Stella Polaris

The First and foremost improvisation theatre in Finland

Stella Polaris is an improvisation theatre in Helsinki, established in 1993. At that time a few brave actors of the Municipal Theatre of Espoo decided to leap into the big unknown – the wonderful world of improvisation theatre. They founded a group, became acquainted with the doctrines of the improv master Keith Johnstone and got Stella Polaris started . In 2012 the group consisted of 15 actors, four musicians, four light designers and one producer.

If Stella Polaris had an artistic manifesto, risk taking and commitment would be direct quotations from it. The development from the first embryos of improvisation to the full-length improvised plays of today is an indication of their artistic ambition. Risk taking is a necessity in improv. It is the foundation, the starting point and the vehicle of improvisation.

The fact that today a considerable part of the activity of Stella Polaris consists of training others tells about the strong know-how of the group. One could playfully say that Stella Polaris is the Alma Mater of the Finnish improvisation theatre a significant number of Finnish improv groups have first started in the courses of Stella Polaris. The improvisation teaching consists of improv courses for beginners, courses for advanced learners and interaction courses for companies, schools or anyone who is interested.

There are not that many professions left to whom Stella Polaris hasn’t taught the fineness of acceptance and the ability to laugh at oneself. Stella Polaris performs and teaches all around Finland. Stella Polaris is also in close contact with foreign groups and festivals. The group wants to develop professionally by participating and arranging different courses and workshops.

Show formats
Improvised Plays, Long Stories

This is the most advanced form of improvising, where a group of actors (4-5) creates a whole play without any kind of preplanning. This requires never-ending listening skills, a mutual sense of dramaturgy, and lots of imagination from the group. The story starts from a suggestion made by the audience. The audience can also suggest the starting point or the title of the play and give characteristics to the actors. The styles of the plays vary from murder mysteries to children’s plays.
Other shows and plays now in Calbe Factory:
-wild sing-sing-saturdays
-family dramas full of emotion

Improv shows

A straightforward, crowd-pleasing free improv performance is an excellent way to make your event unforgettable. With the experience of years and hundreds of performances, the actors and musicians of Stella Polaris provide you an amusing and entertaining number, custom-made for any event.

Training

In the training with Stella Polaris you learn the basic principles of fluent and efficient collaboration and team-work. Training consists of exploring examples of challenging interaction situations, the participants are activated and they get practical tools that they can put immediately into action in their working environment. Most of work is based on meeting people, passing on information and adapting to changing situations – in other words, interaction.

Learning based on improvisation is always fun and it is easy to find motivation for this. In this learning experience you are present with your body, mind and emotions. When you are more aware of how you express yourself with your words and body language, the communication with other pepole becomes easier. You can diminish and control challenging interaction situations and express yourself more efficiently.

Over the years we have done workshops on themes like

To meet clients with positive interaction
Active listening
Interaction and communication skills
Well-being at work
How to make your communication skills more effective and how to “read” other people
Body language in meetings and interviews
Team-building activities

The actors

The Stella Polaris actors work in theatre, film, TV and radio as free lance actors, and keep up the Stella Polaris improv skills by regular training, that is, trust and joy, creative stage specialities, music and movement. Alongside with regular and irregular performances the group also does a lot of improv training in a varuety of fields and also within the theatre and art academies.

Actors

Niina Sillanpää,  Jussi Vatanen, Sari Siikander, Elina Stirkkinen, Sari Havas, Jami Hyttinen, Kirsti Kuosmanen, Micke Rejström,
Outi Mäenpää,  Annika Poijärvi, Tiina Pirhonen, Tobias Zilliacus, Pihla Penttinen and Ville Tiihonen

Musicians

Ilkka Talasranta, Iiro Ollila, Jouni Kannisto and Hannu Risku

Sound & Light Design

Jari Piitulainen, Marianne Nyberg, Jussi Pekkanen and Ainu Palmu

Producer Kaarina Etto

International links

Contact Stella Polaris