Maija Hirvanen & Juha Valkeapää

Life as we know it

Two people, an assumed male and assumed female, are standing in a room where white confetti is flying and in the background is a silver backdrop and a clothes rack with a yellow tulle skirt hanging on it. The two people pose and look at the camera but seen as if they are in a bit of a motion. The eyes are towards the camera, but from the elbows to a 90-degree angle, in the foreground of the body. Both have a metallic top: the assumed female wears a purple sparkly bomber-style jacket and the assumed male wears a silver t-shirt.

Photo: Aki-Pekka Sinikoski

Two artists imagine six possible directions for life. Coloured by ideologies and lifestyles, those directions fluctuate across wondering and repetition, coincidence and choice, fiction and real.

Life as we know it emerges from continuous change, possible futures and the surprises of life. The ability to create new also requires an ability to grow and renew through life. How to recognise change, let alone affect it?

Maija Hirvanen and Juha Valkeapää are internationally established performance makers. Life as we know it – their first collaborative work – is made of recycled narratives, physical situations, humour and friction.

Working group:

Text, performance, and overall responsibility: Maija Hirvanen ja Juha Valkeapää

Physical and performance dramaturgy: Maija Hirvanen, keskustelussa koko työryhmän kanssa

Lightning design: Jenni Pystynen

Sound design: Ville Kabrell

Artistic discussion partner: Barbara van Lindt

Dramaturgical discussion partner: Aune Kallinen

Surtitle operator: Essi Brunberg

Co-production: TTT-Theatre (Tampereen Työväen Teatteri), Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival and Espoo City Theatre, Maija Hirvanen, Juha Valkeapään Ääni

The performance is supported within the framework of TINFO – Theatre Info Finland’s international program MOTI, which is funded by Finnish Cultural Foundation

Supported by: Kone Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland

Residencies: Santarcangelo Festival / Italy, BUDA / Kortrijk, Homo Novus Festival / Riga, De Platoo / Bryssel

In collaboration with Espoon kaupunginteatteri – Espoo City Theatre

Fri 20.11. 19.00
Sat 21.11. 15.00

Espoo City Theatre, Louhi Hall
Kulttuuriaukio 2, Espoo (Espoo Culture Centre)

Price: 15 / 50 €
Duration: 60 min
Language: English with Finnish subtitles