Coming up this summer:
Akvavit Theatre presents the US Premiere of
Kokkola
By Leea Klemola
In Translation by Nina Sallinen
Directed by Chad Eric Bergman
Kokkola is a story about community—a saga about people who have only each other, whether they like it or not. It is an alcohol-infused mash of Northern Exposure and Fargo. After the joke, when there is no longer any laughter, we see the naked truth… naked. Kokkola is a plea for authentic Nordic sensibility, for a people with tango rhythm and silent perseverance staring into the vast void of both an interior and exterior landscape, people who recoil at unnecessary contact and prefer to express their feelings with deeds rather than with words. It is not a play that tries to understand the cause of this mindset. It is cold and dark drama of beauty, with a nasty sense of humor, yet strangely full of warmth and of the many possible ways to love without sex.
Kokkola premiered 12.10.2004 Tampere Theatre, in Tampere, Finland. This is the US premiere.
Kokkola (Karleby in the Swedish language) is a town and municipality of Finland. The town is located in the province of Western Finland, on the north-eastern coast. It is situated within the coordinates 63° 49' 60 N and 23° 4' 60 E. The municipality has a population of 35,760 and covers an area of 332.44 km² of which 4.92 km² is water. The population density is 107.6 inhabitants per km². The municipality is bilingual with 81.2% being Finnish and 17.7% Swedish speakers.
Kokkola
By Leea Klemola
In Translation by Nina Sallinen
Directed by Chad Eric Bergman
Kokkola is a story about community—a saga about people who have only each other, whether they like it or not. It is an alcohol-infused mash of Northern Exposure and Fargo. After the joke, when there is no longer any laughter, we see the naked truth… naked. Kokkola is a plea for authentic Nordic sensibility, for a people with tango rhythm and silent perseverance staring into the vast void of both an interior and exterior landscape, people who recoil at unnecessary contact and prefer to express their feelings with deeds rather than with words. It is not a play that tries to understand the cause of this mindset. It is cold and dark drama of beauty, with a nasty sense of humor, yet strangely full of warmth and of the many possible ways to love without sex.
Kokkola premiered 12.10.2004 Tampere Theatre, in Tampere, Finland. This is the US premiere.
Kokkola (Karleby in the Swedish language) is a town and municipality of Finland. The town is located in the province of Western Finland, on the north-eastern coast. It is situated within the coordinates 63° 49' 60 N and 23° 4' 60 E. The municipality has a population of 35,760 and covers an area of 332.44 km² of which 4.92 km² is water. The population density is 107.6 inhabitants per km². The municipality is bilingual with 81.2% being Finnish and 17.7% Swedish speakers.
At the Rivendell Theatre
5775 N Ridge Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
• Previews: July 12, 13 ($10)
• Opening: July 14 @ 7:30PM
• Run: July 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, August 2, 3, 4 @ 7:30PM; July 15, 22, 29, August 5 @ 2:30PM
• $25
5775 N Ridge Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
• Previews: July 12, 13 ($10)
• Opening: July 14 @ 7:30PM
• Run: July 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, August 2, 3, 4 @ 7:30PM; July 15, 22, 29, August 5 @ 2:30PM
• $25
Leea Klemola (born August 16 1965, Kokkola, Finland ) is a Finnish actor, director and playwright. Klemola has studied at the Theatre Academy, 1987-1991, and later taught acting. Klemola was the Artistic Director for the Sun Theatre from 1994 to 2003.
You - yes, YOU - can help make Kokkola happen! Just visit our Kickstarter page and make a pledge to help us reach our $5,000 goal to help towards the costs of the production. If you need a little convincing, please take a moment to watch our promo video below for a little taste of what's to come this summer!
Please consider donating
Akvavit Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
Your donations are immensely helpful and are 100% tax deductible. We can't do what we do without your help.