The artistic director of Teatteri Vanhan Juko changed. Locality, community spirit and artistic ambition will be reflected in the repertoire without forgetting the traditions of Old Juko.
Lahti’s professional theater Vanha Juko, like many other small theaters, has struggled with the difficult economic situation, especially during the corona virus. The theater was able to participate in the state participation system, which is hoped to bring opportunities for the development of operations.
Esa-Matti Smolander respects the traditions and emphasizes that it is a theater from Lahti.
– It is important that our productions have a local perspective. We operate in Lahti and Päijät-Hämee and are part of this community. I’m not so interested in whether the public comes here from Helsinki, says Smolander.
From the beginning, the work has been characterized by artistic uncompromisingness.
– We will definitely stick to this in the future. We want to keep the artistic level as high as possible and do what we do passionately and to the fullest, assures Smolander.
The director’s own passions and interests will also be seen, for example, in the plays he directs, of which _Kaksi sistara_ will have a repeat premiere on Friday, September 2.
The sisters’ difficult journey to the second premiere
Teatteri Vanha Juko, like many other cultural actors and event organizers, experienced the effects of the pandemic. The play Two Sisters was supposed to be performed last spring, but the performance season was interrupted for the first night due to corona restrictions and illnesses.
– At first, the shows were postponed and then canceled until we decided to move the shows to this fall. We will celebrate the new premiere next Friday and perform the play until September, says Smolander.
Moving shows may seem easy and simple, but it’s not.
– Getting ready for a new play and the premiere is all about working together and group dynamics, and rebuilding it after unfulfilled expectations and disappointments is not easy, Smolander continues.
The public’s expectations for the Two Sisters were high. The screenings were sold out and everything seemed promising.
The play is especially touching in Lahti, where a large number of locals were involved in the organization of the World Cup as volunteers, and the Lahti Ski Club and the city were strongly involved in organizing the games.
– Fortunately, our audience is loyal and many decided to wait for new shows. We hope for full halls now that we finally get to perform the play, which will be realized in cooperation with the Academy of Arts, says Smolander.
The doping scandal hits like a bomb.
Two sisters deals with a topic that is familiar to many Finns. The life of the family from Lahti revolves around sports, when the doping scandal of the 2001 World Championships in Lahti hits like a bomb.
Skiing is the family’s religion and greatest love. The family’s daughters, two sisters, live to the rhythm of skiing. Mom, a former competitive skier whose career was cut short by injury, whips the girls forward. Father reconciles his role between skiing and everyday life and family members.
– My whole life has been spent working and working, practicing and running in the swamp. The fulfillment of dreams is one’s own home competitions, describes Smolander, the play’s director.
– The show is a story about faith and losing it, mourning and recovery, skiing and complete dedication to it. It’s not about irony, and it’s not about mocking those who are touched by sports, says Smolander.
Teatteri Vanhan Juko’s second autumn premiere is The Unknown Soldier, realized in cooperation with Turku City Theatre, which premieres at the end of November.