example , were on stage. I hoped that by joining in, I could be like them one day,” says actress Sari Havas , who joined the group in 1991, in the book.
“This is a special theatre in many ways, and it was interesting to hear and write a book,” says journalist Meri Parkkinen.
Parkkinen says that she has been surprised by the wide-ranging and versatile use of improvisation, e.g. in interaction, well-being, problem-solving and encouraging creativity.
During the festive autumn, the stage of Studio Pasila will feature completely improvised all-night plays and musicals, a joint improv evening by Stella Polaris and HKT, improv clubs with changing performers, and Impro’s Mega spectacle evening, during which almost the entire line-up of Stella Polaris will take the stage: Teijo Eloranta, Sari Havas, Ushma Karnani, Kirsti Kuosmanen, Antti Laukkarinen, Mikko Penttilä, Pihla Penttinen, Tiina Pirhonen, Annika Poijärvi, Micke Rejström, Sari Siikander, Niina Sillanpää, Elina Stirkkinen, Miiko Toiviainen, Jussi Vatanen and Tobias Zilliacus.
Stella Polaris has been a pioneer of theatre improvisation in Finland since 1990. The theatre currently consists of 19 actors, four musicians, five lighting designers and two producers. The theatre organises nearly 200 performances or training events annually on theatre stages, schools, private events and festivals.
Stella Polaris 30 years! performances 5.9.-5.12.2020 at the Helsinki City Theatre’s studio in Pasila (Ratamestarinkatu 5)
Tickets 16 € – 34 €
Meri Parkkinen: The Story of Stella Polaris – and Its Significance for Improvisation (Broholmen13, 2020) at the launch event of the book 5 September at 4.30 pm at Studio Pasila (Ratamestarinkatu 5). Actress Sari Siikander’s book club guest is writer Meri Parkkinen and the actors of Stella Polaris improvise.
Registration and interview requests Sari-Anne Nahkuri, toimisto@stella-polaris.fi, tel. 050 57 37 004.
#stellapolaris30v #stellapolaris @hktfi
Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 9 am – 5.30 pm, Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 11 am – 7 pm and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 am – 9 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge)
www.hkt.fi
The website Safely to the Theatre contains up-to-date and updated instructions for safe theatre visits.
Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Further information, media ticket reservations:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki