The largest theatre event in the Nordic countries, Tampere Theatre Festival, offers a unique showcase of Finnish and international theatre in August. This year’s Main Programme features 19 productions, five of which are international. From abroad, guests will come from France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK. The festival will take place from 4 to 10 August, now in its 56th edition.
The biggest international productions this year will come from the Netherlands and France. The festival will feature ISH Dance Collective, one of the most successful Dutch dance companies of the past two decades, who will be visiting Finland for the first time. Elements of Freestyle is a spectacular mashup of urban sports and art and it’s choreographed and directed by Marco Gerris.
Author-director Mohamed El Khatib’s documentary theatre projects give a voice to those who often go unheard. La vie secrète des vieux (The Secret Lives of Old People) introduces us to a group of 76- to 90-year-olds who share their experiences of love and passion – from their first teenage romances to late-life affairs. The performance is based on interviews with more than a hundred senior citizens, and it is produced by Zirlib.
In addition to the international programme, Tampere Theatre Festival welcomes a number of Finnish performers and artists. The Main Programme includes performances by the Finnish National Theatre, Takomo Theatre, Q Theatre, & Espoo Theatre, Kuopio City Theatre, Theatre Jurkka and Lappeenranta City Theatre. There will also be independent theatre groups such as Vauriomania and Helsinki 98. The festival’s home town is also represented this year, with works from Tampere Theatre, TTT Theatre and Väki Choir.
The performances have been selected by the festival’s artistic team Taija Helminen, Hilkka-Liisa Iivanainen and Tanjalotta Räikkä together with the festival’s Executive Director Hanna Rosendahl. The Main Programme has been built up to ensure that there is something for theatre lovers of all ages to experience.
Read more: www.teatterikesa.fi/en/
Photo: Elements of Freestyle, photographer Alex Brenner
