The rush of the summer festival season has passed, but no matter how dark the fall evenings get, the lights from cultural events are not fading.
This week sees the 25th anniversary year of Mukamas International Puppet Theatre Festival, and in October the showcase festival Lost in Music fills the clubs of Tampere with interesting lineups. The consistently high-quality Tampere Jazz Happening, taking place at the turn of October and November, is also announcing its lineup this week. And in November, the children’s book and literary arts fair Kirjalitta celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Mukamas International Puppet Theatre Festival 11–15 September
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Puppet Theatre Festival MUKAMAS brings new works of puppet theatre, both domestic and foreign, onto the Hällä stage, the Haihara Arts Centre, the Finlayson area and its own home theatre in Pispala.
The festival programme offers visually astounding performances of contemporary puppet theatre for children and adults alike. Arriving to Finland for the first time, the Canadian theatre La Fille du Laitier delights with the adult show Macbeth Muet, while the Slovenian puppet theatre Lutkovno Gledališče Ljubljana brings to the festival two of their shows, of which Tunnel, examining the boundaries of light and dark, is also suitable for children.
In the adult performance Session Bulkagov, the topics of The Master and Margarita come alive before our eyes, both in the form of theatre and concert. Mesmerizing children’s theatre is performed by the French troupe XZART and the Danish Theatre Madam Bach. German Karoline Hoffman makes a sparkling exploration with her performance Ding.
On the domestic side of the programme, Teatteri Hevosenkenkä from Espoo, Nukketeatteri Sampo from Helsinki and Tehdas Teatteri from Turku are also arriving to Tampere, among others.
For more information
https://mukamasfestival.com/en/
Lost in Music 2–4 October
Taking place now for the 17th time, Finland’s biggest showcase festival Lost in Music spreads itself around the clubs and venues of Tampere in the beginning of October.
The festival programme highlights the fresh and the contemporary: taking the stage annually are some of the biggest stars of the future. Lost in Music’s productions team has reshaped the festival to open its stages to up-and-coming artists.
This year’s venues are Tullikamari, Olympia, G Livelab, Tavara-asema and All-Tone, and the lineup is as follows: Mirella, OLGA, Bee, Maustetytöt, nublu, Sara Siipola, Turisti, Jaakko Kulta, Averagekidluke, Aliisa Syrjä, Tupe., Sonia, Benjamin, Vilma Alina, Jesse Markin, Lyyti, Stereo Terror, Jore & Zpoppa, BÄMÄ, EBBE, Miss Molly, pins.ku, Senya, NUPU, Sara Bee, Elsa Brotherus, Alma Alanko, Luna Kills, ATLAS, Orvokki, Viitasen Piia, Poni, Kissa, Business City, D.O.P.A., Rosettes, US, Dalindèo, Timo Lassy Trio, Glayden, Sheperd’s Call, MFM, Nelli Milan and Barbitalo.
For more information
https://lostinmusic.fi/en/
Tampere Jazz Happening 31 October – 3 November
Tampere Jazz Happening annually bring together the hottest names in modern jazz, from home and abroad – not to mention the future stars. The event was first held in 1982, and ever since it’s been an important annual event in Tampere. The venues for the festival are Pakkahuone, Klubi and Telakka. The 2024 lineup is announced 12 September.
For more information
https://tamperejazz.fi/en/
Kirjalitta 4–10 November
In the beginning of November, books are coming out of their covers, writing will take travelers to unexpected places, and authors and books meet with the stories of children and young people. Kirjalitta festival is held this year for the 10th time, and fittingly, this year theme is Celebration.
Kirjalitta is a children’s book and literary arts festival for the whole family. Its mission is to inspire children and young people to read and write for themselves. The event offers insightful opportunities for families and youngsters to take hold of stories. The central idea is to bring forward exciting, inclusive and communal ways to experience literature.
The festival is organised by Sanataideyhdistys Yöstäjä and The Finnish Institute for Children’s Literature in co-operation with national and Tampere-based literature and children’s culture organisations.
For more information
https://kirjalitta.fi/kirjalitta/
Picture from the puppet theatre performance Tunnel
Photo: Mitja Vasič
