22.–23.8.2024 Stockholm, 28.9.–5.10.2024 Turku, 12.10.2024 Berger, Norway I
A puppetry solo by Dirty Duckling, specifically Merja Pöyhönen is a skillfully woven one-woman-mess with ugly puppets in the labyrinths of identities.
It’s not easy to be a Finn. The one without a decent history or self-esteem who looks like a potato. The one who can’t open their mouth and is better with moose than with people. I would change all my great genetic nature-relationships for even a little bit of Mediterranean cultural heritage and social skills. And I would sacrifice all that is or has ever been mine, if somebody like that, not like me, loved me back.
Ariadne – A Mess is a multi-emotional tragicomedy and a one woman puppetry show made out of identity questions, ugly woven puppets with very big eyes and hearts and the antique myth of Ariadne (you know, the one with the ball of yarn, and the labyrinth, and the Minotaur…). The surrealistic text weaves together the stories from Minoan culture to Finnish quasi folklore and as a result we end up in the labyrinth of roots and loves and most embarrassing holiday memories. This show is also its creator Merja Pöyhönens’ personal quest to learn ventriloquism and speak with as many voices as possible. This long-awaited premiere is about the thirtieth attempt of the trailblazer new-wave puppetry collective Kuuma Ankanpoikanen (Dirty Duckling) to make a perfect show in the magnificent field of puppetry art.
This one-woman masterpiece is about the thirtieth attempt of the trailblazer new-wave puppetry collective Kuuma Ankanpoikanen (Dirty Duckling) to make a perfect show in the magnificent field of puppetry art.
PERFORMANCES
Sweden
22.8.2024 at 19:00
23.8.2024 at 16:00
Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Sergels Torg, Stockholm
During Pop Up Puppets! -festival
Finland
Sat 28.9.2024 at 19:00
Thu 3.10.2024 at 19:00
Sat 5.10.2024 at 19:00
Tehdas Teatteri, Itäinen Rantakatu 64, Turku
Tickets 23€ / 21€ / 16€ Tehdas Teatteri
Norway
11210.2024 at 18:00
Fossekleive Kultursenter, Berger, Norja
During Figur i Fossekleiva -festival
Age recommendation: 14 +
Duration: 1h 10min
language: English
WORKING GROUP
Concept, script, performing: Merja Pöyhönen
Puppets: Merja Pöyhönen, Eve Mäkitalo, Hanne Lammi, Helena Markku
Light design: Essi Santala
Music: Antti-Juhani Manninen
Sound dramaturgy: Antti-Juhani Manninen, Merja Pöyhönen
Assistant of everything: Eve Mäkitalo
Produced by: Kuuma Ankanpoikanen
“Everything is possible when one really knows their instrument. And Dirty Duckling know.”
-Helsingin Sanomat 8/2023
