A Bit of Peace and Quiet

A comedy about a man who just wants to be left alone

This show is spoken in Finnish.

Middle-aged Markus wants one hour of peace to listen to the jazz record Me, Myself and I. However, obstacles block his path to enjoyment – such as his wife, his son, a handyman, a neighbor, his mistress, and a “friend”. They barge in through the door with their problems, loudly shattering his peace.

Secrets scream to be revealed, unspoken words push to burst open, and a constantly worsening plumbing pipe leak rhythmically accompanies the chaos. This deliciously brewed relationship comedy escalates into a farce, only to end in a touching conclusion.

A Bit of Peace and Quiet (Une heure de tranquilidad, 2013) is a hit comedy by the French writer Florian Zeller, directed by Jukka Keinonen, who is visiting Oulu theatre for the first time.

Director

Jukka Keinonen works as a freelance director in professional theaters across Finland. A Bit of Peace and Quiet marks his 70th directorial project. He has previously directed musicals such as The Bridges of Madison County (Hiljaiset sillat, Kouvola Theatre) and Evita (Jyväskylä City Theatre), as well as the plays Autumn Sonata (Syyssonaatti, Seinäjoki City Theatre) and Cash on Delivery (Puhtaana käteen, Hämeenlinna Theatre).

Jukka Keinonen worked as an actor in Kuopio and Lahti from 1988 to 1994. He moved to Helsinki to work as a freelancer in 1995. He is also a trained psychotherapist. Imperfect human beings who stumble towards each other fascinate him.

Playwright

French writer Florian Zeller (b. 1979) ranks among the most performed and awarded European playwrights since the 2010s. He has a strong background in theater, but audiences also know several of his plays, such as The Father (2012), The Son (2018), and A Bit of Peace and Quiet (2013), as films. A Bit of Peace and Quiet stands out as his most famous comedy. Crises of family and parenthood, along with mental health issues, feature centrally in his plays. In his own words, he does not aim to cure pain or solve problems, but rather to provoke thoughts and conversation.