Pirkko Koski

Finland's National Theatre 1974-1991

The Two Decades of Generational Contests, Cultural Upheavals, and International Cold War Politics

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This study analyses the Finnish National Theatre's activities throughout the decades during which the post-war generation with its new societal and theatrical views was rising to power, and during which Europe, divided by the Iron Curtain, was maturing to break the boundaries dividing it.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales)
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 29. Januar 2024
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 367g
• ISBN-13: 9780367498498
• ISBN-10: 0367498499
• Artikelnr.: 69921547

Autorenporträt

Pirkko Koski is Professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies at the University of Helsinki.

Inhaltsangabe

1. Introduction
The Finnish National Theatre: tradition and turbulent time
National stature and the fulfilling the national mission
Researching theatre history
Approaching the past: sources
The Finnish National Theatre during a time of rupture: contents
Part I Operational frames
2. The Finnish National Theatre and the changing field of theatre
New artistic direction(s)
Private, national, and societal pressures
The National Theatre and its national operations
Caught between East and West
3. Experiencing, conveying, and interpreting
The Finnish National Theatre and the Finnish press
The National Theatre and the general public
4. The creators of the artistic direction
Th actors' theatre
The productions' artistic backgrounds
Artistic forays over the border
5. A national landmark renewed and replenished
National Main Stage
From modern architecture to spatial exploration
A functioning family
Part II Programming, performances, and the national agenda
6. The National mission driving the National Theatre's programming
Chasing diversity and artistic merit
Debates about the development of domestic Finnish drama
Crossing the border between high and low art
7. High and low in the context of the domestic repertoire
The challenges of updating traditional classics
The Finnish people on stage
The Finland of poets
8. Finnish history without a nationalist slant
Historical characters from across the decades
War history and contemporary politics on-stage
9. Significant literary works as national interpretations
Shakespeare as a contemporary mirror
The cultural heritage of Continental Europe
Old Russian drama
10. Modern dramatic classics
A generation of masters
Anglo-American relationship drama
Social documentary from behind the Iron Curtain
Modern drama from the Continent
The return to absurdist roots
11. New Eastern European drama
Rarities from the Soviet Union
From metaphor to commentary-style
Estonian history
12. New plays from the West
Trying to fill the Main Stage auditorium
Relationships and cultural caricatures
Dramatic and stage celebrity
Global victims: abuses of power
Historic moments of stardom
13. Social upheaval on the national stage
Pacifism in its different modes
Generational rebellion on-stage
The environment threats
14. Popular and commercial elements and Ntaional Theatre press debates
From classic farce to folk theatre
An operetta causes a scandal
Criticism and crisis at the centre of public attention
15. The advent of the small and the young
The opening of the Omapohja studio performance space
A new generation of playwrights
16. Theatre company visits from the East and the West
Gorki Theatare, Taganka, and other Eastern European triumphs
The return of the Estonia-connection
British theatrical culture
Western diversity and Far East traditions
The Finnish National Theatre travels
17. To conclude: The National Theatre during a time of transition
Changing times and the National Theatre's policy
The international Finnish National Theatre
National drama, national character, and collective memory
18. Sources and Bibliography
Index

---

1. Introduction


The Finnish National Theatre: tradition and turbulent time

National stature and the fulfilling the national mission

Researching theatre history

Approaching the past: sources

The Finnish National Theatre during a time of rupture: contents



Part I Operational frames


2. The Finnish National Theatre and the changing field of theatre


New artistic direction(s)

Private, national, and societal pressures

The National Theatre and its national operations

Caught between East and West


3. Experiencing, conveying, and interpreting


The Finnish National Theatre and the Finnish press

The National Theatre and the general public


4. The creators of the artistic direction


Th actors' theatre

The productions' artistic backgrounds

Artistic forays over the border


5. A national landmark renewed and replenished


National Main Stage

From modern architecture to spatial exploration

A functioning family



Part II Programming, performances, and the national agenda


6. The National mission driving the National Theatre's programming


Chasing diversity and artistic merit

Debates about the development of domestic Finnish drama

Crossing the border between high and low art


7. High and low in the context of the domestic repertoire


The challenges of updating traditional classics

The Finnish people on stage

The Finland of poets


8. Finnish history without a nationalist slant


Historical characters from across the decades

War history and contemporary politics on-stage


9. Significant literary works as national interpretations


Shakespeare as a contemporary mirror

The cultural heritage of Continental Europe

Old Russian drama


10. Modern dramatic classics


A generation of masters

Anglo-American relationship drama

Social documentary from behind the Iron Curtain

Modern drama from the Continent

The return to absurdist roots


11. New Eastern European drama


Rarities from the Soviet Union

From metaphor to commentary-style

Estonian history


12. New plays from the West


Trying to fill the Main Stage auditorium

Relationships and cultural caricatures

Dramatic and stage celebrity

Global victims: abuses of power

Historic moments of stardom


13. Social upheaval on the national stage


Pacifism in its different modes

Generational rebellion on-stage

The environment threats


14. Popular and commercial elements and Ntaional Theatre press debates


From classic farce to folk theatre

An operetta causes a scandal

Criticism and crisis at the centre of public attention


15. The advent of the small and the young


The opening of the Omapohja studio performance space

A new generation of playwrights


16. Theatre company visits from the East and the West


Gorki Theatare, Taganka, and other Eastern European triumphs

The return of the Estonia-connection

British theatrical culture

Western diversity and Far East traditions

The Finnish National Theatre travels


17. To conclude: The National Theatre during a time of transition


Changing times and the National Theatre's policy

The international Finnish National Theatre

National drama, national character, and collective memory


18. Sources and Bibliography

Index