Play Reading - Fri 23rd

WHAT: Play Reading led by Zoë Chandler.
WHEN: Friday 16th April, 19:00.
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, Helsinki.

Join us for a reading of the classic comedy 'Loot' by Joe Orton.

Two young thieves, Hal and Dennis, rob a bank next to a funeral parlour. Hal's mother has just died, so they hide the money in her coffin - and her body elsewhere - as they try to keep the police off their trail.

A 'masterpiece of black farce' from the 'Oscar Wilde of Welfare State gentility'.

Play readings are not performances - everyone gets to participate! Bring refreshments and a friend.

Proposals for the Autumn production!

Do you have a play in mind you wish to see staged? We are open to suggestions for the autumn production, so please fill in a proposal and submit it to the committee by the April 31st. For more details, and to download the proposal form, please go to our proposals page.

Whether it is a comedy or tradgedy, drama or farce - your proposal is welcome. Although it may seem early, we have to get the wheels turning before the summer break!

We have Puoli-Q provisionally booked from the 18th to 31st October, so the production dates would fall somewhere between there.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

Dear Players,

We would like to help you emerge from your summer sweat with an avalanche of thrilling activities! Read on!

August

Friday 27: Play reading - The Vertical Hour

At play readings we read a play out loud. One person leads the reading and assigns roles. Everybody gets a chance to read. Fionna O’Sullivan will be leading this first reading of the season.

'Politics is about the reconciliation of the irreconcilable' says Nadia Blye. Her political views come from her experiences as a war correspondent in the Balkans and later in Iraq. Oliver Lucas' political views are built on principles, and there is no reconciliation possible between them.

David Hare's 2006 play The Vertical Hour pits not only practicalities versus principles, but the US versus the UK, love versus lust, and danger versus stability.

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

September

Tuesday 14, 21, 28: POETRY & JAZZ - 'Miscoloured'

14, 21 & 28 September 2010 @ 7 p.m.
Arkadia International Bookshop (Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 9)
Free entrance. Fresh tea will be available.

We feel blue, see red and shop green. But sometimes, either by accident or through deception, life gets tinted with unfamiliar shades.

Join us for more poetry and monologues on the colours and discolourations of life, with music by Saara Markkanen on reeds and guitar.

And, by popular demand, Madam Luminita returns to give more readings from her 21st Century Tarot.

Friday 24: Play reading – Jerusalem

Premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2009, ‘Jerusalem’ by Jez Butterworth is a comic, contemporary vision of England’s green and pleasant land. It’s St George’s Day, and the day of the local country fair. Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron is a wanted man: council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants to be taken to the fair, a father wants to give him a serious kicking and a motley crew of mates wants a share in his ample supply of drugs and booze. There’s a cast of 15, action ranging from Morris dancing to ‘doing lines of coke’, and a major role for whoever reads the stage directions.

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

October

*THIS EVENT HAS CHANGED DATE AND TIME!*

Sunday 10: The Pinter Project

All those interested in exploring the work of Harold Pinter further are invited to an informal meeting on Sunday October 10, between 1.00 pm and 2.30 pm at the FINNBRIT premises (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9). MOVED TO 7 NOVEMBER, 2 pm to 5pm

Please come with ideas great and small on how to continue the Pinter project into the autumn and beyond (readings, social evenings, improvisations, public performance). If you have a favourite piece of Pinter, bring it along to the discussion. If you have nothing specific in mind but lots of enthusiasm, you’ll also be more than welcome.

Hope to see you there!

Joan Nordlund.

Friday 15: Play reading – TBC

This play reading session is open to proposals. If you have a play in mind that you would like to lead a reading of, please contact the committee (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

23, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 30: Autumn production - Darwin in Malibu

The Finn-Brit Players present Darwin in Malibu by Crispin Whittell
Directed by Jack Leo; produced by Stina Halmetoja, Johanna Kylänen and Kikka Myllys

Charles Darwin, founder of the theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, is living a quiet afterlife in Malibu. His relaxed existence is shattered by the arrival of two of his old chums, and old disputes are resumed as the three men argue about science, religion, horoscopes and the sex life of barnacles.

Whittell's comedy will be a guest performance at the Puoli-Q stage of Q-teatteri (Tunturikatu 16, Etu-Töölö, Helsinki) on October 23, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 30 at 7 pm.

Tickets €11 for advanced payment, €12 on the door.

For bookings and more information, see www.finnbritplayers.com .

Sunday 31: Proposal deadline for the 2011 spring production

Do you have a play in mind you wish to see staged? We are open to suggestions for a main performance in the spring, so please fill in a proposal and submit it to the committee by the end of October. A theatre is booked between 3 and 17 April 2011. See the following webpage for more details: www.finnbritplayers.com/proposals

You can submit a proposal for a small production, event, workshop, anytime, simply by dropping us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Proposals or draft proposals for smaller or later productions are welcome as well any time! The Players’ 30th anniversary is coming up next year ;o)

November

Friday 5: Hallowe’en / Guy Fawkes party

Friday 5th November we will be burning the pumpkin and carving the guy as we celebrate both Halloween and Guy Fawkes day at the same party. Organised by Fionna O'Sullivan. Note: actual burning may not take place.

Organised by Fionna O'Sullivan. Free entrance.

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

Sunday 7: The Pinter Project

All those interested in exploring the work of Harold Pinter further are invited to an informal meeting on Sunday October 10, between 2 pm and 5 pm at the FINNBRIT premises (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9).

Please come with ideas great and small on how to continue the Pinter project into the autumn and beyond (readings, social evenings, improvisations, public performance). If you have a favourite piece of Pinter, bring it along to the discussion. If you have nothing specific in mind but lots of enthusiasm, you’ll also be more than welcome.

Hope to see you there!

Joan Nordlund.

Friday 26: Play reading - Exciting mystery David Hackston translation

David Hackston has translated a number of contemporary Finnish plays into English. In 2007, we held a reading of the hit comedy ‘Mobile Horror’ and this month we’ll be reading another of his translations. More details coming later on the mailing list.

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

December

Friday 17: The Party Of Ultimate Political Correctness

More about this party later in the year.

At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

Further information

We send out reminders for events on the mailing list, and of course newsflashes concerning any impromptu activities that take place. Our web site (www.finnbritplayers.com ) also contains details of our activities.

If you want to join the Players’ mailing list, check our online form here  or contact Steve (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Also, if you have a suggestion for an activity, please contact the committee with your proposal.

Should you wish to receive a printed copy of the newsletter, contact Zoë (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). If you change address or if your contact details are otherwise incorrect, Zoë is also the person to contact.

The Finn-Brit Players is a member organisation of the Amateur Theatre Association of Finland (SHTL). This entitles FBP members to participate in SHTL activities, though these are mostly in Finnish. More information in Finnish at www.shtl.fi .

The Finn-Brit Players is also a member organisation of the Federation of Finnish-British Societies.

Membership fees

If you wish to become a member of the Finn-Brit Players please fill out a membership form (available online here ). Social events are open to everyone, but as a full member you can also take part in productions, vote at general meetings, stand for committee, and participate in certain events organised in conjunction with the Finnish-British Society, which may be restricted to members only.

The membership fee for 2010 is €20 (€10 for concessions), life membership is no longer available, but existing life memberships are still valid. In order to pay your membership, make sure you have a reference number from Zoë (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Committee Members

Chair: Fabien Rapin, (On leave after 19 August)
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Vice-chair: Kirsi Myllys, 050-3098 261
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Also acting as FINNBRIT Liaison

Secretary: Tuuli Tahko, 045-1378 244
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Treasurer: Zoë Chandler, 040-8489 814
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Social Shenanigiser: Fionna O’Sullivan, 040-3154 006
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Also acting as Wielder of the Tape of Gaffer

Comms Officer: Stephen Porter, 045-1141 222
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The voice and image of the Players

Comms & Secretary of Vice: Mark Durrant, 050-4836 035
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General contact:
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We have a few things happening in March, so read on...

Poetry & Jazz - Tues 9th

WHAT: Spring 2010's installment of Poetry & Jazz.
WHEN: Tuesdays: February 23, March 2 & 9 @ 7 PM
WHERE: Arkadia International Bookshop,
Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 9, Helsinki

Free entrance.

Love and hate, joy and pain, life and death – come hear our Songs of Fire and Ice.

POETRY about everything from winter light to lonely furniture.

MUSIC provided by John Millar on clarinet.

&

TAROT readings from Madam Luminita’s tongue-in-cheek 21st Century deck.

St. Patrick's Day Party - Fri 19th

WHAT: St. Pat's Day Party hosted by Fionna O'Sullivan
WHEN: Friday 19th February, 19:00
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, Helsinki

Friday 19th March sees the Players' St Patrick's Party back again, now with added spuds. Come along and celebrate Ireland's national day with the ever popular Guinness drinking competition, potato carving, improv games and more. Wear something green, and dig out those shillelaghs!

Fun starts at 19.00 at the Finnbrit premises.

Play Reading - Fri 26th

WHAT: Play Reading led by Kikka Myllys
WHEN: Friday 26th March, 19:00
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, Helsinki

We’ll be reading Samuel Beckett's play ”Endgame” – an example of Theatre of the Absurd, which is based on a philosophy that life is meaningless and absurd. First published in French as Fin de partie in 1957, Beckett translated it to English, and released it in 1958.

There are four characters, who live in an unchanging, static state. Each day contains the actions and reactions of the day before, until each event takes on an almost ritualistic quality.

This is a play about desolation, lovelessness, boredom, ruthlessness, sorrow, nothingness. Come and have an enjoyable reading of a timeless play.

Play readings are not performances - everyone gets to participate! Bring refreshments and a friend.