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THE HISTORY OF RANTASALMI YOUTH THEATRE

Rantasalmi Youth Theatre is run by Rantasalmi Wind Band Society. The youth theatre was born in 1994 when the local open college organized a music theatre course for young music students. The purpose was to introduce other performing arts and to show how important the knowledge of music is in the field of various performing arts. Over 50 music students, from the age of 15 to 18, participated in the course. The teacher of acting during the course was Tarja Heiskanen (now Pyhähuhta), an actress from Mikkeli, and music was instructed by Risto Nyyssönen. The course was so popular that we decided to continue as a theatre.

In the beginning musicals were performed in various places, e.g. the gym hall of the local school. Quite soon, however, it turned out that due to its wide and permanent activities the society needs its own hall. We bought an old industrial hall, which was reconstructed on voluntary basis into a concert and theatre hall.  There was a contest for the name of the hall. The winning proposal was Tornado. This is how we got all the rehearsals and performances of every band and group under the same roof.  In the course of years the light and sound systems in Tornado have been accomplished so that today they meet the demands of professional theatres.

The musicals by Rantasalmi Youth Theatre have been performed also elsewhere in Finland and abroad: the National Theatre Festival of Open and Workers’ Colleges, the International Youth Theatre Festival in Helsinki, the Festival of Workers’ Theatres, the 1000^th  Anniversary of  the City Trondheim in Norway, Youth Theatre Event in Kankaanpää, and in several neighbouring municipalities.

In general actors and musicians of the Youth Theatre come from secondary and upper-secondary schools. Every now and then we have had musicals, e.g. Mikä sotku! (What a Mess!), People and Robbers of Cardemon Town, Pippi Longstocking, Tirlittan, and Paksu porsas viidakossa (A Fat Pig in the Jungle), with younger pupils from primary schools. At present there are about 20-30 young actors, musicians of the band and students of sound and light systems working together. Professionals of the team are director, conductor, singing teacher, choreographist, light technician, and sound technician. Moreover, costumes, stage set and makeup are made under professional guidance.

In 2009 the youth theatre celebrated its 15^th anniversary.

Text: Marja Ikonen

Translation: Päivi Koikkalainen-Rovamo

MUSICALS PERFORMED BY RANTASALMI YOUTH THEATRE

Kadonneet lapset (the Lost Children) 1994

Pop-Oz 1995

Fame 1996

Peter Pan 1997

Mikä sotku (What a Mess) 1997

Ice Open – silmät auki 1998

Outolintu (The Strange Bird) 1998

Grease 1999

People and Robbers of Cardemon Town 1999

Beauty and the Beast 2000

Pippi Longstocking 2000

Kadonneet lapset (the Lost Children) 2000

Tirlittan 2001

West Side Story 2002

Paksu porsas viidakossa (A Fat Pig in the Jungle) 2003

Kevät iskee kuin 7 salamaa (Spring Hits as 7 Lightnings) 2003

Salaisen laakson lähde (The Fountain of Secret Valley) 2004

Piruetin pyörteissä (In a Whirl of Pirouette) 2004

Knut Pitkäjalka (Knut Longleg) 2005

Return to the Forbidden Planet 2006

Punaiset ovet (Red Doors) 2007

Pinokkio 2008

Rautapuu (Iron Tree) 2009

Hukassa on hyvä paikka 2010

Jäljet 2010