The Love Story of the Century premieres as a fresh new interpretation / The Love Story of the Century gets its premiere as a fresh interpretation

The Love Story of the Century (1978) is based on Märta Tikkanen’s personal texts, originally written as a form of self-therapy. The performance mixes Tikkanen’s poems with new text written by Aino Pennanen and Riikka Oksanen. The play explores themes such as gender roles, liberation and survival in an unsustainable relationship. The performance follows an actor named Minttu who arrives at the rehearsals of a monologue based on Tikkanen’s works. To her surprise, the director has invited a test audience – but he himself is absent and instead begins to send strange instructions via text message. The playful staging combines depth and humor.  “When it comes to classics, you often think you already know what they’re about. We have been surprised by the amount of nuances that have emerged when we have approached the text with an open and brave mind. The more you study it, the more contradictory it becomes – and it is precisely these contradictions that create fascinating theatre,” says director Riikka Oksanen. The main role is played by Minttu Mustakallio, who returns to Lilla Teatern to bring to life another powerful depiction of women, based on the works of Märta Tikkanen.  “Already when we made Men Can’t Be Raped at Lilla Teatern in 2020, I felt how important Märta Tikkanen is to Finland-Swedes. It is with horror mixed enthusiasm that I take on her again. It may take a bit of madness, but as an actor, you have to challenge yourself to develop,” Mustakallio says.  On stage Minttu Mustakallio, author Märta Tikkanen, adaptation Aino Pennanen and Riikka Oksanen, translation Linda Wallgren, director Riikka Oksanen. Set design by Antti Mattila, costume design by Elina Kolehmainen. Lighting design by Ville Aaltonen and sound design by Niklas Lundström. The mask design is by Pia Malmberg. The dramaturg is Henna Piirto. Check out the background material we have collected on the Lilla Teatern website: The Love Story  of the CenturyThe Love Story of the Century, premiere on 10.10.2024 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki.  Ticket price: normal price 34 €, student price 16 € (Mon-Thu), pensioner price 31 € (Mon-Thu). #arhundradetskarlekssaga @lilla.teatern @hktfi The language of the performance is Swedish. The performance will be subtitled in Finnish and Swedish via the Subtitle Mobile app.  Helsinki City Theatre’s customer service is available by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri at noon. 9-17. Ticket office on Första linjen 2, Mon-Fri. 12 noon-5 pm, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) 11 am-6.30 pm and one hour before the performances start. Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9 am-9 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge/mta) www.hkt.fi  Pictured in the press release: Minttu Mustakallio, photographer Ilkka Saastamoinen Further information, press tickets and interview requests:Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250   The Love Story of the Century premieres in a fresh interpretation Märta Tikkanen’s poetry novel Århundradets kärlekssaga (The Love Story of the Century) will premiere at Lilla Teatern on 10 October. Award-winning actress Minttu Mustakallio will be seen on stage. Directed by Riikka Oksanen and dramatised by Oksanen and Aino Pennanen, Tikkanen’s powerful texts are brought to the fore in a new, different context. Århundradets kärlekssaga (1978) is based on Märta Tikkanen’s personal texts, which she originally wrote as self-care. The performance combines Tikkanen’s poems with a new text by Aino Pennanen and Riikka Oksanen. The play explores gender roles, liberation and survival in an unsustainable relationship. The performance follows an actress named Minttu, who arrives to rehearse a monologue based on Tikkanen’s work. To his surprise, the director has invited an audience to the scene – but the director himself is absent and instead starts sending strange instructions via text messages. The playful staging creates depth and humour in the performance. “When it comes to a classic work, you often think you know in advance what the work is about. With this work, it has been a huge surprise how many new shades of the subject have been revealed as we have studied it with an open mind and courage. The closer you look at it, the more contradictory the subject becomes – and it is precisely this contradiction that creates fascinating theatre,” says director Riikka Oksanen.  The main role is played by Minttu Mustakallio, who returns to Lilla Teatern to bring back the strong female character based on Märta Tikkanen’s work.  “Already when we were doing the performance Män kan inte våldtas (A man can’t be raped) at Lilla Teatern in 2020, I felt how important Märta Tikkanen is to the Swedish-speaking people in Finland. I approach him again with mixed feelings of horror. It may take a bit of madness, but as an actor, you have to challenge yourself to develop,” says Mustakallio. On stage: Minttu Mustakallio. Author Märta Tikkanen, adaptation Aino Pennanen and Riikka Oksanen, translation Linda Wallgren, director Riikka Oksanen, set design Antti Mattila, costume design Elina Kolehmainen, lighting design Ville Aaltonen, sound design Niklas Lundström, ncamouflage design by Pia Malmberg. Dramaturg Henna Piirto. Check out the background materials we have compiled on Lilla Teatern’s website.  The Love Story of the Century, premiere 10.10.2024 at Lilla Teaternissa, Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki. Tickets: basic ticket 34 €, student ticket 16 € (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket 31 € (Mon-Thu) #arhundradetskarlekssaga @lilla.teatern @hktfi  Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/from min+local network charge) www.hkt.fi In the photo: Minttu Mustakallio, photographer Ilkka Saastamoinen Further information, press tickets and interview requests:  Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250