This content is protected against AI scraping.
We saw an amazing performance tonight. It was an extraordinary interpretation of the myth of Kullervo. Of course, I didn’t understand very much of it because it was mostly in Swedish with some Finnish thrown in, but I had read the Wikipedia entry before going and figured I’d be able to follow the action. As it turned out, I didn’t need to know what was going on because the show itself was spectacle enough.
It was the sort of production that I loved working on back when I worked in and lived for theatre. It was almost an abstract; a story told in sound, light, music, movement and words. It was superb.
The story involves a man seeking revenge. The man, Kullervo, does not have it easy. His tale involves tragedy, slavery, death and destruction. He wanders the world going from misfortune to misfortune, slashing with his sword, killing to avenge the deaths of his mother, father, siblings; his entire tribe.
At one point in his story, Kullervo seduces a woman who turns out to be his sister. When she realises she slept with her brother, she commits suicide, leaving a patch of earth where nothing will ever grow.
Ultimately, Kullervo kills himself by falling on his sword. His magical sword that kills everyone and anyone, regardless of who they are.
The cast was sensational. They were Timothy Pilotti, Karin Bjurström, Meng Tong, Jakob Johansson, and Jonatan Ed. The whole company was an ensemble and worked brilliantly together. I couldn’t find fault with anything.
The bald guy was Kullervo, the guy at the end in the blue checked shirt, was the musician and chanting singer and general noise-maker, the others played the rest of the parts.
The final performance is tomorrow, in Gnesta. I would happily go again.
