Fields of Glory

Sports arenas have traditionally been stages for trained bodies and outstanding performances. In these arenas athletes have been breaking records and fighting for victory and the audience has felt pride and joy for the achievements of their own. 

Fields of Glory sets up fictional games and their opening ceremony in which we bid farewell to traditional heroism and cheer for diversity and difference. In the dim light of an August evening, a total of 100 men will march onto the Eläintarha sports field in Helsinki. Spurred on by the audience, they step forth, with all their strengths and weaknesses, to challenge themselves. The performance showcases passion, sweat, beauty, shame and fanfares. Fields of Glory premiered on the 19th of August 2015 at the Helsinki Festival with an all male cast of 50.

​A new version of the work with a mixed gender cast, Fields of Glory Kuopio premiered on the 5th of September at the ANTI Contemporary Art Festival in Kuopio, Finland. Both performances took place in a local sports field with a cast of 25-50 local amateur performers.  

CHOREOGRAPHY, DIRECTION: Jarkko Partanen
DRAMATURGY: Anni Klein
LIGHT DESIGN: Samuli Laine
SOUND DESIGN: Jussi Matikainen
COSTUME DESIGN: Laura Haapakangas
CHOREOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT: Johannes Purovaara
PRODUCTION: Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Helsinki Festival, ANTI Contemporary Art Festival
PHOTOS: Katri Naukkarinen and Pekka Mäkinen​