Archive for the ‘Theater’ Category
English language theatre in June
Anna Maria Rawlings as Flora and Jack Leo as Edward in A Slight Ache.
Harold pinter was one of the most influential British playwrights of modern times. At the time of his death in 2008, he had achieved fame also as a screenwriter, actor, director, poet, author and political activist. He was the 2005 Nobel Laureate in Literature.
Involving strong conflicts among ambivalent characters, Pinter’s dramas are stylistically marked by theatrical pauses and silences, comedic timing, irony and menace. The ambiguity in his themes raises complex issues of individual identity oppressed by social forces, language and the vicissitudes of memory.
Why did you choose these Pinter’s plays?
Joan Nordlund: We chose Moonlight because it is one of Pinter’s later plays, because of the excellent dialogue and because of the mixture of emotions that it arouses. We also thought it would go well with A Slight Ache.
Bruce Marsland: A Slight Ache is an early work by Pinter and, as such, it is interesting to view it in relation to how we know Pinter’s work developed later, as in plays like Moonlight. The double-bill provides a rare opportunity to compare Pinter’s early and late work, and see how his approach to topics and theatricality may or may not have changed over the years.
How would you define the plays?
JN: Moonlight is a play about death and life and the space between, about relationships and families, memories and fantasies.
BM: A Slight Ache is largely about identity. It’s about how we define ourselves and what we use to define our view of others. It’s about an exploration of self through the exploration of the other – and it recognises all the potential trauma that lies on that path.
What can the audience expect from the performances?
JN: I think they will find the play moving, absurd and funny at times, disturbing and puzzling. Above all, I hope that they will be entertained.
BM: As often with The Finn-Brit Players, this is an opportunity to see English-language theatre performed with the original text. Pinter is not about comfort but I hope we can provide committed and challenging performances, and even topics to debate in the pub afterwards.
What are your directors’ statements?
JN: Directing Pinter is a joy and a challenge. Most of his plays, in my opinion, are best performed in small theatre spaces, in which the dividing line between the audience and the action is not necessarily clear cut.
BM: For me, theatre is about direct emotional and intellectual contact between the performers and the audience. Theatre should stir new ideas and challenge established concepts. I hope we can achieve that, at least in part, with this double-bill.
Q-Teatteri’s Puoli-Q stage
Tunturikatu 16, Helsinki
Showtimes
5 to 13 June at 19:00
Tickets €10 for both plays
Booking: www.finnbritplayers.com/tickets_pinter
www.finnbritplayers.com
Susan Fourtané – HT
Fabien Rapin -Image
Theatre technical workshop
The finn–brit players are organising a technical workshop where they will cover as much about sound and lighting design and operation as can possibly be fitted into one day. The aim is to help produce a sound track and lighting plan for a simple play.
The workshop has been designed for directors who want to learn more about the possibilities and new trends in sound and lighting, as well as for anybody interested in becoming a techie or who wants to know about what the people in black do. The workshop is also open for those who already are techies but want to learn more.
Organised by Fionna O’Sullivan, Nick Meinke and Antti Hermunen, it will be held at the FINN–BRIT premises on Fredrikinkatu 20A, Helsinki, on Sunday 26 April from 12:00 to 18:00.
For more information, visit www.finnbritplayers.com
Susan Fourtane – Helsinki Times
English language theatre
Plastic Soup, an environmental comedy written & directed by Zoë Chandler / The Finn-Brit Players
The FELT IF festival (Festival of English Language Theatre in Finland), organised this year for the third time, will bring together three English language theatre companies to Helsinki.
Theatre lovers will have the opportunity to see original material by local writers. A variety of plays by international contemporary writers like Bernard Show and Anton Chekhov are also on offer at the festival.
| Performances 6-8 Novemberat CAISA Cultural Centre, Mikonkatu 17 Helsinki.Tickets €5 per show,
€20 for festival pass www.finnbritplayers.com |
Reaching people interested in theatre in a foreign language can be tough work. “Without the budget to buy mass attention, it takes a lot of legwork. Naturally we’re quite close to many English speaking communities who are hungry for cultural activities,” says Matti Keltanen, one of the producers.
Susan Fourtane – HT
