Moving in November | Espoonteatteri

Artistic director Kerstin Schroth

Artistic director Kerstin Schroth, what themes do you want to highlight this year?

This year’s edition opens up reflections from various angles about the vulnerability of bodies. We will look at bodies undergoing transformation, at those at risk or in danger, and at disappearing bodies. Additionally, we will explore what bodies represent in the face of nature, as well as the impact human bodies have on the environment, on the ‘body’ of nature. At the same time, the festival raises the question of how stories are told and by whom they are brought on stage.

What role does The Making of Pinocchio play in the festival program?

The work has a unique role in this year’s festival, highlighting bodies in transformation. Drawing upon Collodi’s tale, artists Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill explore, with a lot of humor and sadness the little explored realms of queer love and affection. Through a familiar children’s tale, they narrate the story of gender transition and its repercussion on the couple. This burlesque-inspired, highly choreographic work, interweaves film, spoken word and their physicality to tell their story.

What about it resonated with you?

The Making of Pinocchio especially resonated with me regarding its subject, its humorous and yet serious way of depicting a body undergoing transformation, and all the doubts and relief that come with it. I am fascinated by the virtuous manner in which the piece is performed and constructed. I wish for the audience to arrive to the theater with a lot of curiosity and with an open mind, to explore other worlds, ways of being.

Photo Petri Summanen

We will bring The Making of Pinocchio to Espoo together with Moving in November Festival, an international contemporary dance festival organised yearly in the Helsinki metropolitan area. A lot like our theatre, the festival is an invitation to come together. To experience artistic works from the local scene and abroad. Artists voicing their critical thinking, their visions, their experiences, their dreams, opening small windows to the world we are living in.

Moving in November is organised yearly in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The festival is an invitation to come together, to experience artistic works from the local scene and abroad. Artists voicing their critical thinking, their visions, their experiences, their dreams, opening small windows to the world we are living in. The festival works in collaboration with several venues, like Caisa, Madhouse, Kiasma theater, Stoa, Taidehalli and &.

The festival is organized 7.–17.11.2024 and the program will be published in mid September. With an affordable festival pass, you can see several performances. Festival passes (45–55 €) are sold from the festival’s own online store.