Some basic information of Finnish theatre life, and links to theatres, theatre organisations and festivals you can find from our website www.teatteri.org/english/index.html
In this issue:
Mobile.home
Rantala appointed Artistic Director of ITI
Finnish theatre professionals in international festivals
State Prizes to Jukka-Pekka Pajunen and Liisa Nojonen
The winner of translation competition
New Chief Conductor to Finnish National Opera
Ibsen Year in Finland
Upcoming festivals
The Finnish Theatre Information Centre will celebrate the “European Year of Workers’ Mobility 2006” by organising an Inter-Sectorial Conference Mobile.home, which will include IETM’s Annual Autumn Plenary Meeting with working groups, training sessions, presentations, and information points.
The conference will look at successes and obstacles to the movement of arts and artists across European borders, as guaranteed by the European Union treaties. It will look at the phenomenon of “mobility” from technical, legal, philosophical and artistic perspectives. We will learn from the experiences of artists who make their work and lives in different EU countries. We will be translating ‘mobility’ in its widest senses.
We invite IETM members, arts organisations, employers, public administrations, networks and others to discuss and debate key topics on mobility, look at good practice models and propose practical solutions to existing obstacles. In addition, there will be a showcase of Finnish theatre, dance, new circus and contemporary performing arts.
Registration for the conference is on http://www.ietm.org
Welcome to Helsinki in November!
The project and the conference are supported by the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Year of Mobility 2006, as well as European cultural foundations and Finnish authorities.
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Theatre director, chairperson of the Finnish Theatre Information Centre, Raija-Sinikka Rantala has been appointed artistic director of the International Theatre Institute (ITI). The appointment was confirmed in ITI World Congress in Manila.
Raija-Sinikka Rantala is also a member of the board of the Executive Council of ITI. Other Finnish representatives in ITI committees are Heikki Kujanpää (Playwrights Forum), Anneli Kurki (Communication Committee), and Sari Lakso (International Dance Committee).
The President of ITI is Manfred Beilharz from Germany
http://www.iti-worldwide.org
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A surrealistic performance ITSELAUKAISIN (SELF-TRIGGER) by Finnish actress Meri Nenonen visited Teatarfest, Sarajevo International Theatre Festival in May. Meri Nenonen’s performance was awarded for “the Best Acting Creation” by the jury.
SELF-TRIGGER or when the I becomes the self had its premiere at KoKoTeatteri in Helsinki in April 2005. It is a funny and intensive solo written and performed by Nenonen, based on nonverbal theatre. The skillful actress searches for herself and her expressive powers at a fictional casting call, where the only witness is the self-trigger of a camera.
A few extra performances of SELF-TRIGGER can be seen next autumn in Helsinki.
Sarajevo International Theatre Festival http://www.tf.com.ba/
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Mobita/Dansco in Germany
Dance theatre Mobita/Dansco visited Ruhrfestspiele Festival in Recklinhausen, Germany. The group performed in the Fringe Festival of Ruhrfestspiele in May. Ruhrfestspiele is the biggest theatre festival in Germany.
Mobita/Dansco’s performances were Maitoo by choreographer Mari Rosendahl and Rockaby by Hanna Rosendahl. Maitoo is a comic, absurd interpretation of milk’s route from dairy to city. Rockaby is based on Samuel Beckett’s short story.
http://www.mobitadansco.com
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The National Arts Council of Finland has given the State Prize for Literature to writer Juha Itkonen and to translator Jukka-Pekka Pajunen. The State Prize is 15 000 euros.
Jukka-Pekka Pajunen was awarded for his translation of Die Klaviespielerin (The Piano Teacher) by Elfriede Jelinek into Finnish.
Jukka-Pekka Pajunen has translated dozens of plays and novels from German into Finnish. Besides being a translator, he takes part on several domestic and international cultural projects and organizations; e.g. Pajunen is one a member of the artistic team of Tampere Theatre Festival. In April, Otava Publishing Company gave out Erkki Reenpää Prize to Pajunen.
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The State Prize for Dance to Liisa Nojonen
The National Arts Council of Finland has given the State Prize for Dance to Liisa Nojonen. She is a choreographer, dance pedagogue, and artistic director of P.D.C. Pori Dance Company.
Liisa Nojonen have previously got several Finnish and international awards, e.g. the international choreography competition and the Golden Jazz Shoe in Chicago 1992. The State Prize for Dance is 15 000 euros.
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The Finnish Centre for Culture, Science and Economy in Hungary (Finnagora) organized a translation competition for translators from Finnish to Hungarian. The objective of the competition was to raise interest in Finnish language, and in contemporary literature and its translation. The aim is primarily to promote contemporary Finnish drama in Hungary. The competition was organized together with Finnish Literature Information Centre (FILI) and Finnish Theatre Information Centre (TINFO).
The winner of the competition is Nóra Falk, a teacher of Finnish and Sami. The prize is a grant that enables her to translate Leea Klemola’s play Kokkola into Hungarian (one of the tests in the competition was to translate two scenes from the play). In addition, she gets a grant for a drama translation seminar in Finland next October.
http://www.finnagora.hu
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Muhai Tang is finishing his engagement as Chief Conductor of the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera. His work will be celebrated in a symphony concert conducted by the maestro himself on 6th June. The concert consists of compositions by Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Dvoŕak.
Muhai Tang started as Chief Conductor in 2003, and he has conducted several operas, ballets and concerts at the Finnish National Opera. His next appointment will be to the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, where he starts as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor. Muhai Tang’s successor at the Finnish National Opera is Mikko Franck.
http://www.operafin.fi
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Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) is one of the greatest names in world literature. He was a central figure in the modern break-through in the intellectual life of Europe, and is considered the father of modern drama. His plays are still highly topical, and continue to be staged in all parts of the world.
Theatres in Finland are playing Ibsen’s plays this year, too. A Doll’s House is played at Kokkola City Theatre and Lappeenranta City Theatre. Brand will be played at Kotka City Theatre next autumn. Tampere Theatre will have a premiere of Hedda Gabler in October.
A Swedish language theatre Klockriketeatern is going have guest performances of a play called Ibsen kvinner – Sett en ørn i bur (Ibsen women – put an eagle in a cage). The play is dramatized by Norwegian Juni Dahr, and it is based on six woman characters of Ibsen’s works.
Ibsen Year 2006 international pages
http://www.ibsen.net
http://www.norway.com/ibsen/
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Hangö Teaterträff
June 8-11 in Hanko
Kuopio Dance Festival
June 15.-26. in Kuopio
Savonlinna Opera Festival
June 30-July 29 in Savonlinna
Jyväskylä Arts Festival
July 11-16 in Jyväskylä
HIPPALOT Childrens Art Festival
August 3-6 in Hämeenlinna
Tampere International Theatre Festival
August 7-13 in Tampere
URB 06
2.-13. August, in Helsinki
Helsinki Festival
August 18-September 3 in Helsinki
International Theatre Festival Lainsuojattomat
6.-10. September, in Pori
More festivals: www.teatteri.org/english/festivals/index.html or www.festivals.fi
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00170 Helsinki
tel. +358-9-2511 2120, fax +358-9-2511 2125
tinfo(at)teatteri.org
www.teatteri.org
Director: Riitta Seppälä, Information Officer: Anneli Kurki
Information Secretaries: Piia Kivinen and Nina Jääskeläinen
