Tragedy Competitions
The Tragedy Competitions were a nine-day festival inspired by Ancient Greek tragedy competitions, held at Helsinki Railway Square in spring 2008.
Each evening, audiences inside a circus tent experienced three tragedy performances: Euripides’ Heracles directed by Atro Kahiluoto; Bacchae 2 directed by Anna-Mari Karvonen; and Lot’s Wife, written and directed by me, based on Euripides’ Medea.
Three “public spectators” — one politician, one artist, and one representative of the church — shared their reflections on the performances. At the end of each evening, the audience voted for the “best tragedy.”
What was intended as a light element became a solemn moment, in which the present fused with the roots of Western democracy and art.
A Tragedy Seminar, led by philosopher Tuomas Nevanlinna, was also held in the tent.
The festival was a success both with audiences and in the media. A theatre event placed literally in the heart of the city brought performance into direct contact with everyday urban life.
The Tragedy Festival was organized by over 100 artists, in addition to dozens of other contributors: a restaurateur, ushers, security guards, etc.
Working group:
Concept and design: Miira Sippola
Production assistance: Jutta Heikkilä, Loistomeininki
“Rejoicing like a lamb in the pasture beside its mother, we encourage each of our members to take the leap”
“Rejoicing like a lamb in the pasture beside its mother, we encourage each of our members to take the leap”
Euripides
In the heart of Helsinki
in the auditorium of a
in the auditorium of the tragedy tent
everyone raised their hands, saying
that this touched me.
