Written and directed by
Hanna Ojala

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Porin Teatteri / Pori Theatre 2024
 

Hovimäki is an original stage adaptation of a beloved historical drama series.

Set in 1808 during the war between Sweden and Russia over Finland, the play explores questions of loyalty and identity at a time when Finland did not yet exist as a nation. By examining our early relationship to both East and West, it is strikingly relevant today. At its core, the play asks: how can reconciliation be built on oppression?
 

At Hovimäki Manor, the young master Magnus is ridiculed as he tries to recruit his servants into the Swedish army. As the army retreats, questions of honour—and of belonging—come to the fore. The blacksmith’s son Aaron faces the same dilemma when a group of Cossacks arrives at the manor and a Russian officer takes an interest in his sister.

Left in charge, the young mistress Johanna must navigate shifting loyalties. At her side is the bitter housekeeper Frieda—an ambiguous ally at best. The maid Anna distrusts the upper classes, yet they depend on her. When Russian troops occupy the manor, these divided women are forced to unite in a shared plot.
 

Moving between the battlefields of the Finnish War and the manor itself, the performance foregrounds women’s stories. It explores hierarchy and human relationships in a world where inequality is protected by law, women are easily judged, and nations claim the right to occupy others. In other words: the year is… 1808.
 

Fast-paced and sharp in tone, Hovimäki is not only a compelling drama, but also a visually and physically dynamic theatrical experience.

Cast Maria Pere, Aija Pahkala, Heidi Rantakeisu, Petri Knuuttila, Oskari Penttilä, Helinä Kareinen, Lassi Jämsä, Miro Puranen, Jarkko Tiainen, Janne Turkki, Peter-Sebastian Lehtonen, Marko Honkanen 
Composer, Sound designer Riku Metsä-Ketelä
Coreographer Petri Kauppinen
Light Design Riikka Hakala
Set Design Teemu Loikas
Costume Design  Tiina Valkama
Graphic Design, Trailer Ojala & Ensemble Oy
Photos  Janne Alhonpää (Ensemble Oy)