What is this Smeds Ensemble and mr. Kristian Smeds really about?

If you are here to find that out, I recommend starting from this good article by Ivo Kyul from 2009.

Here is a good article in English and French on page 4 in the Theatre Finlandais -magazine from 2007

Then also check out www.mentalfinland.com

For the German speaking article on Deutsch Finnisches Theatrer - magazine 2009

Jos koetat juurikin saada selville mistä Kristian Smedsissä on oikein kysymys, suosittelemme lukemaan tämän Janne Saarakkalan artikkelin Teatteri -lehdestä vuodelta 2009. Lisäksi Suomen Kuvalehden juttu kesältä 2008 “Smedsin teesit” ladattavissa tästä .PDF -muodossa.

Basic info:
Smeds Ensemble is a new international and networking theatre group, named after its artistic director Kristian Smeds, one of the most profound theatre directors and playwrights in Finland. Smeds Ensemble is a production unit which functions as a meeting forum for Finnish and international artists. Co-operation has been planned with major Finnish festivals and theatres, and also various organisations in Brussels, Tallinn, Vilnius, Linz and Budapest.

Smeds Ensemble works on a widening field of arts. Aside from theatre, the group also produces movies, clubs, radio plays, music, workshops, performances and media art. The first international theatre group from Finland is open-mindedly seeking for new forms and practices in the stage.

In its projects, Smeds Ensemble takes advantage of the wide contact networks of its members and aims at long and continuous collaboration with various artists and institutions. Performers and artists are hired on project-by-project basis. Smeds Ensemble does not have a permanent residence. Venues for performances are provided by the co-operation partners, such as international festivals.

The first major project of Smeds Ensemble was international co-production, Kristian Smeds’ new play “Mental Finland” that premiered in February 2009 at the main stage of Belgium’s Flemish national theatre KVS.

Smeds Ensemble has three permanent members: Artistic Director Kristian Smeds, Executive Director Ville MJ Hyvönen and Head of Production and propaganda Eeva Bergroth. The compactness of the core team and the way of working without their own theatre stage or premises, directly frees resources for artistic work. Light structure guarantees the group a greater freedom, flexibility and mobility.

The closest partner of Smeds Ensemble is the Von Krahl Theater based in Tallinn, Estonia, where Smeds and Hyvönen have been working for the past few years. Future co-operation is planned also with e.g. The Finnish National Theatre, The Helsinki Festival, Baltic Circle Festival and the Estonian theatre biennale Baltoscandal.

More info:

Ville Hyvönen
info(at)smedsensemble.fi
+358 40 584 2031

Eeva Bergroth
info(at)smedsensemble.fi

+358 40 4873620

Uudenmaankatu 4-6
00120 Helsinki Finland

Rataskaevu 10
10123 Tallinn Estonia

Kristian Smeds
One of the leading theatre personalities in Finland, Smeds has directed and written several stage plays. He graduated from the Finnish Theatre Academy in 1995. In 1996 he founded the famous Theatre Takomo, working as the Artistic Director during 1996-2001. In 2001-2004 he was the head of the historical Kajaani city theatre, which even gained international recognition during the time. Since 2005 he has been working mainly in Baltic countries.

Ville Hyvönen
Producer in Seinäjoki city theatre in 2001-2003, Project Officer and Producer in Ministry of Interns culture project “Generaattori” in Kajaani 2003-2004 and chairman of the board in production company Provisual Ltd. 2003-2007. He is also the Executive Director of PixelACHE, an international festival of electronic art and subcultures, held annually in the museum of modern art Kiasma in Helsinki and in Paris.

Eeva Bergroth
Worked and studied in the field of culture and arts for the last ten years in Finland, Germany (Siemens Arts Program), France (Arte) and Belgium (European Forum for the Arts and Heritage). During the last 1.5 years she has been working as the information officer of The Helsinki Festival and Musica nova Helsinki.