Newsletter: Autumn 2006
Dear Players,
Welcome to the autumn season of the Finn-Brit Players' silver jubilee year. We have Shakespeare at Aleksanterin teatteri, a silver jubilee dinner dance at Taidehallin Klubi, and plenty more besides, so there's no excuse for the autumn blues! Slip on your doublets, brush up your couplets, focus your fresnels, and here we go.
Social events are open to everyone, but membership is required if you want to be part of a production, and also entitles you to vote at general meetings, stand for committee, and receive a printed newsletter.
The Helsinki Finnish-British Society is still seeking new premises, so until there are further developments in this area, events at the Society will continue to be held at Puistokatu 1bA. Any changes will be announced on our mailing list.
If you change address or if your contact details are otherwise incorrect, please contact the committee.
The Finn-Brit Players is a member organisation of the Amateur Theatre Association of Finland (SHT). More information (in Finnish) at www.shtl.fi.
AUGUST
25 August: Play reading. An evening of comedy. To kick the season off in style, Jack Leo will bring along a bundle of theatrical gems that are bound to be sexy, profane, and totally hilarious. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 7pm.
SEPTEMBER
13, 22, 27 September: Poetry & Jazz. Directed by Joel Holmberg. Café Engel at 8pm, free entry.
15 September: Play reading. Would you like to hear your favourite play read out loud by our highly talented members? If you have a suggestion, contact a member of the committee. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society (Puistokatu 1bA) at 7pm.
In addition, don’t forget to keep an eye on the mailing list for details of extra events and anniversary offers.
OCTOBER
13 October: Play reading. Led by Carol. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society at 7pm.
NOVEMBER
4 - 5 November: AUTUMN PRODUCTION.
The Winter’s Tale, by William Shakespeare
Co-directed by Adrian Goldman and Johanna MacDonald
Aleksanterin teatteri, Bulevardi 23-27, Helsinki
When King Leontes becomes convinced that his wife is carrying the child of his best friend, his obsessive jealousy becomes an instrument of terrible destruction. Friends, family, and trusted advisers all fall victim to his blind rage before Leontes recognises his error and falls into a state of boundless grief. Sixteen years later, his abandoned daughter unknowingly sets the stage for the redemption of all.
One of Shakespeare’s last plays, The Winter’s Tale is rich in poetry, subtle in its psychological workings, and experiments with mixing comedy and tragedy, pastoral and courtly drama. With a truly huge cast and a wonderful stage at Aleksanterin teatteri, this year’s autumn production celebrates 25 years of the Finn-Brit Players by pulling out all the stops.
Tickets will be available through the web site or through Lippupalvelu. There are only two performance days, so mark your calendars!
10 November: The late, late Halloween party. “You misunderstand. I mean late as in ‘the late Arthur Dent’.” Douglas Adams or the Addams family, the best costume wins a prize! Organised by Fionna O’Sullivan. Finnish-British Society at 7pm.
18 November: Silver Jubilee Dinner Dance.The Finn-Brit Players request the pleasure of fellow Players’ company at the Silver Jubilee Dinner Dance at Taidehallin Klubi (Ainonkatu 3) on Saturday the eighteenth of November at seven o’clock.
We are celebrating our silver jubilee with a Dinner Dance at the beautiful and artsy Taidehallin Klubi and you, dear Players, are invited to dance the night away on 18 November. When the stars take the sky, the chefs at Taidehalli prepare a feast to tickle our taste buds and the brilliant Plaza will keep us dancing till we drop. Naturally the Players also have a possibility to take the stage for a spot of open mike entertainment. So, dust your dance attire and drop us a line by 6 November to let us know you’re coming (please also remember to note your food allergies) and join us in the celebrations!
Dinner card 25 euros; Dress: Smart
R.S.V.P. by 06.11.2006
Matilda Sisättö, Anniversary Grand Vizier: matilda (at) finnbritplayers.com
24 November: Play reading. Led by Anna. Bring refreshments and a friend, Finnish-British Society at 7pm.
DECEMBER
8 December: Finnish-British Society 80th Anniversary event. As well as being the Players 25th anniversary, 2006 is the 80th anniversary of the Helsinki Finnish-British Society. Watch the mailing list for details of the celebration and how the Players are getting involved.
10 December: Auditions for the spring production, 2007.In May 2007, The Finn-Brit Players will be performing three plays on the ‘Puoli-Q’ stage at Q-Teatteri: Miss Julie by August Strindberg (directed by Jack Leo), and a double bill of one-act French plays, consisting of The Maids by Jean Genet (directed by Fionna O’Sullivan) and The Bald Prima Donna by Eugene Ionesco (directed by Bruce Marsland). Overall producer Laura Robinson.
Whether you would like to be onstage, backstage, or otherwise involved, come along to the audition to find out more and get yourself involved! Finnish-British Society at 2pm.
16 December: Christmas party. Party time again! Santa’s on his way, so wrap up the autumn season with some festive frolics at the Finnish-British Society at 7pm. Organised by Fionna O’Sullivan.
For your information
We send out reminders for events on the mailing list, and of course newsflashes concerning any impromptu activities that take place. If you change your contact details, such as e-mail or ’snail mail’ address, please remember to let us know so that we can keep you informed.
Membership fees
Membership of the Finn-Brit Players is €10 per annum (€5 concessions) or €100 for life membership. Payable in cash or to The Finn-Brit Players account: Nordea 147030-230337. Please ask Zoë (zoe at finnbritplayers.com) for a payment reference number and then fill in a membership form, available to print here or from a member of the committee.