Tahto, about Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, is a declaration of love for skiing and theatre
Inspired by real life, written by Aina Bergroth and directed by Sini Pesonen , Tahto tells the story of Olympic medallist Aino-Kaisa Saarinen in all its harshness and sensitivity. The novelty will premiere on 24 January on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre.
“The play’s key twists and turns are based on the stages of Aino-Kaisa Saarinen’s life, but Tahto also moves in the world of dreams and imagination,” says Aina Bergroth, who has written the play inspired by a biography written by Pekka Holopainen and based on her conversations with Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.
“Will speaks of ambition and an insane amount of willpower, and of the sacrifices that passion requires. The genre of the performance is changing, surprising, wild, grotesque and funny. It depicts great, overwhelming emotions, the will to win and the joy that the entire Finnish nation gets when a Finnish athlete wins, and disappointment at the moment of losing,” says director Sini Pesonen.
Actress Sanna-June Hyde steps into the glittering boots of the multiple world champion and Olympic medalist, who has also prepared for her role outside of the actual training time by practicing skiing and getting to know her role model.
“I had the honour of going skiing in Lahti with Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and trying out roller skis at her home. In conversations with Aino-Kaisa, I have noticed similarities with theatre work in this top athlete’s complete dedication to work and unusual working hours,” says Sanna-June Hyde.
Aino-Kaisa’s dearest and most dangerous rival is played by Linda Zilliacus. A common coach (Rauno Ahonen) adds tension to the relationship between the world’s top women. Aino-Kaisa’s father is played by Risto Kaskilahti, her mother by Leena Rapola and her twin sister by Vappu Nalbantoglu. Tennis superstar Andre Agassi (Santeri Kinnunen) reflects on the madness of sports with Aino-Kaisa, while the skier’s great love, her husband Tom (Mikko Virtanen/Tatu Mönttinen), ensures a stable everyday life.
The set design for the play Tahto with ski lifts, costumes and videos was designed by Tinja Salmi. The choreography is by Jyrki Karttunen. The lighting designer is William Iles and the sound designer is Aleksi Saura. The camouflage and hairstyles were designed by Taina Tervo.
Sini Pesonen, who is visiting HKT for the first time, has directed Finnish new drama, foreign classics and musical theatre. Pesonen has worked as a theatre director and directed in different parts of Finland, both in the independent field and in institutional theatres. He is the second artistic director and director of Teatteri Nirvana in Helsinki.
Author and dramaturg Aina Bergroth made her debut at the Helsinki City Theatre with her play Tahto. Bergroth, who has worked as a literary advisor to the Finnish National Theatre and as the chairman of the literary organisation Nuoren Voima Liitto, has recently worked as a dramaturg in The Brothers Karamazov(2018) and Arctic Hysteria (2017) at the National Theatre and The Seagull (2015) at the Reykjavik City Theatre. In addition to his work as a dramaturg, Bergroth has published the novels Ah bliss (Teos ) and Prinsessan kirjeet (Teos).
Will premiere 24.1.2019 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5)
39 € (includes PM)