Welcome to 2009! Here's what's happening in January:

Jan 11. Pinter workshop

FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, 2-6 p.m.
The aim of the Pinter project is to explore his work through workshops, readings and a range of productions in and around the Helsinki region. If you would like to be involved in any capacity (or capacities), please come along. If you can't make in to this workshop but would still like to be involved, please register your interest with one of the organisers (Zoë Chandler, Bruce Marsland, Joan Nordlund, Fionna O'Sullivan)

Jan 17. 'Four', a radio play by Vello Ruus

A performance of Vello Ruus' new radio play, Four, an hour-long radio play for voices in four acts.

The voices are bound by a balanced formal structure of time and place which inexorably pushes them forward through the four seasons. They explore their own thoughts, their relationships with the other voices, and their roles as manifestations of language. FINNBRIT, Freda 20A at 19.00.

Jan 18. Pinter auditions

We're happy to announce that the Finn-Brit Players' spring production will be a Pinter double bill: 'A Slight Ache' (2m, 1f) directed by Bruce Marsland, and 'Moonlight' (4m, 3f) directed by Joan Nordlund. We plan seven performances at Puoli Q, which we have booked from June 1-14.

Auditions for the two plays will take place at Freda 20 on Sunday January 18, 2.00 - 6.00 p.m.

Jan 21. Poetry & Jazz meeting

FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, 8 p.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE FROM 7PM)
First meeting for those interested in participating in next season's Poetry & Jazz. Bring original or out-of-copyright material. For more information, contact director Joel Holmberg (alarik at wippies.com)

Jan 23 The Finn-Brit Players' Annual General Meeting

FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A, at 7PM. Show up if you want to stand for committee, or affect decisions for the coming year. Welcome! (Paid-up members can vote, everyone can debate.)
Jan 24. Burns Night by FINNBRIT

Our friends at FINNBRIT organize an evening to celebrate the 250th birthday of Robert Burns. Tickets including meal 25eur, sign up by Jan 16 (note extended deadline!). More information on FINNBRIT's site.

Dear Players,

Autumn 2008 promises to be a theatrically stimulating one. The Finn-Brit Players, in conjunction with Thespians Anonymous and the Really Small Theatre Company, are organising the third Festival of English-Language Theatre in Finland, FELT IF 2008. The festival spans three days with a total of nine short plays on offer. FELT IF 2008 will be held at Caisa in early November. Of course, we also have our usual lively social calendar with play readings, drama incubator workshops and parties, not forgetting this autumn's run of Poetry & Jazz in October.

August

Sunday August 24: Auditions for FELT IF 2008

The third Festival of English Language Theatre will be held in November 2008. The Finn-Brit Players are entering four short plays for the festival. Auditions for all the FBP plays will be held at FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) on 24 August starting at 2 pm. A short description of the plays and available roles are below. To audition, you just need to turn up at 2 pm - there is no need for any advance preparation. If you would like to audition, but are unable to come to the auditions, you can audition based on previous perfomances; please contact Jack Leo (jack(at)finnbritplayers.com or 050 384 6740). If you prefer not to act, but would rather help out backstage or with administration, please contact Jack or just turn up at the auditions.

Zoë Chandler: Plastic Soup. When eco-warrior and businesswoman clash, a battle for love and water takes place in a disused railway tunnel in an inner-city park. Directed by Zoë Chandler. 2 male roles, 2 female roles.

Anton Chekhov: The Bear. When Grigory Smirnov arrives to collect a debt he is owed, the widow Pavlov refuses to pay and insults Smirnov by calling him a bear, which results in a challenge to a duel. Directed by Jack Leo. 2 male roles and 1 female role.

Mickle Maher: An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening. In this modern adaptation of the Faust legend, John Faustus, accompanied by his unspeaking servant Mephistopheles, delivers his apology to the audience. Directed by Rebecca Clamp. 2 roles, either male or female.

Oana Velcu: Finders Keepers. St Peter has lost the keys to Heaven and is desperately searching for them in a jet plane, where his encounters with the passengers show that life is not always straight forward! Directed by Oana Velcu. 3 male roles, 2 female roles.

Wednesday August 27: Meeting for Poetry & Jazz

If you would like to perform in this autumn's run of Poetry & Jazz, bring along any material you might be interested in doing to FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) at 8 pm. All are welcome to bring in suitable pieces - Poetry, Stories, Dialogues. This is essentially to choose items to come up with an interesting programme. Bring along your own material, material for which you have permission to perform, or poems outside copyright (i.e. the poet has been dead at least 70 years). Contact Joel Holmberg (alarik(at)wippies.com) for more information. All rehearsals will be on Wednesday evenings at 8 pm.

Friday August 29: Play Reading

At play readings we, well, read a play. Out loud. One person leads the reading and assigns roles. Everybody gets a chance to read. Carol Norris will be leading this first reading of the season. FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) at 7 pm. Bring a bottle and a friend.

September

Friday September 19: Play Reading

Zoë Chandler leads this reading. Bring refreshments, a friend, and join the fun! FINNBRIT at 7 pm.

October

Wednesday October 8, 15 & 22: Poetry & Jazz

All performances will be held in the Piano Room of Café Engel. Music will be provided by Johanna Pitkänen on the piano. Directed by Joel Holmberg. Café Engel (Aleksanterinkatu 26) at 8 pm, free entrance.

Friday October 24: Play Reading

This play reading session is open to proposals. If you have a play in mind that you would like to lead a reading of, please contact the committee (committee(at)finnbritplayers.com).

Friday October 31: Hallowe'en party

Steve Porter organises our ghoulishly gregarious Hallowe'en party. As per tradition, the best costume wins a prize! At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), from 7 pm.

November

FELT IF 2008

Thursday November 6 from 6 pm onwards
Friday November 7 from 6 pm onwards
Saturday November 8 from 1 pm onwards

Performances at Cultural Centre Caisa, Mikonkatu 17 C / Vuorikatu 14 / Kaisaniemi metro station (Fennia block)

FELT IF 2008 offers a total of nine short plays performed by three Helsinki-based English-language theatre groups. These include three original plays and adaptations. The plays and groups are:

The Finn-Brit Players: Plastic Soup (Chandler), The Bear (Chekhov), An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening (Maher), Finders Keepers (Velcu)The Really Small Theatre Company: Between Mouthfuls (Ayckbourne), The Form (Simpson)

Thespians Anonymous: The Proposal (Chekhov), Once Upon a Time in a Plague Year (Bullein/Honkapohja), The Dark Lady of the Sonnets (Shaw)

Each show will receive two performances. A more detailed programme will be available online in October. Individual tickets will be available for each show separately. In addition, it is possible to get a festival pass, which will entitle the holder to pick up an individual ticket to any show. Tickets for pass holders are only guaranteed till 10 minutes before the start of each show. Festival passes can booked online, but individual tickets will only be available at the door. Prices are €20 (festival pass) and €5 (individual tickets). More details will follow on this site.

Friday November 21: Play Reading

Also this play reading slot is open to proposals. If you would like to lead a reading, get in touch with the committee (committee(at)finnbritplayers.com). At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) at 7 pm.

Sunday November 23: Drama Incubator

Are you interested in voice, physical theatre, or maybe writing your own scripts? This is a chance for you to get together with fellow thespians and work on whatever aspects of theatre you're interested in without the stress of a major production. So come along and experiment! Drama Incubator workshops are facilitated, but not taught, with Zoë (zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com) acting as facilitator. At FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) from 2 to 5 pm.

December

Saturday December 13: December Orgy

The December orgy, previously known as the Finn-Brit Players' Christmas party, will be held at FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9) from 6 pm. Organised by Steve Porter, so expect some high-voltage charades action.

Sunday December 14: Drama Incubator

The second and last session of the drama incubator before Christmas. Even if you haven't been earlier, you're still more than welcome to join in. Again, for more information contact the facilitator (zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com).

January 2009

Saturday January 17: Rehearsed Reading of Four by Vello Ruus

Vello Ruus organises a rehearsed reading of his radio play entitled Four. So come along to enjoy this performance! FINNBRIT (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9), 7 pm. Free entrance.

Call for Proposals, Spring 2009

The committee would like to invite proposals for a play to be produced in spring 2009. If you would like to produce or direct a play, please submit a short description of the play, casting and staging requirements, suggested budget, and potential backstage crew to the committee by no later than September 1st.

Further information

We send out reminders for events on the mailing list, and of course newsflashes concerning any impromptu activities that take place. This site also contains details of our activities, as well as a collection of photographs from past events. If you want to join the Players' mailing list, contact Matti (matti(at)finnbritplayers.com). Also, if you have a suggestion for an activity, please contact the committee with your proposal.

Should you wish to receive a printed copy of the newsletter, contact Zoë (zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com). If you change address or if your contact details are otherwise incorrect, please contact Zoë (zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com).

The Finn-Brit Players is a member organisation of the Amateur Theatre Association of Finland (SHTL). This entitles FBP members to participate in SHTL activities, though these are mostly in Finnish. More information in Finnish at www.shtl.fi.
The Finn-Brit Players is also a member organisation of the Federation of Finnish-British Societies.

Membership fees

If you wish to become a member of the Finn-Brit Players please fill out a membership form (available online at www.finnbritplayers.com or from committee members at social events). Social events are open to everyone, but as a full member you can also take part in productions, vote at general meetings, stand for committee, and participate in certain events organised in conjunction with the Finnish-British Society, which may be restricted to members only. The membership fee for 2008 is €12 (€5 for concessions), or €100 for life membership. In order to pay your membership, make sure you have a reference number from Zoë (zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com).

Committee Members

Zoë Chandler

Treasurer, 040-848 9814, zoe(at)finnbritplayers.com

Matti Keltanen

Communications officer, 040-716 1102, matti(at)finnbritplayers.com

Jack Leo

Chair, 050-384 6740, jack(at)finnbritplayers.com

Bruce Marsland

Vice chair, 050-483 9579, bruce(at)finnbritplayers.com

Stephen Porter

Social and technical liaison officer, 045-114 1222,
steve(at)finnbritplayers.com

Fabien Rapin

Secretary, 050-487 6690, fabien(at)finnbritplayers.com

committee(at)finnbritplayers.com

coming up in the spring:

- saturday, january 26: annual general meeting

yes. it's time for our yearly debate club! this is your chance to make a difference, maybe even stand for committee.

at finnbrit, freda 20, from 6 p.m. members will receive an official invitation in the post.
- the next play reading will be in february. details later.

- the main event of the spring season will be a comedy:

After Dinner

by Andrew Bovell

The scene is a suburban pub bistro on Friday night. Three office workers – Dympie, who needs to control everything, Paula who lets her, and the recently widowed Monika, are desperately seeking for a good night out. At an adjoining table sit Gordon, recently abandoned by his wife, and Stephen, looking for something more than the usual one night stand. As the night proceeds, inhibitions and social restraint are abandoned, exposing the foibles, pain and humour of the characters' inner lives. It is an acutely observed but tender-hearted account of relationships and behaviour.

Andrew Bovell is an Australian playwright and his comedy After Dinner has enjoyed over 20 productions first in Australia following New Zealand, England and Ireland. This will be the first time the play has been performed in Finland.

Directed by Anna Kauppila and produced by Steve Porter.

performances on March 22 and April 12 & 13 - more information later.

in addition, there will be a 3-piece production spun off from Drama Incubator workshops:

'Dirty Work at the Crossroads' by Bill Johnson,
abridged & adapted by Joan Nordlund
A Victorian melodrama – curses on the villain and
cheers for the heroine!

'Guardian Demon' by Zoë Chandler
A comedy – guardian angel versus inner demon.

'Men Defenders!' by Oana Velcu
A comedy drama – are women taking over the world?

performances will be held in May 2008. more information later.

and naturally, we'll have a round of Poetry & Jazz this season too. there will be an initial meeting for all who are interested in participating, at 8 p.m. on jan 23, at finnbrit. performances march 19 and 26, and april 2.