Anna Karenina

Two love stories 

Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is widely regarded as one of the crowning jewels of world literature. Originally published in parts between 1875 and 1877, this beloved classic transports audiences to the refined world of St. Petersburg’s aristocracy, where two very different love stories unfold – one steeped in tragedy, the other offering a glimmer of hope and happiness.

Oulu Theatre brings to the main stage a dramatization by British author Helen Edmundson, who not only repeats the events of the novel, but also builds a unique proposal for theatre from them, raising Konstantin Levin and his love story as the main character alongside Anna Karenina.   

Edmundson’s dramatization spins the events on stage in a whirlwind fashion, relying on stage design and physical expression in addition to character-driven drama.  

Anna Karenina is a powerful play about the meaning of life choices, social and moral expectations, and passion. The play asks how we should live this potentially unique life we have been given.   

The classic is directed by Anne Rautiainen, who is renowned for her highly visual and kinetic stage productions.  

Anna Karenina is played by Elviira Kujala, Karenin by Janne Raudaskoski, Anna’s lover Vronsky by Timo Pesonen, Levin by Joose Mikkonen and Levin’s wife Kitty by Titta Toivanen.  

Leo Tolstoy (1823–1910) is one of the masters of Russian literature. His novels Anna Karenina and War and Peace (1869) are among the greatest works of European cultural history.  

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