Auditions for our autumn production, 'Ingrid' by Ulf Persson

WHAT: Auditions for our autumn production, ‘Ingrid’ by Ulf Persson
WHEN: Saturday 26 August 13:00–18:00
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9, Helsinki

Director: Anna Olkinuora
Assistant director: Ulf Persson

Ingrid is a play about Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress. She was for many years Hollywood’s darling and received thousands of fan letters every week. All that came to an abrupt end when she left Hollywood to make films with the Italian film director Roberto Rossellini. They fell in love and she had to make a great personal sacrifice ­– she had to leave her little daughter Pia behind. The moral outcry in the USA was enormous with condemnations even in the senate, and the fan letters became hate letters

Ingrid takes place towards the end of her life. We are in Ingrid’s apartment in New York and she has invited her daughter Pia to dinner. She wants to explain – before it’s too late.

Rehearsals will be in September and October on Saturdays and Sundays 13:00–18:00.

There will be five performances: 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15 November 2017 at the Warehouse, Arkadia International Bookshop, Nervanderinkatu 11, Helsinki.

We are looking for 1 female actor and 6–8 male actors:

Ingrid Bergman – Swedish film actress
Paavo Turtiainen – Ingrid Bergman’s friend; event planner from Finland
Alfred Hitchcock – Ingrid Bergman’s friend; film director
Petter Lindström – Ingrid Bergman’s first husband; dentist, neurosurgeon
Robert Capa – Ingrid Bergman’s lover; war photographer
David O. Selznick – American film producer and director
Edwin C Johnson – Senator from Colorado
Roberto Rossellini – Ingrid Bergman’s second husband; Italian film director
Lars Schmidt – Ingrid Bergman’s third husband; Swedish theatre producer and director

We would appreciate it if you would tell us in advance if you will take part in the auditions and which part or parts you would be interested in. Also let us know if you would be interested in joining the backstage crew. Please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

You do not have to be a member to audition, but you must join if cast. Please arrive in good time to begin at 13:00.

Welcome to the auditions!
Anna Olkinuora and Ulf Persson

Go Back For Murder

Go Back For Murder

What is more exciting than an Agatha Christie play based on family secrets, intrigue, suspense, romance, seduction, and murder?

Carla Crale returns to the UK from Canada carrying a disturbing secret. Her mother, Caroline Crale, died in prison serving a life sentence for poisoning her husband, Amyas Crale, Carla’s father. On receiving a letter in which Caroline pleads her innocence of the crime, Carla is determined to clear her mother’s name. With the help of a young lawyer, Justin Fogg, she assembles the people involved in the tragic drama, and together with Justin, uncovers the truth.

Performances at Puoli-Q (Tunturikatu 16, Helsinki) in February 2017:

Thurs 2/2, Fri 3/2 & Sat 4/2 – 7pm
Sun 5/2 – 5pm
Tues 7/2, Weds 8/2, Thurs 9/2, Fri 10/2 & Sat 11/2 – 7pm
Sun 12/2 – 5pm

TICKETS

10–15€ are available here.

For questions or information about tickets, including group discounts, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CAST & CREW

Director: Ulf Persson
Assistant Director: John Leo
Producer & Stage Manager: Nicolas Herbatschek

Justin Fogg – Salomon Marttila
Turnball – Graham Lees
Carla Crale – Elina Jackson
Jeff Rogers –  Mikael Kivimäki
Philip Blake – Matthew Paines
Meredith Blake – Kent Tankersley
Elsa Greer/Melksham – Zoë Chandler
Miss Williams – Jessica Calonius
Angela Warren (Present) — Anna Olkinuora
Angela Warren (Past) – Esteri Hellgrén
Caroline Crale – Sophie Michaud
Amyas Crale – Graham Lees

Costumes: Esteri Hellgrén, Maria Kuuskoski and Marika Cholmondeley
Set Design: Nicolas Herbatschek, Delphine Gerbaud, Maria Kuuskoksi and Marika Cholmondeley
Props: Nicolas Herbatschek, Delphine Gerbaud, Maria Kuuskoski and Marika Cholmondeley
Artwork & Publicity: Salomon Marttila
Photography: Harsha Chawhan
Lights: Timo Karppinen and Katia Shklyar
Sound: Katia Shklyar, Rosanna Liuski and Marika Cholmondeley

35th-anniversary wishes from FINNBRIT

WP 20161023 13 02 04 Pro

Here is the beautiful bouquet donated by Helsinki's Finnish British Society to help us celebrate our 35th anniversary as a theatre company.

The card that accompanied the flowers was signed by Mira, Harriet, Tuukka, Raimo and Gary, and bore a quotation from Nietzsche:

 

'To become mature is to recover that sense of seriousness which one had as a child at play.'

Keep on playing.

 

The Creative Body – a physical theatre workshop

Anna Olkinuora will be running a physical theatre workshop for us on 5 November 2016, 1–4 pm, at the Finnish-British Society (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9).

During the workshop we will explore our relationship with our own bodies, the space around them, and the relationship between voice and movement; letting ourselves be present in the body and in the moment.

Images, thoughts, text and music are used as stimuli to move our bodies in the way that comes naturally us, find new ways of expressing ourselves and explore ways to possibly incorporate this into stage work.

The workshop is not one particular method one has to rationally or intellectually understand, but a series of excercises taken and developed from various theatre and performing arts practices. We will spend the day exploring creative movement exercises, buto dance, physical theatre games, vocal exercises and holistic movement methods.

The workshop is open to anyone interested in movement or theatre, no previous experience is necessary.  Please wear clothes that you are comfortable moving in and enter the space with an open, playful mind. 

BUY YOUR TICKETS BY 31 OCTOBER

FBP members 10€
Non-members 20€

Get your tickets here

PLS NOTE The workshop will only take place if there are a minimum of 7 participants. A confirmation email will be sent on 1 November.

Melancholy Play

fbp mp banner web

For the first time in its history, the Finn-Brit Players will produce a play in association with an American drama group, the Passport Theatre Company of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Tickets are now available for the Helsinki première of Melancholy Play, opening on Wednesday, September 21 at Tunturikadun vierailunäyttämö (Tunturikatu 16, 00100 Helsinki).

Tilly, the central character in the play, is portrayed by Stephanie Carlson, a professional actress and member of Equity U.S. She has extensive experience in New York, Boston and her current home in central Massachusetts. Her last visit to our shores was as a singer on cruise ships! Stephanie’s fellow performers are Demian Stimson as Lorenzo, Mikael Kivimäki as Frank, Hosanna Megumi as Frances, Jess Hollmeier as Joan and John Millar as Julian, all of whom are members of the Finn-Brit Players.

A former director of Melancholy Play described it as “a hilarious and heart-felt comedy about our longing for love and our love of longing. Tilly's quiet sense of joyful introspection is so magical that Frank, Joan, Frances, and Lorenzo fall immediately, and hopelessly, in love with her. But while love triangles are hard enough, love pentagons can get really weird. Melancholy Play is a sexy and mysterious romantic fantasy which follows these lovers on a hysterical journey.”

Join us at Tunturikadun vierailunäyttämö in September for superb drama accompanied by fine music composed specifically for this performance by Matthew Wooller and performed by John Millar on his clarinet.

Tickets 10–15€ are available here.

fbp passport logos