Tove Jansson’s comics become theatre for adults / Tove Jansson’s comics theatre performance
The Moomin stories return to Lilla Teatern, 64 years after the premiere of Trolls in the Wings. It is the first performance based on Tove Jansson’s comic book and the concept, direction and choreography are by Lilla Teatern’s artistic director Jakob Höglund. Crisis and Disaster in Moominvalley, dramatized by Annina Enckell, will have its world premiere at Lillan in February 2022. The play, like the original comics, is aimed at an adult audience.
Between 1954 and 1975, Tove Jansson and her brother Lars drew comic strips for the British daily newspaper The Evening News. The comics formed their own episodic stories and were spiced with accurate satire and reflections on major issues such as society, climate and existence – still relevant today. The performance will be a tribute to the Jansson pen, which for two decades delivered comic art and apt social reflections for an international audience.
“Using the comic strip as a starting point is exciting, as it is actually the first time the Moomin comics have been dramatised for a theatre stage. Many people know the Moomin books better than the comics, so it’s nice to put the spotlight on them. The fact that Jakob Höglund has chosen to make a play aimed at adults is well in line with the original material, there is a wonderful sense of humour and social connection that appeals to adults,” says Sophia Jansson, niece of Tove Jansson and artistic director of Moomin Characters.
“Ever since the start of my directing career, I have dreamed of making performing arts out of the Moomins, and it goes without saying that it is at Lillan that the play should be made. I look forward to playing out a performance with many characters, a performance filled with biting humor but also melancholy in a form where musical theater meets puppet theater,” says Jakob Höglund, director and artistic director of Lilla Teatern.
Award-winning Heini Maaranen’s puppet aesthetic breathes life into the play’s various characters, which are framed by a stage design created by the Swedish set designer Sven Haraldsson. The performance includes a number of newly written songs, developed by Enckell and Robert Kock, who served as composer. Enckell, Maaranen and Kock most recently worked together with Höglund in the production Kalevala (ÅST), which became a phenomenon with its impressive staging.
Jakob Höglund continues to work with a strong ensemble. On stage this time are Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Vuokko Hovatta, Robert Kock, Reetta Moilanen, Elena Rekola, Pia Runnakko, Ursula Salo, Riina Tikkanen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.
Writer Tove Jansson, director and choreographer Jakob Höglund, dramatization and lyrics Annina Enckell, set design and actors’ costumes Sven Haraldsson, puppet design and production Heini Maaranen, characters’ costumes and props Heini Maaranen, composer Robert Kock, lighting design Ville Aaltonen, sound design Antero Mansikka, make-up Maija Sillanpää, assistant director and choreography Soile Ojala.
Crisis and Disaster in Moominvalley, premiere 17.2.2022 at Lilla Teatern. Yrjönkatu 30. Tickets lippu.fi
Right of Conduct: Agency North / Moomin Characters
Press images are available in the image bank and press releases in Cision’s press room
Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Marketer Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250
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Theatre performance of Tove Jansson’s comics at Lilla Teatern
The Moomin stories return to Lilla Teatern 64 years after the premiere of Troll i kulisserna (The Moomins behind the scenes). The idea, direction and choreography of the first performance based on Tove Jansson’s original comics is the responsibility of Lilla Teatern’s artistic director Jakob Höglund. Kris och katastrof i Moominalen , dramatised by Annina Enckell, will premiere in Lillan in February 2022. The performance is aimed at adults, just like the original works.
Tove Jansson and her brother Lars Jansson drew comics for the British newspaper The Evening News between 1954 and 1975. The comics formed separate stories and were spiced up with apt satire and reflections on society, climate and existence – things that are still relevant today. Now, for the first time, the theatre performance based on comics is a tribute to Jansson, who for two decades created comic art and at the same time apt depictions of society for an international audience.
“Using comics as background material is exciting, this is the first time that comics have been dramatized for the stage. Many people know the Moomin books better than the comics, so it’s great that the comics are now in the spotlight. It is a good choice for Jakob Höglund to direct the performance to adults. Both the original work and the play have wonderful humour and social criticism that appeals to adults,” says Sophia Jansson, Tove Jansson’s niece and the artistic director of Moomin Characters.
“I’ve dreamed of making dramatic art about the Moomins since the beginning of my career as a director, and it’s obvious that I’ll bring the Moomins to the stage at Lilla Teatern. I’m looking forward to creating a performance with a lot of characters, apt humour and melancholy, so that musical theatre meets puppetry,” says Jakob Höglund, director of the performance and artistic director of Lilla Teatern.
The puppet aesthetics of the award-winning Heini Maaranen bring the characters to life in a set created by Swedish Sven Haraldsson. The music for the performance has been composed by actor and musician Robert Kock, who is familiar from the stage of Lilla Teatern. Enckell, Maaranen and Kock most recently worked with Höglund on the Kalevala, which has become a phenomenon at the Åbo Svenska Teatern.
Jakob Höglund will continue his strong ensemble work. On stage are Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Vuokko Hovatta, Robert Kock, Reetta Moilanen, Elena Rekola, Pia Runnakko, Ursula Salo, Riina Tikkanen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.
Writer Tove Jansson, director and choreographer Jakob Höglund, dramatization and lyrics Annina Enckell, set design and costumes for the actors Sven Haraldsson, design and production of puppets Heini Maaranen, costumes and props for the characters Heini Maaranen, composer Robert Kock, lighting design Ville Aaltonen, sound design Antero Mansikka, make-up by Maija Sillanpää and assistant director Soile Ojala.
Crisis and Disaster in Moominvalley, premiere 17.2.2022 Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30. Tickets: lippu.fi. The performance will be subtitled in Finnish.
Performance rights supervised by: Agency North / Moomin Characters
Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Marketer Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250