An Introduction to Europe’s Absurd Century
The 20th century in Europe. A passionate, immature, scientific, and tragic century. A century of trenches and brassieres, propaganda and filament lamps, dada and fascism, communism and postmodernity, new appliances, and concentration camps. A century that produced the theory of the end of history.
Europeana is a play about collective memory and memorials. It recounts the noble aims that were meant to signpost the way towards new and improved humanity. The performance effortlessly pivots from one perspective and subject matter to another, and its reach extends from the macabre to comic.
Adapted and directed by Minna Leino, the play is based on Patrik Ouředník’s novel A Brief History of the Twentieth Century (2005), first published in Czeck as Stručné dějiny dvacátého věku in 2001, and since translated into dozens of languages. The Finnish translation by Eero Balk was published by Siltala in 2022. Minna Leino is a dramaturg and director at the Finnish National Theatre whose previous work includes Eugène Ionesco’s Exit the King (Le Roi se meurt), Thomas Bernhard’s Old Masters (Alte Meister. Kömodie.), and Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone.
Europeana is the opening performance on the Finnish National Theatre’s refurbished Small Stage.
Finnish premiere on the Small Stage on November 9, 2023.
Production team
Cast Kristiina Halttu, Aksa Korttila, Markku Maalismaa, Mitra Matouf, Marja Myllylä, Heikki Pitkänen, Antti Pääkkönen, Marja Salo, and Pietu Wikström
Director and adapted by Minna Leino Based on the Finnish translation by Eero Balk Set and lighting designer Kalle Ropponen Costume designer Sari Suominen Sound designer Johanna Storm Music adapted and rehearsed by Mari Kätkä Make-up designer Jari Kettunen Movement coach Marc Gassot Dramaturg Jukka-Pekka Pajunen and Elli Salo