Three theatres together stage the musical Katrina

Lilla Teatern, Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater are co-producing the musical Katrina, in Kaisa Lundán’s newly written dramatization with newly composed music by Aili Järvelä. The performance will play on the stages of all three theatres during the years 2024-2025.

-The plans for a possible collaboration between the theaters have been in the works for a long time, there are many pieces of the puzzle that need to fall into place to row ashore such a large project with several people involved. A collaboration between the theatres provides the opportunity to extend the life of a performance. But what is perhaps even more important is the exchange of working methods, knowledge and approaches between the theatres. That exchange benefits what happens on, but also around and behind the stage, motivates Kira-Emmi Pohtokari, theatre manager at Åbo Svenska Teater, Jakob Höglund, artistic director of Lilla Teatern and Ann-Luise Bertell, theatre manager at Wasa Teater.

Musicians Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo and Senni Valtonen, as well as actress Emma Klingenberg, sing Katrina’s heartbreaking story, which still echoes with relevance almost a century later.

The young Katrina is attracted by the love of moving from Ostrobothnia to Åland to become a sailor’s wife. Despite being left alone, she manages to overcome both external difficulties and herself time and again. Katrina’s pride and justice pave the way where she challenges society’s norms and what it means to be a woman.

“There is a tremendous strength in women when they are faced with impossible situations, a stubbornness to continue despite adversity. And despite the fact that Katrina herself makes mistakes several times, she is treated with tenderness by the author,” says Kaisa Lundán, who dramatised the play.

Sally Salminen won a Nordic novel prize competition and made her breakthrough as a writer with a bang with her debut novel Katrina (1936). The novel is a depiction of folk life that has been published in many editions and translated into a number of languages.

In an interview from 1954, Salminen talks about how she was deeply touched by songs sung by the local history choir. Music plays a prominent role in this co-produced performance. Aili Järvelä makes her debut as a musical composer.

-I didn’t know how to do it and simply had to try it out. One of the melodies actually came to me in a dream,” Järvelä says.

“It’s a big story that requires visual, poetic portrayals. We will travel across the sea, work in the field, dance in the village, give birth to five children, kill a cow and much, much more. I’m lucky enough to collaborate with Heini Maaranen as a set designer, she’s a master of creative solutions, while Samu-Jussi Koski gets to put his timeless elegance on the design of the costumes. It will be an exciting journey to bring Katrina back to life after all the years in oblivion. She will get a performance worthy of her greatness,” explains Jakob Höglund, who directs the play.

“This project is in many ways about strength. Power. I haven’t yet stepped into the process, but from here on the outside, I see it as a powerful stream created by many women – the working group, Sally Salminen and Katrina in the middle. That Katrina has Ostrobothnian blood in her, I can of course relate to, but also to Åland. I’ve been a summer Ålander for 14 years,” says actor Emma Klingenberg.

Writer Sally Salminen, dramatization Kaisa Lundán, composer and arranger Aili Järvelä, director Jakob Höglund, set and prop design Heini Maaranen, costume design Samu-Jussi Koski, lighting design Tobias Lönnquist, sound design Antero Mansikka, make-up Pia Kähkönen, dramaturg Henna Piirto.

On stage: Emma Klingenberg, Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Senni Valtonen / Maija Pokela.

Katrina, premiere 31.1.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki.

In connection with the premiere at Lilla Teatern, tickets will be on sale for the performances that will be played in the spring of 2025 in Turku at Åbo Svenska Teater and in Vaasa at Wasa Teater.

Right of performance: Nordic Drama Corner

Ticket price: normal price €39, student price €19.50 (Mon-Thu) pensioner price €36 (Mon-Thu)

Pictured in the press release is Emma Klingenberg. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Communications Planner, Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050- 357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki

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The press release was updated on 17.11.2023 for the performers.

Three theatres produce the musical Katrina together with Åland author Sally Salminen’s bestselling novel Katrina from 1936 conquers three Finnish-Swedish stages.

Lilla Teatern, Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater are jointly producing the musical Katrina. Kaisa Lundán is responsible for the new dramatisation and Aili Järvelä is composing new music. The performance will be seen on the stages of all three theatres in 2024-2025.

– Possible cooperation between the theatres has been planned for a long time. Bringing such a large project to port is the sum of many pieces and the work of many people. Cooperation between theatres makes it possible to extend the performance season. Perhaps even more important is the sharing of working methods, knowledge and expertise, as well as the perspectives of different theatres. This, in turn, serves everything that happens on the stage, around it and behind it,” say Kira-Emmi Pohtokari, Director of Åbo Svenska Teatern, Jakob Höglund, Artistic Director of Lilla Teatern, and Ann-Luise Bertell, Director of Wasa Teatern.

Musicians Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo and Senni Valtonen, as well as actress Emma Klingenberg, sing Katrina’s heart-wrenching but encouraging story, the significance of which extends to the present day, almost a century later.

Love entices young Katrina to move from her home region of Ostrobothnia to Åland to become a sailor’s wife. Although he is left alone to run the house, time and time again he manages to overcome both external difficulties and himself. Katrina’s pride and fairness create the foundation from which she springs when challenging society’s norms and the role of women.

“There is incredible strength in women who find themselves in hopeless situations, stubbornness continues despite adversity. And even though Katrina herself makes mistakes time and time again, the author treats her gently,” says Kaisa Lundán, who has dramatised the play.

Sally Salminen’s career as a writer began with a bang when she won the Nordic Novel Competition and published her debut novel Katrina (1936).  The novel is a work about everyday life, which has been published in numerous editions and has been translated into several languages.

In an interview from 1954, Sally Salminen tells how the songs sung by the local choir once touched her greatly. Music is at the heart of this co-production. Aili Järvelä made her debut as a musical composer.
– I didn’t really know what to do and I have now proceeded by feeling, in fact, one melody came to me in a dream, says Järvelä.

– This is a great story that requires visual and poetic expression. We travel across the sea, work in the fields, dance in the village, give birth to five children, kill one cow and much much more. I’m lucky enough to collaborate with set designer Heini Maaranen, who is a master of creative solutions. Samu-Jussi Koski, on the other hand, gives the costume design a timeless elegance. We breathe life into Katrina, which has been forgotten for many years, and it becomes a thrilling journey. He gets the big performance he deserves,” director Jakob Höglund describes.

“This project speaks of strength in many ways. About strength. I haven’t surrendered to the process yet, but from the outside, I look at it as a stream raised by many women – there is a working group, Sally Salminen and Katrina in the middle. I identify with Katrina’s Ostrobothnia, but also with the Åland spirit.  I’ve lived in Åland for 14 years,” says actress Emma Klingenberg.

Author Sally Salminen, dramatization Kaisa Lundán, composition and arrangement Aili Järvelä, direction Jakob Höglund, set design and prop design Heini Maaranen, costume design Samu-Jussi Koski, lighting design Tobias Lönnquist, sound design Antero Mansikka, camouflage design Pia Kähkönen, dramaturg Henna Piirto.

On stage: Emma Klingenberg, Aili Järvelä, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Senni Valtonen / Maija Pokela.

Katrina, premiere 31.1.2024 Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki

At the time of the premiere, tickets will go on sale for the performances to be performed in the spring of 2025 at the Åbo Svenska Teater in Turku and the Wasa Theatre in Vaasa.

Tickets: basic ticket 39 €, student ticket 19,50 € (Mon-Thu), pensioner ticket 36 € (Mon-Thu)

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9-17.00. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17.00, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi

In the photo of the press release, Emma Klingenberg. Photographer Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:

Ida Virkkunen, Communications Coordinator, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050-357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki