Block Theatre celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2026! To mark the occasion, TIP-Fest will feature the widely touring Block Theatre, as well as Block Theatre Variation III: The Twelve O’Clock Table Setting, on Thursday and Saturday. On Saturday, there will also be a party to toast the ever-changing wooden blocks after the celebratory performance.
A MULTISENSORY EXPERIENCE
In block theatre, imagination, with the help of wooden blocks, guides the spectator to arange of different worlds. The non-verbal performance captures the audience, and the puppeteer, together with the music and the rest of the soundscape, breaths life to the blocks. Block theatre is a visual art form that stirs the viewer’s imagination. The performance opens new points of view for creativity, with the work of art gaining a new layer from each spectator’s unique interpretation.
The block theatre first saw the light of day in the café of a local art museum in Pori, Finland, in July 2011. Kai Ruohonen, then employee of the art museum, had a question to his colleague Roosa Halme: he’d been developing his own block art, but could it maybe work with puppetry as well? Halme was taken by the idea, and brought a pile of blocks back home with her. The show started to find its form, and by the end of the year the block theatre was already performed at a local puppetry festival.
The performance can also be followed by a workshop, where the blocks are used to create new characters and worlds. The block theatre has traveled the world and been seen by children, students, and seniors alike. The therapeutic aspects of block theatre have also been studied, when a US professor of art therapy, puppeteer therapist Matthew Berner took the block theatre on tour to special needs day cares, residential childcare institutions, and retirement homes.
Block tTheatre has been performed throughout Finland and abroad for schoolchildren, college students, and seniors alike. The therapeutic potential of Block Theater has been studied in collaboration with Matthew Bernier, a U.S. professor of art therapy and puppet theater therapist, during a tour of daycare centers for children with special needs, children’s homes, and nursing homes.
In recent years, block theater has also been featured on the children’s TV show “Pikku Kakkonen” under the name “Satupalikat.”
The Jubilee is organised in collaboration with KO-KOO-MO and the Brita Maria Renlunds Foundation.
Halme & Lumiluoto / KO-KOO-MO Block Theatre: Variation III – Twelve o’clock Setting
The Scenic Restaurant offers peacefulness of nature and glamour. The interior decoration of the restaurant has remained in its original appearance.
On the list we offer rare specialities and also some classics. The carefully finalised ingredients are the restaurant’s bravura. Our devoted staff serve portions to guests.
Our service concept is best illustrated by the fact that every customer can customise their portions by their wishes in the limit of the menu.
The table is served for 18 customers.
Duration 45 min
Language: without words
Age recommendation: 7 +
Establishing the restaurant has been supported by: Amosparkens skola, Aura of Puppets, KUBU, Metropolitan Puppets, Mörkö -festival, Pakilan Nukketeatteritalo, SPR Halikko refugee centre, Art Promotion Centre Finland.
Premiere at TIP-Fest 2023 duration: 45 minutes language: almost wordless Age recommendation: 7 +
staff: Roosa Halme and Sinikka Lumiluoto raw material producer: Kai Ruohonen Ergonomics for Employees: Kauri Honkakoski Kitchen Equipment Maintenance: Sisu Nojonen Production: KO-KOO-MO / Annukka Ketola Premiere at TIP-Fest 2023
Performances
Thu 12.11.2026 at 19, Sopukka
Sat 14.11.2026 at 19, Sopukka
Block Theatre
In Block theatre, imagination, with the help of wooden blocks, guides the spectator to arange of different worlds. The non-verbal performance captures the audience, and the puppeteer, together with the music and the rest of the soundscape, breaths life to the blocks. Block theatre is a visual art form that stirs the viewer’s imagination. The performance opens new points of view for creativity, with the work of art gaining a new layer from each spectator’s unique interpretation.
The block theatre is suitable for all ages, and as a non-verbal form of art knows no language barriers either.
Duration: 30 minutes
Age recommendation: 3+
Language: without words
Performances
Thu 12.11.2026 at 10, Sopukka
Sat 14.11.2026 at 14 celebratory performance! Sopukka
