15.05.2012

TINFO e-News / Winter-Spring 2012

ARTIST PROFILE

FINNISH DRAMA AND THEATER ABROAD

QUOTING - OPINIONS ON FINNISH THEATER

SHOWCASES AND OTHER EVENTS 2012

NEW SPACES FOR PERFORMANCE ART IN HELSINKI

TINFO GRANT FOR TRANSLATIONS OF FINNISH PLAYS

CURRENT TRANSLATIONS OF FINNISH PLAYS

DRAMA AGENCIES IN FINLAND

ON STAGE - NOW IN FINLAND

Have You Already Read Our*Publication: SITUATED PERFORMANCES AND PERFORMERS (PDF)

 

Artist Profile 

 

Tuija Kokkonen, A Director And Researcher:
Relationships Between Humans And Non-Humans As A Space For Performance

A dog sits, staring into the horizon. The artist Tuija Kokkonen stands next to him. The venue is a Helsinki city centre department store roof. About to unfold is A Performance with an Ocean View (for a Dog) – II Memo of Time. Kokkonen has created the performance for a dog.

Tuija Kokkonen, Photo Riku SaastamoinenAccording to Kokkonen, the existence, or extinction, of animals is the most serious environmental crisis facing humankind. Tuija Kokkonen’s ideas stem from equality between human and non-human beings. To her, dogs, birds, clouds or lichen are agents, active participants, as performers and spectators and, what particularly fascinates her is what meanings might unravel for the performance and for humans from this relationship and engagement with other assemblages and other forms of consciousness. What does the seagull chick see and what will it remember about A Performance with an Ocean View (for a Dog) as, perched in its nest, it watches on day after day?

Read the entire article here.

 

Finnish Drama And Theatre Abroad

  

 

  • Juha Valkeapää - Taito Hoffrén: Ten Journeys To A Place Where Nothing Happens*

 “We are always surprised by the fact that something comes out of what we call ‘nothing’.”

Two men are making pancakes, preparing coffee and welcoming guests in an army tent. Next to the tent stands a motor home, a Mercedes Benz camper. The camper is everything. Besides being a means of transport it is also a kitchen, a toilet, side stage, dressing room… You name it. The musician Taito Hoffrén and performance artist Juha Valkeapää tell ten stories spoken or mimed, just being there, being in the tent with us. We are there at our leisure, in no hurry and the hosts take care of us; they talk, they play and tell stories.

This journey started in 2005. In 2010 the performance had its premiere at the Baltic Circle festival in Helsinki.

The title (John Cage reading Jung in 1940s) describes perfectly Taito Hoffrén’s and Juha Valkeapää’s performance. Just being there, daring to be without doing anything, letting the community and communion between the performers and the audience happen and be created. No wonder the performance has had a successful touring stint at the Homo Novus Festival in Riga, Spielart in Munich and next it will be at the brut Festival in Vienna.

The essence of the performanceis the constantly updated diary. You’re welcome to join the journey and follow the story: http://tenjourneys.aania.fi/diary.html

  • What Matters Most Is Leaving A Clean Footprint - Kokkola City Theatre's*Last Morning Star On Tour In Sweden 

In October, Last morning star, directed by Ari-Pekka Lahti, toured nine cities across Sweden. Based on a novel of the same name by Yeremey Aypin, it tells of the fate of the Finno-Ugric Hanti people, caught up in the Soviet and oil industry machinery. Last morning star premiered at Kokkola City Theatre on 24 September 2011.

”It felt great to speak for the Finnish minority in Sweden,” Jarkko Lahti says.

Jarkko Lahti is one of Kokkola City Theatre’s two artistic directors and an actor who performed in the Last morning star alongside shaman violinist Tuomas Rounakari. The city of Umeå was chosen as the location for the premiere, due to its large Finnish and Sami populations. The performance gave rise to political tensions between the area’s mainstream and indigenous peoples and minority language groups, clearly palpable to the Kokkola ensemble.

Last morning star | Kokkola City Theatre | Photo Vesa LahtiLast morning star was a popular and critical success throughout the tour and represents a significant artistic discovery for the team responsible for bringing it about, Ari-Pekka Lahti and Jarkko Lahti. The pair of cousins feel a great affinity with the play’s theme: the stories and fates of the Northern peoples, their harmonious relationship with nature and their deep respect for its power.

”For the Hanti people, what matters most, is leaving a clean footprint,” explains Jarkko Lahti, clearly moved.

The tour was organised by the Swedish Riksteatern, a TINFO partner on a number of projects, including Stage Without Borders (Rajaton näyttämö/Scen utan gränser). The performance has also attracted wider international interest. Last morning star will be translated into English.
 
Contact person at Riksteatern: Ann-Cathrine Fröjdö, ann-cathrine.frojdo(at)riksteatern.se.

Reviews in Swedish:
Folkbladet.nu: Den sista morgonstjärnan rör vid ens känslor
Västerbottens-Kuriren: Ett konststycke på finska

  • Mika Myllyaho's Panic Premiered At Paris' Saint-George Theatre *

 Mika Myllyaho’s PANIC premiered at Paris’ Saint-George Theatre 

Mika Myllyaho’s play PANIC – men on the edge of a nervous breakdown, opened in Paris’ Saint-George theatre on 13 January 2012. It is expected to run until the end of February at the earliest and may go on tour thereafter.

The play is directed by the Belgian Jean-Claude Idée, who has enjoyed a long career in both Brussels and Paris. The cast includes Anthony Delon (Joni), Eric Delcourt (Max) and Thomas Joussier (Leo), nominated for the prestigious Molière award in 2002.

PANIC was first performed at Helsinki’s Ryhmäteatteri Theatre, directed by the playwright in 2005. It has since been performed in five theatres in Finland and 11 theatres across Denmark, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Italy and Spain. PANIC was followed by CHAOS and HARMONY, which have also been produced a number of times.

Mika Myllyaho (b. 30 December 1966) is a theatre director, playwright and actor. In fall 2010, he was appointed General Director of the Finnish National Theatre.  

 

  • Sofi Oksanen's Purge In London *

Borealis Theatre presents, in association with Oblique House The UK premiere of Purge by Sofi Oksanen at Arcola Theatre

“The night we were all taken away for questioning... you know, that night everything changed.”

Recognised as a potential Nobel prize-winner by the Swedish press, Sofi Oksanen reveals the fallout from the Soviet occupation of Estonia and the country’s independence in 1991 with this thrilling story of suspicion, secrets, betrayal and atonement.

A startling play and a best-selling novel Purge is the story of two women, Zara and Aliide, each from different generations, each troubled by a shameful past, and the dark unspoken history that binds them.

Originally written for and performed at the National Theatre of Finland, Oksanen transformed Purge from a play into a novel, which then became an international best-seller. Translated into over 38 languages, it was published in English in 2010 and was the Sunday Times Book of the Year.

With a Finnish father and an Estonian mother, Oksanen’s work has found a large audience throughout Europe. Her novel Purge has many avid readers and has won her numerous literary awards. The play has proved no less popular and the coming months will see twelve separate theatre productions of Purge open across Europe. Director Elgiva Field’s production at the Arcola marks the first time that the play has been seen in the UK.

Narrated through multiple story lines, Purge moves back and forth across time in a powerful drama that offers an unflinching exploration of the loss of freedom and the bitter price of survival.

Borealis Theatre brings the British premiere of Purge to London’s Arcola Theatre, whose history of presenting cutting edge writing from around the world makes it the ideal home for the play’s UK theatre debut.

The producers gratefully acknowledge the support of the Finnish and Estonian Embassies in this production of Purge, who say “This is a very exciting production for us; bringing one of Finland’s great playwrights and the country of Estonia to the UK stage”.

Press night on 24th February will coincide with Estonian Independence day, which was celebrated on this day until the Soviet occupation in 1940. Following the restoration of the country’s independence, the 24th became a public holiday.

Sofi Oksanen - With a Finnish father and Estonian mother, Oksanen grew up in Finland and
spent her summers visiting her grandmother in Estonia on a kolkhoz, a Soviet collective farm.
Purge is her first play and her third novel following Stalin’s Cows and Baby Jane. Purge has
won Oksanen numerous literary prizes, including Finland’s premier literary award, The Finlandia Award, and the biggest literary award in Nordic countries, Nordic Council Literature Prize 2010. Oksanen is the youngest author ever to win either one of these prizes. Purge also won the 2010 FNAC prize in France. It was selected from 300 works published in France and it was the first time the award has gone to a foreign author. Last year Maria Schottenius of the influencial Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter earmarked her as a future Nobel prize winner.

Eva Buchwald - Purge has been translated into English by Eva Buchwald. A lecturer at the
University of Helsinki and dramaturge at the Finnish National Theatre, she has translated the
work of numerous Finnish playwrights into English. Having studied at School of Slavonic and
East European Studies at the University of London she has had her own work published,
including Ideals of Womanhood in the Prose and Drama of Finland and Russia 1894-1914.

Elgiva Field is artistic director of Oblique House. She directed the UK premieres of Faultlines
(Union Theatre) by the Westminster Prize winner James Pearson and The Time of the Tortoise
(Theatre 503) by the German playwright Kirsten Specht before working with Unlimited Theatre,
Punchdrunk, Theatre-Rites, Pentabus, Les Enfant Terribles and the Lyric, Hammersmith and
Warwick Arts Centre.

Borealis Theatre – Founded in 2007 by Clara Andersson, Borealis Theatre aims to produce
vibrant, English translations and adaptations, to rediscover Europe’s forgotten classics and
bring daring new European writing to the London stage for the first time.
www.borealistheatre.co.uk

Arcola Theatre - Founded in 2000 by Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen and Executive Producer
Leyla Nazli, Arcola Theatre is now one of the most respected arts venues in the UK. Housed in
a converted paint factory in Hackney, Arcola is a favourite of established theatre literati as well
as young, upwardly mobile innovators. Arcola has become well known for the variety of its
programming– from new writing to classic drama, music and comedy.

Borealis Theatre presents, in association with Oblique House,
Purge by Sofi Oksanen

English translation Eva Buchwald
Director Elgiva Field, Designer Rosemary Flegg, Lighting Designer Josh Pharo,
Associate Designer James Field, Cast: TBC

Venue Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL

Box Office 020 75031646 and www.arcolatheatre.com

Dates 22 February – 24 March 2012

Time 8.00pm, except Press Night Friday 24 February, 7pm.
Saturday matinees 3, 10, 17, 24 March 3pm
Running time approx. 90mins with a 15 min interval

Prices £16 (£12 concessions)
Pay-what-you-can Tuesdays from 6.30pm (subject to availability)
£10 Opening Performances: 22 - 27 February (only bookable by phone or in person)

Getting There London Overground: Dalston Kingsland & Dalston Junction (100m from either
station)

 

Quoting - Opinions On Finnish Theater

 

  • Intercity Festival: Unique Response To Finnish Plays In Italy*

The 24th edition of the Intercity Festival in Sesto Fiorentino and Florence was dedicated to Finnish theatre. Four co-productions based on Finnish plays impressed the artistic directors of the Intercity Festival. TINFO asked Dimitri Milopulos and Michele Panella about their point of view on this year’s festival in October 2011.

“When we arrived for the very first time in Helsinki we thought that the way of writing and doing theatre might be similar to the other northern countries we already knew before. But we were wrong. We discovered a new and fresh way of writing for theatre.

The thing that impressed me most was the themes the writers choose to treat: religion, homosexuality or politics in such an important way,” says Dimitri Milopulos, who also was working as a set designer in two co-productions. “The audience felt touched by the subjects. Somehow the theatre came out of the stage and embraced the audience also in their private life. This is something unique here,” Milopulos continues.

Michele Panella adds that their choices came from the desire to present two established playwrights, Juha Jokela and Mika Myllyaho, together with two younger ones, Saara Turunen and Jussi Moila.

“All the plays somehow surprised the audience and they really opened discussions. Mobile Horror’s deep reflection on consumistic society, for example, is quite unusual in Italian dramaturgy,” says Panella, wrapping up the interview.

www.teatrodellalimonaia.it/Limonaia/Intercity/IntHome.html  

 

  • Almada Festival: There is Presently A Boom In Stage Writing In Finland *

 The deputy director of the Teatro Municipal de Almada, Rodrigo Francisco and film/theatre director Solveig Nordlund, visited Finland to meet Finnish dramatists, producers and directors. After having seen six performances and met Finnish theatre professionals Francisco and Nordlund share their experiences:

- What impressed us the most was the quantity and quality of the Finnish plays. It´s obvious that there is a boom in stage writing going on in Finland right now. With a great diversity of themes, but by and large primarily concerned with the human situation today in a world of ecological and economic transformation and concentrating on what is particularly Finnish, often on a very local basis. 

- All the dramatists, producers and directors are very young and energetic. It seems that all this movement has its origin in the Theatre Academy, where a generation of actors, dramatists and directors have grown and studied together.

- We were very impressed by the fact that that the young  writers normally direct their own plays and that there are theatres open for them, not only independent theatres but also institutions like the National Theatre. And what’s more is that they are very well received by the public. That is a situation worthy of applause and admiration - even envy. The situation in Portugal is very different.

The Almada International Theatre Festival takes place in Lisbon during the first two weeks of July. Alongside the numerous international theatre groups there are also dance performances and street theatre, exhibitions and talks.

 

 

  • Stefan Moberg:*Sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle, but always fascinating and deeply human – the land of Finnish drama

Stage director Stefan Moberg (the Stage and Screen Directors Association in Sweden (SRF)) visited Finland to get an update on contemporary Finnish drama. SRF has actively worked to introduce playwrights like Pirkko Saisio, Reko Lundán and Ari-Pekka Lahti to Swedish colleagues. Here you can find his comments after the visit.

“I know perhaps more than the average theatre professional about what goes on in theatres in Finland. Still I was surprised and a bit overwhelmed. After the visit I was asked how I looked upon "Finland as a drama country".  I did not have to think very long to realize that the land of Finnish drama to me is very much like the Finnish landscape in general. Sparsely populated, rich in tradition, leading in inventive technology and education and full of surprises. Sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle, but always fascinating and deeply human.”

“During the last ten to fifteen years an impressive generation of playwrights has evolved in Finland, presenting a wide variety of styles and topics. In the funny, absurd and slightly tragic world of Sirkku Peltola, we meet everyday ordinary people grappling unsuccessfully with social changes and new demands, while Juha Jokela unrelentlessly bores into the hearts and minds of his protagonists, exploring to what degree we can make any certain statements at all about ourselves and others. Mika Myllyaho explores gender roles and expectations for both men and women, and young writers like Emilia Pöyhönen, Heini Junkkaala and Saara Turunen discuss ethical matters and the influences of popular culture. I could go on listing names, but suffice it to say that the Finnish drama landscape is as fascinating as it is varied, and that there is a definite boom when it comes to national drama.” 

“There is also an eager and interested audience for the new plays. The National Theatre, for instance, has for the time being almost stopped staging classics and produces mainly contemporary work. The playwrights are given a high level of confidence from the theatres, most plays are commissioned directly from the authors. One does not ask for a play dealing with this or that topic, one asks the playwright what he or she wants to write.”

“Some things were especially interesting to learn during this visit. Mainly the key role the Theatre Academy Helsinki has in educating dramaturges/playwrights. This is where the wave of interesting and expressive new drama in Finland comes from. During the five year training they offer, many creative collaborations and contacts with students of acting, directing, stage design etc are formed, and some go on working together after leaving school. During the last four or five years a lively, exciting and friendly discussion about the processes of writing plays has emerged among the writers themselves. I was struck by how familiar with, and interested in, the work, aims, ambitions and reasoning of their colleagues the young playwrights we met were. There is nothing like this going on in Sweden, at least not to my knowledge.”

“It was also interesting to learn about the strong local contact some writers have. There are playwrights whose plays are only staged in Tampere, etc.”

“To summarise - Finnish drama is experiencing something of a golden age right now, with a strong new generation, an eager audience and supportive theatres. I'll certainly try to do my bit to spread the word. If things work out, we in SRF will collaborate with The Swedish National Touring Company (Riksteatern) in presenting a few of the as yet unknown Finnish playwrights and their plays at staged readings later this spring. This I am looking forward to very much!”

Stefan Moberg, stage director

Showcases And Other Events 2012

 

  • The Mobile Artist - Symposium For And About Nomadic Artists 23-26 May 2012*

Having flexibility of the mind, developing professionally and personally, challenging ideas and concepts, working in international collectives or simply travelling to perform in different countries... Mobility as an artistic strategy has many faces but what are the traces mobility leaves on people and their works? How is artistic potential unleashed in the encounter with the other and don't artist nomads need roots?

The Performance Centre ETK is an umbrella organisation for performance companies and artists in Helsinki. In May 2012, ETK organises its first international symposium with the aim of providing training opportunities for artists, stimulating artistic exchange and opening debates about current issues related to the creation of art. The symposium is curated by the performance group Oblivia.

The four-day event includes two artistic workshops run by international artists from the performance and circus field, a roundtable discussion with keynote speakers about issues of artist nomadism, artistic discussions about why artists do what they do as well as a site-specific performance.

The detailed program will be announced on www.esitystaide.fi.

The seminar is open to anyone, registration will be required for the workshops. For more information contact:
Tuulia Nieminen, tuulia.nieminen(at)esitystaide.fi
Martina Marti, martina.marti(at)esitystaide.fi

The symposium is a coproduction with TINFO – Theatre Info Finland and the Circus Information Centre.

  • SAMPLES - A MATTER OF TASTE? *
    Welcome To The Finnish Theatre Showcase In Tampere 9-12 August 2012

Tampere Theatre Festival and TINFO – Theatre Info Finland will arrange a Finnish theatre showcase for foreign guests in Tampere on 9–12 August 2012. It consists of the specific performances picked up from the main festival and fringe programmes as well as some invited demos and excerpts of the newest performances.

Get-together party at Telakka is the kick-off for the whole event on Thursday evening. Demo Buffet starts up on Friday, and on Saturday the guests will meet the leading Finnish playwrights and the staff of Finnish drama agencies. Festival performances can be seen all day and all night long. Tampere Theatre Festival is the traditional meeting point of Finnish theatre professionals after their summer vacation. The entire programme will be published in May.

www.teatterikesa.fi

Theater Festivals In Finland

 

 

[listed in annual chronological order]
 
International Black and White Theatre Festival
Annual. 22-26 May 2012 in Imatra
Organizer: Black and White Theater Association. www.kulttuuri.org

Tampere Theatre Festival
Annual. 6-12 August 2012.
Organizer: Tampere Theatre Festival. www.teatterikesa.fi

Stage – Helsinki International Theatre Festival
Annual. 15-26 August 2012.
Organizer: Korjaamo Theatre. www.korjaamo.fi/en/stage

Lainsuojattomat – Outlaws
International Theatre Festival for Professional Independent Theatre Companies
Annual. 6-9 September 2012 in Pori.
Organizer: Rakastajat Theatre. www.rakastajat.com

/theatre.now
Provides a new vision or perspective into performing arts.
Annual. In October in Helsinki.
Organizer: Kiasma Theatre. www.kiasma.fi

MasQue – International Mask Theatre Festival
Biennale. In October (next 2013) in Helsinki.
Organizer: Theatre Metamorfoosi. www.metamorfoosi.com

Baltic Circle – International Contemporary Theatre Festival
Annual. 14-18 November 2012 in Helsinki
Organizer: Baltic Circle. www.balticcircle.fi

 

National and international festivals for children and young people:

Oulu Children’s Theatre Festival
Annual. 20-26 February 2012 in Oulu.
Organizer: Oulu City Theatre. www.ouka.fi/teatteri/festival

Bravo! International theatre festival for children and young people
Biennale. 11-18 March 2012 in Helsinki.
Organizer: ASSITEJ Finland. www.bravofinland.org

Hurraa! National theatre festival for children and young people
Biennale. Mid March 2013 in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Organizer: Annantalo and other Cultural Centres in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Ruutia! International Dance Festival for Children and Young Audiences
Annual. 16-22 April 2012 in Helsinki
Organizer: Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth. www.hurjaruuth.fi

Kuulas - International Children’s Theatre Festival
Annual. 17-20 May 2012 in Kouvola
Organizer: TNL association. www.kuulas.info

Hippalot – Arts Festival for Children
Annual. 26-29 July 2012 in Hämeenlinna.
Organizer: ARX Art Centre. www.hippalot.net


Festivals whose programmes include children’s theatre:

Mukamas 2012 - puppet theatre festival
Biennale. 712 May 2012 in Tampere
Organizer: Theatre Mukamas. www.teatterimukamas.com

Cirko Festival – New Circus Festival
Annual. 10-13 May 2012 in Helsinki.
Organizer by Cirko – Center for New Circus. www.cirko.fi

Hangö Teaterträff  - Hanko Theatre Festival (Swedish- speaking theatre)
Annual. 710 June 2012 in Hanko. www.hangoteatertraff.org 

 

New Spaces For Performance Art In Helsinki

Based in Helsinki's Suvilahti (former power plant for electricity and gas), the Performance Center offers rehearsal and office spaces as well as residencies to professionals from the performance art discipline and the wider independent performing arts scene. Local and international artist collectives play a central role in new artistic processes. The works created in such a context should be seen as meeting points between makers and audiences.

The Performance Center was founded by four groups (Oblivia, Presentaatio, Toisissa tiloissa – Other Spaces, Reality Research Center) and the Performing Arts Society (Esitystaiteen seura). The members belong to international networks and this is why one of the aims of the center is to develop and increase international exchange. Suvilahti
 
Esitystaiteen Keskus / Performance Center, www.esitystaide.fi, facebook.com/EsitystaiteenKeskus

TINFO Grant For Translations Of Finnish Plays

 

 

TINFO – Theatre Info Finland awards grants for translations of Finnish plays. We accept applications continuously. Grant decisions are four to five times a year. We aim to support international productions of Finnish plays.

Grants for published works or anthologies can be applied for from FILI - Finnish Literature Exchange.

Who can apply for a TINFO translation grant?

Playwrights, drama agencies, theatres, festivals or translators may apply for a grant. The grant will be paid directly to the translator.

Criteria

Each year TINFO gives 10-12 translation grants. In the evaluation we emphasize following factors: the international production of the play, the translation as part of a grand project and the status of the performing theatre or festival in the target country. The international potential of the play will also be evaluated.

The TINFO translation grant is intended to support younger playwrights as well as translation of Finnish plays which have not been translated to any other languages.

The translator of a play supported by a TINFO grant must be a native speaker of the target language. Translations made by non-native speakers of the language in question may be accepted if there are sufficient grounds to support the decision.

The TINFO grant is meant for the high-quality, artistic translation of a drama text / play. The TINFO grant cannot be awarded for the translation of subtitles.

Application instructions

Please fill out the online application on the TINFO website: www.tinfo.fi/TINFOgrant.php.

Grants awarded in 2011

Juha Jokela: Waiting for the Miracle (French, translation Alexandre André)
Heini Junkkaala: Soita minulle Billy (English, translation David Hackston)
Leea Klemola: New Karleby (English, translation Juha Mustanoja)
Katja Krohn: Pikkujättiläinen (French, translation Martin Carayol)
Jussi Moila: Veitset leikkaa ilman (English, translation Eva Buchwald)
Jussi Moila: Veitset leikkaa ilman (Hungarian, translation Andrea Kovács)
Mika Myllyaho: Kaaos (Spanish, translation Luisa Gutierrez-Ruiz)
Veikko Nuutinen: Myötätunto (German, translation Martina Marti)
Sofi Oksanen: Puhdistus (Spanish, translation Luisa Gutierrez-Ruiz)
Laura Ruohonen: Yökyöpelit (Swedish, translation Stella Parland)
Elisa Salo: Räjähdysvaara (English, translation Eva Buchwald or Kristian London)
Kristian Smeds: Jumala on kauneus (English, translation Kristian London)
Kristian Smeds: Jääkuvia  (Catalan, translation Riikka Annina Laakso / Meritxell Lucini Saurina)
Tuomas Timonen: Oodi rakkaudelle (French, translation Sébastien Cagnoli)
Saara Turunen: Broken Heart Story (English, translation Kristian London)

 

Current Translations Of Finnish Plays

In Catalan
Kristian Smeds: IMATGES GELADES (Jääkuvia) translated by Riikka Laakso and Meritxell Lucini, agency Nordic Drama Corner

In English
Laura Gustafsson: ANOMALY (Anomalia), translated by Laura Gustafsson and David Robertson, agency: Agency North
Juha Jokela: THE FUNDAMENTALIST (Fundamentalisti) translated by Eva Buchwald, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Juha Jokela: MOBILE HORROR translated by David Hackston, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Juha Jokela: PERFORMANCE ECONOMY (Esitystalous) translated by Kristian London, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Jari Juutinen: I AM ADOLF EICHMANN (Minä olen Adolf Eichmann) translated by Ona Nurkkala, agency: Agency North
Leea Klemola: NEW KARLEBY, translated by Juha Mustanoja, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Anna Krogerus: FOR SHEER LOVE OF ME (Rakkaudesta minuun), translaterd by Nely Keinänen, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Pipsa Lonka: THESE LITTLE TOWN BLUES ARE MELTING AWAY, translated by Kristian London, agency: Agency North
Jussi Moila: PARADISE (Paratiisi) translated by Aleksis Meaney and Jussi Moila, agency Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: PANIC (Paniikki) translated by Sarka Hantula / Nely Keinänen, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: CHAOS (Kaaos) translated by Nely Keinänen, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: HARMONY (Harmonia) translated by Nely Keinänen, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Marjo Niemi: HONEY YOU LOOK STRANGE (Näytät vieraalta rakas) translated by Nely Keinänen, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Sirkku Peltola: WARMBLOODS (Lämminveriset) translated by Eva Buchwald, agency: Agency North
Saara Turunen: BROKEN HEART STORY translated by Kristian London, agency: Nordic Drama Corner

In French
Jari Juutinen: JE SUIS ADOLF EICHMANN (Minä olen Adolf Eichmann) translated by Alexandre Drouet, agency: Agency North
Leea Klemola: OBJECTIV FROID (Kohti kylmempää) translated by Anne Colin du Terrail, agency Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: PANIK (Paniikki) translated by Jean-Claude Ideé and Thomas Joussier, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Laura Ruohonen: TOURISTED DE GUERRE (Sotaturistit), translated by Anne Colin du Terrail, agency Nordic Drama Corner


In German
Mika Myllyaho: PANIK (Paniikki) translated by Eeva Bergroth and Martina Marti, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: CHAOS (Kaaos) translated by Eeva Bergroth and Martina Marti, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: HARMONIE (Harmonia) translated by Eeva Bergroth and Martina Marti, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Veikko Nuutinen: MITLEID (Myötätunto) translated by Martina Marti, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Emilia Pöyhönen: DIE AUSERWÄHLTEN – TRIPTYCHON (Valitut – Triptyykki) translated by Elina Kritzokat, agency: Agency North 

In Italian
Juha Jokela: MOBILE HORROR, translated by Antonio Parente, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Jussi Moila: COLTELLI CHE TAGLIANO L’ARIA (Veitset leikkaa ilman), translated by Marcello Ganassini, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: PANICO (Paniikki), translated by Arianna Consuelo Marcon,  agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Saara Turunen: LA RAGAZZA CONIGLIETTO (Puputyttö), translated by Delfina Sessa, agency: Nordic Drama Corner

In Russian
Saara Turunen: ZAIKA (Puputyttö), translated by Kristina Korotkih, agency: Nordic Drama Corner

In Spanish
Otso Kautto: ES NIÑA! (Tyttö tuli), translated by Luisa Gutierrez Ruiz, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Mika Myllyaho: CAOS (Kaaos), translated by Luisa Gutierrez Ruiz, agency: Nordic Drama Corner
Sofi Oksanen: PURGA (Puhdistus) translated by Luisa Gutierrez Ruiz

Drama Agencies In Finland

 

  • Agency North *

Agency North Ltd represents intellectual properties and creative talent within theatre, feature film, television, publishing and games.
The agency is based in Finland and works with partners and clients around the world.

Agency North's theatre department handles the performance rights of over 5 000 plays and also represents local performance and adaptation rights of foreign works. The agency actively seeks new international partnerships with novel and innovative modes of co-operation in mind.

Agency North's domestic theatre portfolio includes the vast majority of top contemporary Finnish playwrights such as Sirkku Peltola, Pirkko Saisio, Sofi Oksanen, Heini Junkkaala, Rosa Liksom, Maria Kilpi, Elina Snicker, Emilia Pöyhönen, Okko Leo, Paavo Westerberg, Pipsa Lonka, Laura Gustafsson, Veera Tyhtilä, Kati Kaartinen, Tuomas Timonen and Jari Juutinen, as well as a large number of classics including Reko Lundán, Hella Wuolijoki and Mika Waltari. The agency also represents non-Finnish playwrights both in Finland and abroad, as well as all living stage rights to Tove Jansson's Moomin works worldwide.

Agency North's website is located at www.agencynorth.com and the agency can be contacted by email at info(at)agencynorth.com.

An online catalogue of translated plays represented by Agency North can be found at www.finnishplays.com , a website maintained by the Finnish Dramatists' Union, one of Agency North's partners in Finland.

 

  • Nordic Drama Corner *

Nordic Drama Corner is a drama agency with strong international dimension. In addition to offering Finnish theatres a wide selection of foreign and Finnish plays, we promote internationally the work of various top Finnish playwrights such as Laura Ruohonen, Juha Jokela and Mika Myllyaho.

We have close and personal contacts with the entire theatre industry in Finland, and we also maintain a worldwide network based on our longstanding work in the field.

We offer you possibilities to get to know the best of the Finnish contemporary playwriting.

1) Explore our authors and their works in www.dramacorner.fi/eng -> authors
2) Subscribe our monthly newsletter on new translations of contemporary Finnish drama by sending an e-mail to niina.bergius(at)dramacorner.fi

If you have any other questions or interests regarding our playwrights please do not hesitate to contact us.

Näytelmäkulma – Nordic Drama Corner Ltd
Meritullinkatu 33 E, 00170 Helsinki, Finland office(at)dramacorner.fi

Niina Bergius, Project Coordinator, Tel. +358 50 380 1674

On Stage - Now In Finland

 

TINFO´s selection for this spring. Visit our website to find more!

 

Milja Sarkola: Family member (Perheenjäsen), Director: Milja Sarkola, Theatre Takomo

Family Member - Theatre Takomo - Photo Pauliina FeodoroffWhat if the members of a family didn’t really know each other? 
What if the members of that family only got to know each other by watching interviews?
Family member is a play about a family that chooses work. A father. A daughter. A woman. A child. A mother. A friend’s mother. An Interviewer.

Premiere November 5 2011.

Family member is also a play about theatre. About the acting profession. The children of actors. The desire to succeed and the pressure to achieve.