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The Oulu Theatre Stage Jury will start its third season with fresh faces at the November premiere of A Christmas Carol.
For the 2024–2025 season, members of the Stage Jury are Hertta Harju-Könnö, a student from Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio upper secondary school, entrepreneur Heidi Hietala, communications expert Leena Hirvonen, Lasse Kukkonen, the Development Director of Oulun Kärpät, Project Director Karri Oikarinen, immigration work coordinator Priyanka Sood, street dancer and dance teacher Teemu Tuohimaa, theatre enthusiast Päivi Valtokari, and Niina Isteri, who was selected through an open call for applications.
“I’m thrilled to be back for the third time to lead the Stage Jury with the new and highly enthusiastic jury members. We are also learning a lot as a theatre when we hear not only about the artistic experience, but also about what works in our theatre and where there is room for improvement,” says Minna Koivunen, Communications Planner at the Oulu Theatre.
Versatile jury
Hertta Harju-Könnö is a 17-year-old upper secondary school student at Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio. Despite her young age, she has extensively followed and practiced culture, also appearing on stage at the Oulu Theatre in The Wizard of Oz.
“What fascinates me about theatre is the fusion of different art forms: the enchanting interplay of stories, acting, set design, costume design, dance and circus, which can create such a memorable experience that you will remember it years later.”
Heidi Hietala is an entrepreneur and the founder of the clothing line Original Story. Heidi loves creativity in all its forms.
“Theatre has been important to me since I was a child. I remember how my mother used to bring us from Pattijoki to see children’s plays at the Oulu City Theatre. Karlsson-on-the-Roof is a play that I will always remember. I’m creative myself, I enjoy stories and am inspired by creativity in many ways. I like the current trend of combining dance and music with theatre.”
Niina Isteri’s life currently mainly revolves around her studies in a university of applied sciences. She is studying to become a registered nurse, and she also has two children to make her daily life even busier. Isteri draws joy and power in her daily life from exercise and creative hobbies.
“For me, theatre means entertainment. Like a good film, it can be very inspiring, and I look forward to immersing myself in stories. I believe that everybody will find something relatable in theatre.”
Leena Hirvonen is a communications expert, journalist and non-fiction author.
“I was first impressed by theatre when I was doing my introduction to working life in lower secondary school at the theatre in Kokkola in 1994. I saw How to Kill a Bull by Anna-Leena Härkönen, starring Jarkko Lahti, and decided that I was going to be an actress. That didn’t happen, despite my best efforts, and I became an audience member instead. From the upcoming spring season at the Oulu Theatre, I’m expecting all the emotions there are in life.”
Iconic blueliner Lasse Kukkonen, who retired from the ice hockey team Oulun Kärpät in the spring of 2020, is now an entrepreneur and the Development Director of Oulun Kärpät.
“Being part of the Stage Jury is great, as I get to watch top professionals play different roles in different productions.”
Karri Oikarinen, the City of Oulu Project Director and leader of the Experience Arena project, believes that the jury membership will also offer new perspectives into his work. In recent years, Karri has mostly enjoyed culture at his daughters’ dance recitals and as a ball game spectator, less at the theatre.
“In all these, the spectator experience is created by small and big things and, naturally, by the art itself. I’m happy to be able to see up close how the magic is created at the Oulu Theatre.”
Immigration work coordinator Priyanka Sood has lived in three countries during her life. She has had the honour of calling Oulu home for the past 16 years.
“Once you have found the theatre, there’s no turning back! Every story I have seen on stage has been universal, and I have found some kind of connection with them. I’m very excited to be part of the Stage Jury, and I hope that I will inspire more people like me to find their way into this magnificent theatre.”
Teemu Tuohimaa is an experienced street dancer and dance teacher from Oulu. He has performed in numerous professional dance and theatre productions over the years.
“However, I’ve been away from the theatre for a long time both as a performer and as an audience member, which is why I’m looking forward to being enchanted by the magic of theatre.”
Päivi Valtokari is commerce professional who is in the process of slowly retiring. Her hobbies include volunteering, gym, group exercise, literature and, of course, theatre.
“I love the theatre, its magical atmosphere, and the stopping to enjoy the moment and experience it together. In the theatre, all emotions are present: you will laugh and also cry. I’m looking forward to the performances.”
Stage Jury experiences from 2022 onwards
The Stage Jury is a group of Oulu residents independent from the theatre brought together by the Oulu Theatre, who share their theatre experiences in their own words through different channels. The jury members do not receive any salary, but they do receive an invitation to all premieres of the Oulu Theatre during the coming year. The theatre does not expect them to like all the productions. Instead, they are expected to genuinely reflect on the content of the plays and their experience.
The Oulu Theatre launched the Stage Jury in November 2022, because the number of art critics has significantly decreased in recent years and, on the other hand, the importance of peer reviews has increased during this age of social media. The Oulu Theatre wants to continue to foster conversation about art in a new, relaxed way.
Previous Stage Jury members have included Jessi Jokelainen, who is now a Member of Parliament, author Antti Leikas, dancer Julian Owusu and upper secondary school student Jenna Sundell.
Follow the jury members on social media with the hashtag #Näyttämöraati.