Theatre group Jännä brings Eeva‑Liisa Manner’s Eros and Psyche to the Sampola event hall

According to director Disa Kamula, who is leading Theatre Group Jännä at the Adult Education Centre for the first time, Eeva‑Liisa Manner’s Eros and Psyche was jointly selected by the group as the text for the one‑hour performance.

– Eros and Psyche offers a new interpretation of an ancient story. Eros is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and he falls in love with Psyche. The name Psyche means “spirit” or “soul”, and in ancient mythology she represents the human soul, Kamula explains.

According to Kamula, a similar interpretation of Manner’s work has not been seen before.

– We respect the original text and Manner’s language, but we bring the text to the stage in a more multi‑voiced way. Audiences can therefore expect to see several Eroses and Psyches on stage, as the play’s five roles are shared by a total of 18 actors.

Theatre Group Jännä is a year‑long course at the Adult Education Centre, culminating in a full theatrical production in the spring. Participants are welcome to join the group even if they do not wish to perform on stage, as it is also possible to focus on backstage roles such as costumes and set design.

– There is a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere in the Jännä group, but at the same time there is a strong commitment to working together. Everyone has found tasks of a suitable scale, including on stage.

Admission to all performances is free of charge. The running time of the play is approximately 60 minutes. Performances are in Finnish. The Sampola Event Hall is accessible via the second floor of the building, and ushers will open the doors.