The Seeds of Imanigation will build bridges between Russian and Finnish theatre professionals and institutes

The Finnish Theatre Information Centre will coordinate a new project ”Seeds of Imagination”, which builds bridges between Russian and Finnish theatres and practitioners.

The project activities are structured in two groups. The Learning & Sharing activities aim to offer theatre practitioners from both countries the opportunity to enter into dialogue, to learn from each other by sharing experiences and best practices. This happens in artistic master classes, seminars and workshops on playwriting, children’s theatre, translating etc. and in training on networking, international mobility and cultural management. The second strand of activities runs under the heading Reading & Performing and includes staged readings of plays and support for Russian-Finnish co-productions. The project also contributes to an international playwriting competition.

The flowers and trees the partners hope to see grow from the seeds of this project are lasting cooperation between cultural institutions and other performing arts organisations from all involved countries, increased capacity of performing arts professionals to deal with networking, mobility and management issues, improved access to information, texts, venues, people etc., a new play in Russian and artistic co-productions.

The project partners are:
in Finland:
Finnish Theatre Information Centre TINFO, Korjaamo Culture Factory, Turku City Theatre

in St. Petersburg:
The Finnish-Institute of St. Petersburg, State Saint-Petersburg Drama Theatre “Priut Comedianta”, Baltic International Festival Center

in Moscow:
Meyerhold Center, School of Modern Drama, Project Open Stage by Moscow City, Theatre Union of the Russian Federation

in Siberia:
Omsk State Drama Fifth Theatre

Contributing associated partners are:
Produforum, Finland´s Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Omsk Dostoevsky State University, Riksteatern in Sweden, Foundation Tallinn 2011

The Project Manager Helena Autio-Meloni and Project Assistant Anna Sidorova will start at the Finnish Theatre Information Centre March 1st 2009. Information: Director of TINFO Riitta Seppälä, +358-9 2511 2121.

The project is funded by the European Union (Institution Building Partnership Programme / Support to EU-Russia Cultural Cooperative Iniatiatives)

Up

PRACTICS  - See Mobile See Practical

PRACTICS is a 3-year project coordinated by the Finnish Theatre Information Centre which joined forces with ten other cultural organisations from six EU-countries with the aim to facilitate the provision of information about EU cross-border mobility in the cultural sector. The project was started in December 2008.

The project develops and pilots “EU Cultural Mobility Contact Points” (CMCPs) in four countries (Belgium, Spain, Wales and the Netherlands) and conducts mapping in two additional countries (Finland and Italy) with the aim to stimulate mobility between EU countries and help overcome existing obstacles to mobility. The CMCP is envisaged as a first entry for people seeking information related to incoming and outgoing cultural mobility and designed to offer administrative support.

The project aims to promote coordination and networking to ease mobility and through training and the exchange of staff between the partner organisations deepen the sector’s capacity to enhance and support mobility. On the basis of the concrete piloting and mapping cases the project will identify key mobility stimulators and formulate recommendations for overcoming obstacles to mobility and for continuing the CMCP-network.

The project partners are: The Finnish Theatre Information Centre, Finland; Het Kunstenloket, Belgium; Stichting Internationale Culturele Activiteiten SICA, Netherlands; The Arts Council of Wales ACW/WAI, Wales; Interarts Foundation for International Cultural Cooperation, Spain; Fondazione Fitzcarraldo, Italy; Performing Arts Employers Associations League Europe Pearle*, Belgium; Association Européenne des Conservatoires AEC, European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), Netherlands; European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), Belgium; IETM, Belgium

Associated Partners: The Network of European Museum Organisations NEMO, Germany; Romanian Museum Network, Romania

Volkstheater Rostock celebrates its Finnish season EinNorden with a theatre week “Terve!” in April 2009

“Finland is not only a country of thousand lakes or the head of the class of Pisa research. It is also a country of theatre worth finding”.

The motto of the whole 2008-2009 season at the Volkstheater Rostock, Germany has been ”EinNorden” (Northbound) with the following Finnish plays and one opera: Aki Kaurismäki’s Wie feuere ich meinen Mörder, premiered 16.5.2008; Ilpo Tuomarila’s dramatization of Mikael Niemi’s novel Populärmusik aus Vittula, premiered 11.10.2008; Juha Jokela’s Mobile Horror, premiered 17.10.2008; Katja Krohn’s Der grosse böse Wolf, premiere 28.2.2009; Pirkko Saisio’s Fühllosigkeit, premiere 13.3.2009; Laura Ruohonen’s Insel Yksinen, premiere 27.3.2009; Otso Kautto’s Rettet Mama!, premiere 9.4.2009 and Kaija Saariaho´s opera L'amour de Loin (Die Liebe aus der Ferne), premiere 11.4.2009.

The culmination point is the week in April, 13.-19.4.2009, an entire week full of Finnish theatre. During the week Terve! all productions based on Finnish texts will be performed and in addition there are theatre seminars, guest visits and drama readings. Guest performances: Turku City Theatre’s Paniikki (Panik) by Mika Myllyaho, Teatteri Turmio’s Pienin yhteinen jaettava (Der Kleinste Gemeinsame Teiler) by Pirkko Saisio - Mikko Roiha and Objects & Emotions and Hamlet performed by Quo Vadis. As readings will be presented Sofi Oksanen’s Fegefeuer, Anna Krogerus’ Aus Liebe zu Mir, and Paavo Westerberg’s Heim bevor es dunkel wird .

The week is presented with the support of the Finnish Theatre Information Centre, the Finnish Institute in Germany and the Finland’s Embassy in Berlin. 

Kristian Smeds´ Mental Finland in Brussels

Kristian Smeds´ Mental Finland had its premiere in Brussels, Belgium at the Royal Flemish Theater KVS on February 11th 2009. The play will be seen also in Linz (Austria) in May, in Helsinki (Finland) in September and in Vilnius (Lithuania) in October.

Mental Finland -team consists of over 20 artists from over 10 countries: author and director: Kristian Smeds, choreography: Ari Numminen, video: Ville Hyvönen, set and dressess: Jurate Paulekaite (LT), lights: Gérard Maraite (BE), dramaturgy: Ivo Kuyl (BE), assistant: Reeta Tuoresmäki, video programming: Pauli Ojala, photos: Antti Ahonen, set builders: Petri Tuhkanen, Simona Bieksaite, Jonathan Kyöttinen, Jegi Pekkala, Silver Zombie Oy, actors: Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Tarja Heinula, Kalle Holmberg, Eva Klemets (EST), Tommi Korpela, Janne Reinikainen, Juhan Ulfsak (EST), dancers: Stefan Baier (DE), Domenico Giustino (ITA), Milla Koistinen (FI), Paulo Milton (BR), Eleonore Valère (FR), Ana Cristina Velasquez (COL).

Producers of the project are The Royal Flemish Theater - KVS, Belgium and Smeds Ensemble, Finland. Co-producers: Linz 2009, Vilnius 2009 and the Finnish National Theatre. In Finland it has been funded by Finnish Cultural Foundation, Ministry of Education, Kordelin Foundation, City of Helsinki and Arts Council of Finland.

Bengt Ahlfors´is the most popular Finnish playwright abroad. His play Den sista cigarren had its premiere in Pinceszínhás, Budapest (Hungary)on October 3rd 2008 and in Stendal (Germany) at the Theater der Altmark on January 17th 2009. The play was performed in January 2009 also in Prague (Czech), Bratislava and Presov (Slovakia) and Tallinn (Estonia). In February Den sista cigarren will be seen in in Stockholm. Ahlfors´ Aska och akvavit had its premiere in Prague (Czech) at Divadlo na Jezerce in December 2008. The play will be seen in Budapest in April 2009. Ahlfors´ Hissvägraren will be performed this year in Estonia, Sweden and Slovakia and next year in Russia.

Mika Myllaho´s Paniikki (Panic) has been invited to the Golden Mask Festival in Moscow (Russia) in March 2009. It will be produced by the Takoy Theatre from St. Petersburg. Panic will be performed as a staged reading in the National Theatre of Hungary on March 11th 2009. The play will have it´s premiere also in Russia by Omsk 5th Drama Theatre and in Madrid (Spain) in March by Compania Ilmatar. In 2008 it had a long and successful run at the Bellevue Teatret in Copenhagen (Denmark). Myllyaho´s Kaaos (Chaos) will be performed in the National Theatre of Hungary on March 16th 2009.

Laura Ruohonen´s Yksinen, which had its premiere in Theatre Jurkka in Helsinki in September 2006, will have it´s premiere in Tallinn, Estonia at VAT Teater in May 2009.

Finnish National Opera

The Finnish National Ballet visited Macao Cultural Centre on 21-22 January 2009 by invitation performing The Seagull by John Neumeier. The ballet was premiered at the Finnish National Ballet in 2006. The visit involved technical and administrative personnel in addition to the dancers, a total of 80 people. The principal roles in the Macao performances were taken by Mira Ollila / Asta Lindholm, Anastasia Dunets / Petia Ilieva, Kare Länsivuori / Jani Talo and Wilfried Jacobs / Stanislav Beljajevski.The visit by the Finnish National Ballet is connected with the 10th anniversary celebrations of Macao Cultural Centre.

The Finnish National Ballet will be visiting Singapore on 29-30 May 2009. The National Ballet will perform Anna Karenina by Alexei Ratmansky, which has been a success in Finland. The ballet will be seen as a part of the Singapore Arts Festival programme and it will be performed at the Esplanade Theatre. The principal roles are Anna Karenina:  Minna Tervamäki / Petia Ilieva; Count Vronsk: Jani Talo / Nicholas Ziegler and Aleksei Karenin: Jarkko Niininen / Henrik Burman.

This spring, the Finnish National Opera celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the composer Fredrik Pacius. The actual date of the anniversary is 19 March. The Finnish National Opera will perform Pacius´ opera Kung Karls jakt (The Hunt of King Charles), conducted by Harri Karri, as King Charles XI Gogo Idman, principal roles by Tove Åman, Petrus Schroderus, Gabriel Suovanen, Anna-Lisa Jakobsson, Petri Pussila and Jouni Kokora. The production was premiered two years ago, directed by Joakim Groth, sets and costumes by Mark Väisänen.
Premiered in 1852, Kung Karls jakt is the first Finnish opera ever. The libretto by Zacharias Topelius features an elk hunt on the island of Åland by Charles XI, the adolescent King of Sweden, in 1672. Members of his entourage are conspiring to depose him. The only outsider privy to their plan is Leonora, a fisherman’s daughter. This is a Romantic opera about ambition and love, about the emergence of Finland as a nation, about the people and power. The premiere on March 24th 1852 was a milestone in Finnish cultural history.

Finnish actress Maria Heiskanen received the most valued Swedish movie award the Guldbagge Award on January 12th 2009. She was awarded as the Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role as Maria Larsson in the movie Eviga ogönblick  (Everlasting Moments). The movie was directed by Jan Troell.

Finnish actor Lasse Pöysti was awarded in December 2008 in Bursa, Turkey for his role in Miika Soini´s movie Thomas.

The Tallinn Movie Festival awarded in December 2008 three Finnish actors Kari Heiskanen, Pertti Sveholm and Timo Torikka. The Best Actor prize was split among them in Mika Kaurismaki's Three Wise Men.

Finland Prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Education in recognition of a significant career in arts, an exceptional artistic achievement, or a promising breakthrough was given to six artists or associations, among them Kassandra, a multicultural community of artists and the Faces Etnofestival. Kassandra organizes art workshops for children, schoolchildren, teenage girls and women. It produces and promotes drama performances, art programmes and education packets. Kassandra initiates and directs projects which promote understanding and combat prejudice. Kassandra is a forum for cooperation between native and newcoming, multicultural Finnish artists, with a special focus on female artists. Faces Etnofestival is Finland’s leading multicultural event. It provides a forum for hundreds of performing groups ranging from stars of world music to representatives of ethnic minorities and other subcultures and non-mainstream lifestyles. Faces is for dance, theatre, exhibitions, films, workshops, and debates on current affairs.

The Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland is the most prestigious recognition in the field of culture in Finland. It is given out on December 6, the Independence Day, by the President of Finland. Pro Finlandia Medals 2008 were given out to 11 artists, among them actor Kari Heiskanen, actress Sue Lemström, dramaturge, playwright Outi Nyytäjä, opera singer Lilli Paasikivi-Ilves and author Kjell Westö.

The Finlandia Award is the most prestigious literary award in Finland. It is awarded annually to the author of the best Finnish novel. Finlandia Award 2008 was given to author Sofi Oksanen for her book Puhdistus (Purge). The novel has collected a jackpot of all literary prizes in Finland and is selling better than anything else! The book has already been translated into17 languages. The novel Puhdistus grew from Oksanen´s first original play, also named Puhdistus, which had its premiere at the Finnish National Theatre on  February 7th 2007. The play Puhdistus has so far been translated into English, Russian and German. Who will be the first foreign theatre to perform it? Purge has been selected as one of ten new European plays to the competition New Playwriting Prize (Stückemarkt) in Berlin in May 2009.

Dramaturge Anna Krogerus received Savonia Prize for her play Kuin ensimmäistä päivää in January 2009. Savonia Prize is awarded annually to a Savonian (Eastern Finland) author of the most significant literary work. The jury compared Krogerus to Minna Canth: her play takes a position on the lack of congruence in society and upholds womens rights.

Laura Ruohonen received Lea prize for her newest play Sotaturistit in Kuopio on January 18th 2009. Lea prize is given out by the Finnish Dramatist´s Union for a Finnish playwright in recognition of his or her work. The award has been granted since 1985.

Theatre of the Year 2009
Suomen Teatterit ry (The Association of Finnish Theatres) has chosen Teatteri Avoimet Ovet from Helsinki the Theatre of the Year 2009.

Theatre Actors of the Year 2009
Actress Kristiina Elstelä and actor Hannu-Pekka Björkman were chosen as the Best Theatre Actors of the Year 2009 by public voting arranged by the Association for Finnish Theatres and Lippupiste-Box Office.

Säde Awards of the Union of Light and Sound Designers
Säde Awards were given out to distinguished video and projection designers, sound designers and light designers on January 8th 2009. Sound designer Ilkka Volanen was awarded for his life´s achievement. Light designer Tarja Ervasti was awarded especially for her manuscript, design and realization of exhibition Valovuosi at the Theatre Museum. Video and projection designer Ville Hyvönen was awarded for his video and projection design in Kristian Smeds´ Tuntematon Sotilas at the Finnish National Theatre.

Nominations

Eva Neklyaeva the new Festival Director for Baltic Circle
Eva Neklyaeva has assumed the position of the new Festival Director for the Baltic Circle Festival on January 12th 2009. Previous Director, Johanna Hammarberg, continues working with the festival as a member of the Artistic Board. Other members of the board are: Antti Hietala, Jukka Hytti, Elina Knihtilä, Kristian Smeds and Anna Veijalainen.

The Spanish theatre publisher ADE and TINFO have published two anthologies of Finnish plays. The first anthology includes the following plays: Laura Ruohonen´s Solisla, Otso Kautto´s Aguante del dolor, Mika Myllyaho´s Pánico and Maritza Núnez´ Comediantes. The second anthology includes Ilpo Tuomarila´s Göring, Jari Juutinen´s Yo soy Adolf Eichmann and Juha Jokela´s Mobile Horror. The Finnish plays have been translated by Maritza Núnez in collaboration with Katja Hyvönen, Suvi Ollila and Kirsi Cheas.

The Russian publisher Tri Quadrata and TINFO have published an anthology of Finnish plays: Mika Myllyaho: Paniikki (Panic, translated by Joel Lehtonen and Pavel Rudnev), Laura Ruohonen: Yksinen (translated by Anna Sidorova), Anna Krogerus: Rakkaudesta minuun (For Sheer Love of Me, translated by Jelena Seredina), Bengt Ahlfors: Illusionisterna (translated by Maria Ludkovskaya), Katja Krohn: Iso Paha Susi (The Big Bad Wolf, translated by Jevgenia Tinoviskaya), Juha Jokela: Fundamentalisti (The Fundamentalist, translated by Boris Sergey), Reko Lundán: Aina joku eksyy ('Someone always gets lost', translated by Jevgenia Tinoviskaya)

The Russian publisher Krug has published an anthology including Aleksis Kivi´s Kihlaus (Eva) and Lea, Kristian Smeds´ Yhä pimenevä talo, Laila Hietamies´ Mannerheim and Arto Seppälä´s Viisi naista kappelissa (Five Women in a Chapel). Edited and translated by Taissia Djafarova.

To receive a copy of these anthologies, please contact TINFO tinfo(at)teatteri.org