Theatre in Finland History: Early dates of importance 130 years of theatre	Theatre in Finland Finland has a comprehensive network of theatres. Virtually every town of over 25 000 inhabitants has a professional theatre. There are 56 theatres receiving state support governed by legislation. Another forty theatre and dance companies receive regular support from the state and local authorities. The total spectator figures for the theatres operating throughout the year reaches a total of 2,9 million. Furthermore, if we add the spectators of professional summer theatres and regional operas, we obtain a total of over 3,6 million sold tickets per year. The number is impressive given that it represents more than 50 % of the country’s 5,2 million inhabitants. Three theatres are deemed to be national companies: the Finnish National Theatre, the Swedish National theatre in Helsinki and the TTT – Theatre of Tampere. The National Opera houses also the National Ballet. Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority (6 % of the population) has ten Swedish language theatres. Most Finnish theatres – which all tend to work in repertory – stage at least on production each season for children. Some theatres specialize in productions for children or in puppet theatre working exclusively for young audiences. The summer theatres are a Finnish speciality. During the warm summer months theatrical activities move outdoors: to parks, islands, forests and villages. Summer performances are staged both by professionals and amateurs. The best-known outdoor theatres are the Pyynikki Summer Theatre in Tampere with a revolving auditorium and the Summer Theatre at the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress just outside Helsinki. In 2006 the government subsidy for theatres is 42,7 million €. Another 58,4 million is granted by the local authorities. The National Opera receives direct subsidy, not included in the above figures: 30,5 million from the state and 4,5 million from the local authorities. On average, state support accounts for 25 % of the theatre’s budget, the local council for 45 % and 30 % comes from income generated by the theatre itself. The Finnish theatres employ about 2 600 workers on a monthly salary basis. Less than half belong to the artistic staff, of which almost 600 are permanent in-house actors. Salary scales throughout the country correspond to the Nordic average, and to the general wage level for people with academic training, such as teachers. Trade unions are strong and virtually 100 per cent of the theatre community belong to a union – the actors, stage designers, directors, technicians and so on. The permanent theatres belong to the Finnish Theatre Federation and many free groups to the Theatre Centre. Actors generally work on two-year contracts, which, at the actor’s choice, can be renewed. A growing number of free lance actors and directors work on fixed term contracts, and move between theatres quite freely. All in all, the repertory of Finnish theatres includes over 500 plays per year, and 19 100 performances. Plays by Finnish playwrights are very popular. They are responsible for almost 40 % of ticket sales. Every year about 70 to 80 new plays by Finnish writers receive their premiere in the professional theatres. Especially plays by new, young writers have been gaining in popularity in the recent years. The most popular playwrights are William Shakespeare and the Finnish national poet Aleksis Kivi. Music theatre has always attracted big audiences in Finland. It is not only the big international musicals (Cats, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera) but also new music theatre works by Finnish composers have been very successful. In Finland there are two university level educational institutions for theatre: the Theatre Academy in Helsinki and the Tampere University Department of Acting. The Theatre Academy educates both Finnish and Swedish language theatre professionals: actors, directors, dramaturges, light and sound designers, dancers, choreographers and pedagogues. The Tampere University educates actors in Finnish. Opera singers are educated at the Sibelius Academy; set designers and costume designers at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. The Theatre Academy and the University of Art and Design Helsinki also have a mutual Continuing Education Centre in charge of supplementary professional education. The educational program in all these universities leads to a Bachelor’s degree (3 years) or to a Master’s degree in Arts (additional 2 years) and gives an opportunity to continue university studies to a Doctor’s degree. At the Universities of Helsinki and Tampere it is also possible to study theatre studies as an academic, theoretical discipline. Finnish theatre has its roots in amateur theatre activities. Today there are hundreds of amateur theatre groups performing both for children and adults. The amateur theatre organisations provide their members with training and professional assistance. Many amateur groups are even managed and directed by professionals. Finland has innumerable summer festivals, many of which programme also performing arts. The Tampere Theatre Festival annually in August, the Kuopio Dance Festival in June, the Savonlinna Opera Festival in July, and the Helsinki Festival in August are the most important ones from the theatre’s viewpoint. The Full Moon Dance Festival in Pyhäsalmi and the Moving in November Festival in Helsinki are important fora for new Finnish dance. The theatre field in Finland is well organised. The majority of organisations have their offices at the Theatre Corner, Meritullinkatu 33, 00170 Helsinki. At this address you can find the Finnish Theatre Information Centre, TINFO, a contact point for those who need information on Finnish theatre life. TINFO also functions as the Finnish centre of the ITI and of the Nordic Theatre Union. Other organisations at the Theatre Corner are, for instance, the Finnish Theatre Federation – the employers’ association, the Theatre Centre which promotes theatre groups, The Finnish Actors’ Union, the Theatre and Media Employees in Finland (the central union for directors, technicians, scenographers, dancers, office staff), the Nordic Drama Corner – a major drama agency with its own library, The Finnish centres of OISTAT and ASSITEJ. A few organisations still reside elsewhere in the city, for example The Finnish Dramatists’ Union at Vironkatu 12 B 13, 00170 Helsinki, the Finnish AITA/IATA and NAR-Centre at Uudenmaankatu 17 B 7 00120 Helsinki, and AICT – the Finnish Critics’ Association at Hietalahdenkatu 2 B 23 a, 00180 Helsinki. History Early Dates of Importance 1640 Amateur performances by students. First known theatrical performances proper in Finland. 1650 First known Finnish-language theatrical occasion, at which Tuhlaajapoika (The Prodigal Son) was performed. 9.3.1827 The opening date of a wooden theatre building i Helsinki, with room for 393 seated and 60 standing, designed by J.C.L. Engel. 1834-1838 The first Finnish language plays appear. Ruunulinna 1834, an adaptation of Macbeth by J.F. Lagervall. 1846 The first public performance of an original Finnish-language play, Silmänkääntäjä (The Magician) by Pietari Hannikainen. 28.11.1860 Opening of New Theatre, designed by Georg Chiewitz in Helsinki. The theatre burnt down 1863, was built again and reopend 2.10.1866, ans is still used by The Swedish Theatre. 10.5.1869 Aleksis Kivi's Lea performed in an theatre evening organised by The Helsinki Finnish Society. Leading lady was Swedish actress Hedwig Charlotte Raa, who did not speak Finnish but learned the lines mechanically. This perfromance had a vital importance in the birth of Finnish theatre. 13.10.1872 The opening performance of the Finnish Theatre in Pori. 2.3.1873 The Finnish Theatre performs for the first time in Helsinki. 9.4.1902 Opening of a new theatre building designed by Onni Tarjanne, still today the home of the Finnish National Theatre. 130 years of professional theatre activity The year 2002 marked an anniversary in Finnish theatre as it represents 130 years since the beginning of professional theatre activity in our country. The first theatre in the country was called Suomalainen teatteri (The Finnish Theatre) and later changed its name to Suomen Kansallisteatteri (The Finnish National Theatre). Today the network of theatres in Finland stretches from one end of the country to the other and the greater part of its funding comes from local councils and the state. There are at present several hundred theatres and dance groups which receive public funding. In addition to the Finnish National opera and Finnish national Theatre there are 58 theatres in the top funding group. As part of the system of state funding these theatres receive grants in accordance with the Theatre and Orchestra Law, which came into force in 1993. Of this group 42 are Finnish language theatres, 6 are Swedish language and there are also ten dance groups. There is a growing number of theatres and dance ensembles which do not fulfil the criteria for support outlined in the Theatre and Orchestra law and of these 23 theatre groups and 11 dance ensembles received a state grant during 2001. There are however many more smaller groups - one-person travelling puppet theatres, restaurant theatres, performance groups and the like - which make do with only their own income and small grants. Many umbrella organisations have come to their aid. In addition to professional theatre there is also a very active amateur theatre scene in Finland. Many of these amateur theatres work alongside and in association with professional groups. This cooperation is particularly visible during the summer theatre season and in local opera productions. Read more