Tove Jansson returns to Lilla Teatern / Tove Jansson’s Summer Book on stage at Lilla Teatern

Lilla Teatern is staging Tove Jansson’s beloved classic The Summer Book in a star-studded production.

The summer book was published in 1972, and it is considered Jansson’s second book written for adults, despite the fact that it touches readers across all generations. The book has been translated into more than 20 languages, but it is only now that it will premiere on a Finnish theatre stage.

Tove Jansson was a close friend of the theatre manager Vivica Bandler , and therefore it was natural that Lilla Teatern became a kind of home theatre for Tove Jansson. Lilla Teatern’s production of the performance Troll i kulisserna in 1958 was a resounding success.

The book is a collection of independent stories, a soulful depiction of the budding friendship between a little girl who has her life ahead of her and a very old grandmother who has her life behind her. At Lilla Teatern, Jessica Grabowsky plays the little girl Sophia who, after her mother’s death, spends summers on the island with her somewhat harsh grandmother, played by Sue Lemström. The dramatization is made by Pipsa Lonka.

“I’ve wanted to do a performance of The Summer Book for a long time. It’s one of the most important books in my life. And to do it at Lilla Teatern feels just right,” says Jakob Höglund , who is the director of the performance.

Jakob Höglund is a celebrated young director who has made a name for himself through great successes, the latest of which are Stormskärs Maja at the Turku Swedish Theatre and the musical Billy Elliot at the Vaasa City Theatre.

In both productions, he has collaborated with set designer Sven Haraldsson , who also makes the costumes for The Summer Book. The duo’s view of theatre is characterised by stage fantasy, play and visuality.

” Tove Jansson describes the island and its surroundings by describing the sounds that can be heard. In the performance, we do the same – we give sound a central role in the depiction of the island, the sea and nature. All sound is made live on stage, visible to the audience – in this way, the two actors play out the world together with sound designer Hanna Mikander,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Jessica Grabowsky was last seen at Lilla Teatern in Milja Sarkola’s I taket lyser stjärnorna / Kattona tähtitaivas in 2014. The summer book is her first theatre role after her participation in the film Tom of Finland.

Sue Lemström is the Grand Old Lady of the Finland-Swedish Theatre. She last performed at Lilla Teatern in 2003, and in 2008 she was awarded the Pro Finlandia Prize for her artistry.

Hanna Mikander is visiting Lilla Teatern for the first time – she works as a sound designer at Svenska Teatern.

The performance is subtitled in Swedish and Finnish.

Right of Conduct: Agency North / Moomin Characters

The summer book will premiere on January 31, 2018 at Lilla Teatern.

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Based on Tove Jansson’s beloved novel, Sommarboken (Summer Book) will have its Finnish premiere at Lilla Teatern on 31 January.  

Sommarboken is a collection of stories about the friendship between a young girl named Sophia and an old grandmother and their summer together on an island in the Gulf of Finland. When one person’s life is already starting to fade, the other is still completely ahead of it. Jessica Grabowsky plays Sophia, who, after the death of her mother, spends her summer on the island with the feisty grandmother, played by Sue Lemström . The dramatization is by Pipsa Lonka.

“I’ve been wanting to make a show about Sommarboken for a long time. It is one of the most important books of my life. It feels good to do it for Lilla Teatern,” says director Jakob Höglund.

Jakob Höglund is a successful young director who has become known for great musicals such as Maija in Myrskyluoto for the Åbo Svenska Teatern and Billy Elliot for the Vaasa City Theatre.

In both productions, he has collaborated with set designer Sven Haraldsson , who will also do the set and costume design for Sommarboken. The duo’s vision of theatre is imaginative, playful and visual.

“Tove Jansson describes the island and its surroundings by describing the soundscape. In the play, we do the same – we give voice a central role in perceiving the island, the sea and nature. The actors create the soundscape live in front of the audience together with sound designer Hanna Mikander .”

Tove Jansson was a close friend of Vivica Bandler , the director of Lilla Teatern, and therefore it was natural that Lilla Teatern became a kind of home cinema for Tove.  “Troll i kulisserna” (Moomintroll on the set), written by her and performed at Lillan in 1958, was a great success.

Sommarboken was published in 1972 and is considered Jansson’s second book for adults, but it speaks to readers across generations. The book has been translated into more than 20 languages and now it finally premieres on the Finnish stage.

Jessica Grabowsky was last seen at Lilla Teatern in the play Kattona tähtitaivas (2014), directed by Milja Sarkola. In Sommarboken, she will take the stage for the first time since her film role in Tom of Finland (2017).

Sue Lemström is the grand old lady of the Finnish-Swedish theatre, which has been awarded the Pro Finlandia Prize.

Hanna Mikander is visiting Lilla Teatern for the first time – she is the sound designer of Svenska Teatern.

The performance will be subtitled in Finnish and Swedish.

Rights: Agency North/ Moomin Characters.

Sommarboken, premiere on January 31 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30.