March
12 March: St Patrick's party.
A little in advance of the day itself, bring along a poem or play extract from your favourite Irish author, and don't forget to wear something green and bring a bottle! Organised by Fionna O'Sullivan and Anna Karlsson. Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 8pm.
24 March: Play reading
24 March: Play reading. Exceptionally on a Thursday evening, start the Easter weekend in dramatic fashion! This play reading is open to proposals, so if you have something topical that you would like to read, contact the committee. Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 7pm.
April
Six Characters in Search of an Author
The Finn-Brit Players' spring production is Luigi Pirandello's classic play, Six Characters in Search of an Author, directed by Adrian Goldman. There will be four performances between April 13, 14, 15 and 16 on the main stage at Malmitalo.
On a bare rehearsal stage, director, cast and backstage crew assemble to rehearse Luigi Pirandello's incomprehensible play Mixing it Up. Just as they are about to begin, a group of mysterious people burst in and demand to play out their own melodrama on the stage. And stranger still, they insist that they are not people, but characters who have been abandoned by their author, who left them with only a plot and a burning need to act it out.
And no wonder the writer gave it up: the story is rife with incest, blackmail, death, and suicide - enough scandal to close the theatre doors. The characters, trapped in their half-written fate, can do no other than play out their story. They cannot help themselves; they cannot be anything other than what they are. They are more real that we are, and Pirandello sets out to prove it.
More information
Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936) was born in Argenteo, Sicily. Originally planning to study law, he quickly turned his attention to literature and philology. During his life, he wrote numerous novels, plays and scientific treaties. Six Characters in Search of an Author is considered to be his masterpiece. Pirandello was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1934 for his contribution to world literature.
Performances: April 13th-April 15th at 19.00, April 16th at 16.00
Malmitalo main stage (Ala-malmintori 1, Helsinki)
Tickets are 9 euros (8 for concessions), available at Malmitalo (tel. 09 310 80835) and Lippupalvelu.
29 April: Play reading
29 April: Play reading. At play readings we... well, read a play. Aloud. You'd be surprised what a group of actors can do to a play you thought you knew well. So, if you want to lead a reading of your favourite play on this date, please contact the committee. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 7pm.
May
1 May: Vappu Picnic
1 May: Vappu picnic. Come rain, come shine, the Vappu picnic is always on the calendar. Bring your picnic along to Kaivopuisto, opposite the Finnish-British Society. We will meet there from 2pm onwards. "A little gale will soon disperse that cloud And blow it to the source from whence it came."
7-8 May: Shakespeare Workshop
Time and place to be confirmed closer to the event (provisionally noon 'til 4pm each day at the Alexander Theatre, Bulevardi). When was the last time you waxed poetic? Whether you're a veteran of the verse and want to sharpen up your speeches, or a newcomer who's not entirely convinced that you'll ever understand Shakespeare, this is a place to try it out. We'll take scenes and work on making sense of the language, connecting thought to poetry, and exploring the high-stakes emotional world in Shakespeare's plays. (Sorry you solipsists: this time, no monologues.) To participate, contact Johanna MacDonald. Register by 30 April with a partner or solo. Free for members, EUR5 for non-members. Advance registration is binding and necessary. If you have any questions, or even have a scene in mind that you'd like to work on, please let Johanna know.
20 May: Play Reading
This evening is open to proposals. If you have a play that you would like to hear read out loud, please contact the committee. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 7pm.
June-July
June
Keep an eye on the mailing list for details of Poetry and Jazz, as we look forward to another summer run in the Café Engel courtyard, featuring stories and dramatic monologues. If you want to get involved, contact Joel Holmberg.
6 July: Eino Leino picnic and poems
Celebrate the Finnish summer with some culture. Share your favourite poems and your favourite picnic nibbles. Kaivopuisto park, opposite the Finnish-British Society, from 4pm.
Additional Information
We would like to remind you that updates and reminders about all events will be posted on our
mailing list. In case you are not on that list yet, just contact
Johanna and she will put you on it.
As a registered society, we charge for membership of the Finn-Brit Players.
Social events are open to everyone, but membership is required if you want to
be part of a production, and also entitles you to vote at general meetings,
stand for committee, and receive a printed newsletter. If you prefer to receive
just the e-mail newsletter, please contact us here.
The Finn-Brit Players is also a member organisation of the Amateur Theatre
Association of Finland (SHT) and members of the Players can join their activities. News of their events can be found in Finnish
here.
We will be sending out reminders on all events on the mailing list, and of
course newsflashes concerning any impromptu activities taking place. This site will
also continue to
supply details of Players activities, as well as a
collection of photographs from past events and a
discussion forum.
Should you wish to
become a full member of the Finn-Brit Players, details are available here.
If your contact details change or if the current details are incorrect,
please inform us here.
If you wish to make a
proposal for a future production, the application
form is available here.
