Finnish musical plays draw summer theatre crowds

Jyväskylä-based playwright Juse Venäläinen has carved a niche with summer theatre productions chronicling the lives of beloved Finnish schlager stars, reports Yle.

Venäläinen, a former session musician, draws from firsthand experience, having backed many of these artists on tour in the 1980s. His works trace their subjects from childhood to the end of their careers, weaving in backstage anecdotes gathered over decades. Permission is always sought from the artists or their families before a play is produced.

Last summer, his play about Paula Koivuniemi, Aikuinen nainen (Adult Woman), was the most attended summer theatre production in Central Finland. This year, new plays about Kari Tapio and Vesa-Matti Loiri take the stage. Next summer’s production will focus on Pirkko Mannola.

Venäläinen’s process begins in autumn, compiling research and drafting the script over winter. Rehearsals start in the new year, with music often becoming the driving force. Selecting the songs proves the greatest challenge, as the artists’ catalogues are vast; he typically chooses their most iconic hits.

His plays have featured stars like Topi Sorsakoski, Reijo Taipale, Matti Nykänen, and Anita Hirvonen, often with tango royalty in leading roles. This season’s cast includes Saija Tuupanen, Marita Taavitsainen, Kari Hirvonen, and Jarno Kokko.