Saint of the rats
musical
A musical based on the best-selling novel by author Anneli Kanto
DURATION
2h 15min, including intermission
LANGUAGE
Finnish
SURTITLES
English (26.2.2025 & 10.4.2025)
AGE RECOMMENDATION
7+
Alexander Theatre
Bulevardi 23-27, 00180 Helsinki
Fri 21.2. at 18.30 | Sat 22.2. at 14
Wed 26.2. at 18.30* | Thu 27.2. at 18.30
Fri 28.2. at 18.30 | Sat 1.3. at 14
Thu 10.4. at 18.30* | Fri 11.4. at 18.30
Sat 12.4. at 14
* includes surtitles
54/49€ regular ticket
49/45€ pensioner
38/35€ student, unemployed, conscript, schoolchild
Group tickets 49/45€ per ticket (minimum 10 persons): Alexander Theatre ticket sale
Wheel chair tickets: Alexander Theatre ticket sale
Professional tickets 20€ per ticket with theatre card, the card can be used to redeem one ticket one week before the performance at the Alexander Theatre box office
magical journey back to the middle ages
The highly popular musical Saint of the Rats (Rottien pyhimys), composed by Jukka Nykänen, scripted by Anneli Kanto, and directed by Reetta Ristimäki, tells the story of the painting of the Holy Cross Church in Hattula in the 1500s. In the story, the church painters are forced to hire a young local girl, Pelliina, who is good at decorative painting, to join their team. A summer-long partnership intertwines artistic endeavour, learning and growth, friendship and love, betrayal and loss. The story is fictional, as history has left no trace of these painters other than the paintings they made.
Greta Productions' interpretation is a fascinating juxtaposition of modern technology with medieval history. The overall visuality of the work is created through the use of impressive lighting and video technology. The music is strongly influenced by the medieval period, with the added power of electronics.
reviews
The holy people and images that embody the core message of the Bible are flooded with associations of light and shadow and a powerful celebration of the fire of colour. Looking at this feast for the eyes, it never occurs to you that modern technology is behind it all. The magical and fairytale-like execution allows us to travel back in time to the Middle Ages, when the Holy Cross Church received its centuries-old paintings
Matti Pulkkinen
cast and crew
Performers: Heljä Heikkinen (Pelliina), Jere Hölttä (Master Martinus), Kai Bäckström / Jyri Lahtinen (Andreas Pictor), Petri Bäckström (Petrus Herckepaeus), Eeva Semerdjiev (Märta Bengtsdotter Ulv).
Musicians: Janek Öller (Bagpipes & Recorders), Ilkka Heinonen (Jouhikko & Gamba), Miika Vintturi (Keyboards)
Libretto: Anneli Kanto
Composition: Jukka Nykänen
Direction and artistic concept: Reetta Ristimäki
Stage design: Elle Mikkola
Costume design: Marja Uusitalo
Lighting design: Mirkka Saari
Projection design: Calvin Guillot & Małgorzata Nowicka
Sound design: Max Marshall
Make-up design: Ari Haapaniemi
Decoration design and implementation: Anis Kronidova
Production: Greta Productions
Collaborator: Aalto University MAGICS infrastructure
The co-production of Greta Productions and Music Theatre Kapsäkki premiered at Music Theatre Kapsäkki on 13.4.2023.
audience comments
The whole thing was a perfect score. I liked everything, the actors, the sets, the music and the plot. There was nothing too much here. It gave the audience new insights.
Aleksanterin teatteri 2024
photos
