The Birds is a puppet theatrical cabaret that celebrates birdlife from a range of different points of view. It explores the diversity of nature, climate change, looks at birds through history and considers the human understanding of birds through different times.
Birds bring us continuous messages from the world around us. They tell us about changes in the ecosystems with polyphonic birdsong – and with silence. We try to see nature from a bird’s-eye view but we also need to regard the extent of the destruction and loss of territory birds have suffered at our hands as a human race.
The working groups explain their methods: “We are inspired by the principle of swarm intelligence and for this performance we vary our roles within the working group. We search for routes towards the universe of the birds. We ask, how birds live in the world and what it is like to live as a bird.
The Birds is visual theatre that takes the spectator on a journey from the most common birds to the rare, endangered species by the means of contemporary puppet theatre.
WORKING GROUP Concept and performance: Roosa Halme, Johanna Kultala, Johanna Latvala, Outi Sippola Light Design: Jarkko Forsman Photographer: Johanna Naukkarinen Production: working group and Turku City Theatre
PERFORMANCES Thu 4.11. at 19:00 Sopukka stage, Turku City Theatre, Itäinen Rantakatu 14, Turku Premiere 7 September 2022, other performances 8.9.–8.10.2022 Duration: 1 h Language: nearly wordless Age recommendation: all ages Tickets 17–27 € Turku City Theatre A part of the ticket revenue is directed towards forest conservation.
In cooperation with Aura of Puppets, choreographer Leena Harjunpää, puppeteer Nanna Mäkinen, puppeteer Sirpa Järvenpää, Heinola Bird Sanctuary, Luomus – Finnish Museum of Natural History, Turku City Theatre, MA Arwen Meereboer, Ph.D. Elina Mäntylä, Biologist MA Kari Mäntylä, Sagalund Museum, recorder teacher Anna-Mari Satomaa and BirdLife Finland.
Supporters: Majaoja-säätiö, Kone Foundation, Konstsamfundet, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Turun teatterisäätiö.