Jump to content

Pyynikki Summer Theatre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The revolving auditorium of Pyynikki Summer Theatre in Tampere, Finland

Pyynikki Summer Theatre (Finnish: Pyynikin kesÀteatteri) or Pyynikki Open Air Theatre is a theatre operating in Tampere, Finland, known especially for its revolving auditorium.[1] It is one of the largest summer theatres in Finland and has been running uninterrupted longer than any other open-air theatre in the country.

History

[edit]

The theatre was founded in 1948 and was originally named Tampereen kesÀteatteri (Tampere Summer Theatre). It started operating in Joselininniemi, on the shore of the lake PyhÀjÀrvi, where the performances continue to be held until today. In 1955 the name of the theatre was changed to Pyynikin kesÀteatteri. The theatre increased its popularity throughout the latter half of the 1950s.

The construction of the rotating auditorium, designed by the architect Reijo Ojanen and holding 800 seats, was completed in 1959.[1] The seating area could be turned to face different sets.[1]

The real breakthrough for Pyynikki Summer Theatre came in the 1960s with the play Tuntematon sotilas (The Unknown Soldier). This stage adaptation of the novel of the same name by VÀinö Linna became hugely popular and remained in the repertoire for nearly a decade.

The revolving auditorium was fully renovated in the mid-1990s, when the number of seats was increased to 836. Since January 2001, the theatre has been run by Pyynikin KesÀteatterisÀÀtiö (Pyynikki Summer Theatre Foundation). In 2005 a roof for the auditorium was completed, thus lengthening the usability of the theatre in spring and autumn in the Nordic weather conditions.

Tampereen Teatterikerho, which managed the theatre before the foundation was formed, has been an important influence in the cultural life of Tampere, because its support enabled the founding of Tampere Theatre Festival (Tampereen TeatterikesÀ) in 1969 and Teatteri 2000 in 1985.

Repertoire

[edit]

The repertoire of Pyynikki Summer Theatre has from the beginning consisted mainly of Finnish drama and comedy. Among others, works by Aleksis Kivi, Minna Canth, Johannes Linnankoski, Joel Lehtonen, Maiju Lassila, Maria Jotuni, Jalmari Finne, VÀinö Linna, Kalle PÀÀtalo and Hella Wuolijoki have been adapted for the Pyynikki stage. Of international classics, plays by William Shakespeare have been the most often performed.

Mikko Kivinen as MÀkilÀ and Kari Heiskanen as Hietanen in the 1997 stage production of Tuntematon sotilas

The best-known and most successful play in Pyynikki Summer Theatre has been Tuntematon sotilas by VÀinö Linna, directed by Edvin Laine, who had also directed a 1955 film adaption based on Linna's novel. Tuntematon sotilas the play premiered in 1961 and continued to be performed for nine summers. A total of 348,854 people saw the play.

In the 1970s the most viewed productions were IhmisiĂ€ kairassa by Kalle PÀÀtalo, directed by Edvin Laine (1977) and IhmisiĂ€ suviyössĂ€ by F.E. SillanpÀÀ, directed by Rauli Lehtonen (1978). The biggest box office successes of the 1980s in Pyynikki were A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, directed by Jiƙí Menzel, and KĂ€tkĂ€lĂ€inen by Simo HĂ€mĂ€lĂ€inen, directed by Markku Onttonen. The latter made Pyynikin KesĂ€teatteri the 7th biggest theatre in Finland.

The repertoire of the 1990s was structured around Akseli ja Elina and TÀÀllÀ PohjantÀhden alla (Under the North Star), both based on novels by VÀinö Linna, as well as a new version of Tuntematon sotilas. These were all directed by Kalle Holmberg [fi]. In the 2000s, the emphasis has been on comedy and plays featuring plenty of Finnish popular music.

Plays performed in Pyynikki Summer Theatre 1990-2007

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 Randi, Chad (2008). Revolving Architecture. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781568986814.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Rauli Lehtonen & Heikki Haukka: PyörivĂ€ kansanjuhla. Tampereen Teatterikerho, 1997.
[edit]

61°29â€Č28″N 023°44â€Č18″Eï»ż / ï»ż61.49111°N 23.73833°Eï»ż / 61.49111; 23.73833

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pyynikki_Summer_Theatre&oldid=1322713857"