The latest exchange tours of the Finnish National Theatre and the Alexandrinsky Theatre took place in 2000. Two performances from Helsinki had been presented in St. Petersburg: L. Hietamies’s historical drama Mannerheim directed by Antti Einari Halonen and Chekhov’s The Three Sisters directed by Valery Fokin. In 2006, Juha Lehtola’s performance produced after the classic Finnish drama by Hella Wuolijoki The New Mistress of Niskavuori was in the program of the First International Alexandrinsky Theatre Festival.
The Lower Depths performance was created for the 60th birthday of the Small Stage of the Finnish National Theatre. Janne Reinikainen’s production of Gogol’s The Inspector General, officials were afraid of arrival of a European Union’s inspector; the director’s interpretation of the classic Maxim Gorky’s play had also been approximated to the realities of the modern society. In Finland, the performance had been recognized as one of the best premieres of the year.
Media about the performance
Chrystal clean and magnificently performed theatre. The ensemble performing mesmerizes: actors speak, dance, sing, and play drums, ear trumpets, cutting boards and anything. The director acts as a conductor, and the actors, stage and costume designers, the composer and light designer, the entire collective are his orchestra playing such instruments as light, sound, words, symbols, and human fates.
Tuula Viitaniemi
Actors of the Finnish National Theatre are the treasures of this daring interpretation of Gorky. This is a visual creation, full of magic attractiveness, theatre, and ensemble performing.
Suna Vuori
