Fragile puppet as a hero – Multidisciplinary performance on climate change
The performance Autio Maa (Empty Earth) directed by Meri Salo, was selected for the NOUSUT theatre festival in Turku, Finland. The sizeable and multidisciplinary working group included emerging theatre, puppet theatre, and circus artists. This collaborative process was both fascinating and challenging, blending various artistic customs to tell a cohesive story.
The art of collaboration
It is fascinating to bring together customs and characteristics of different art forms on the same stage, all to tell the same story. This way of working requires careful observation of the specific characteristics of different art forms and how those communicate with each other. With the help of mentors, the ensamble was able to fine-tune their collaboration and communication with each other. The performance gained interesting additional elements when its form and content were re-examined through collaboration between the ensemble and the mentors. The role of the chorus was particularly emphasized, adding depth to the narrative.
A gripping narrative
The promotional text for the performance encapsulates its essence
“This Earth was no longer meant for us. We had to leave.
As the spaceship heading towards a new habitable planet leaves the empty surface of the Earth, something is left behind. A child, who was falsely promised a place among the stars.”
Central question explored
Autio Maa (Empty Earth) is a scorching hot dystopia about climate change that combines puppet and mask theater with ancient Greek-inspired chorus. Do we always pass the responsibility to the next generation until the situation has progressed so far that nothing can be done? Those who come after us also dream of a livable world, although their starting point is no longer the same as ours. Can an individual truly even make difference? These questions lie at the heart of this mythical tale full of sandy dunes and hidden creatures.
A unique artistic perspective
The audience was captivated not only by the theme of climate change but also by the innovative form of the production. The multidisciplinary approach – incorporating elements of puppetry, circus, and mask theatre – gave a good insight into the contemporary theatrical thinking among young emerging artists. The choice of a puppet as the viewpoint character was both gorgeous and sympathetic, illustrating the power of fragility.
Overcoming challenges
It is amazing how much you can accomplish by choosing a small and fragile protagonist, who ultimately confronts and overcomes numerous challenges. At first, the puppet appears doomed, but as the story unfolds, it gains strength and clarity. This raises an important question: Can we, like the puppet, resist giving in to climate anxiety? Instead, can we take action and make conscious choices for the climate and future generations?
Writer Mervi Rankila-Källström is a Drama Instructor and Senior Lecturer at the Turku UAS Arts Academy. She is also the Research Group Leader for the Art Education and Pedagogy -group and the Content Director for the Theatre in Palm project.
