photo: Mikko Kelloniemi 2018
Janne Saarakkala (1972) is a Finnish Director, Author, Scriptwriter and Performer working for institutional theatres, free groups, radio theatre and independent productions. He is one of the founder members of Reality Research Centre (2001-) where he got into live art, site specific performances, immersive theatre, journalism and international collaboration.
Email
janne.saarakkala(at)kolumbus.fi
Repertoire
Puhuva pää / Talking Head, stream of consciousness solo performance since 2001.
Education |
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| 1997 | Master of Arts in Theatre and Drama, Department of Directing and Dramaturgy, Theatre Academy of Finland |
| 1991 | Baccalaureate, Minna Canth High School, Kuopio |
Artistic activities |
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| 2001- | Charter Member, Director & Performer of Reality Research Centre, Helsinki – Artistic Director 2018 – 2020 – Editorial Staff Member of TAITEEN PAIKKA (2020), ICE HOLE – the Live Art Journal (2015 -) & ESITYS -magazine (2007 – 2017) – Artistic Research Leader with Pilvi Porkola in 2007 – Chairman of Administrative Board 2003 – 2006, 2015 – 2016 |
| 2015-2019 | Artistic Programmer for Riihimäen Teatteri |
| 2009-2011 | Theatre Director in Lappeenranta City Theatre |
| 2005-2011 | Charter Member of @work Network, European Performance Research Project |
| 1999-2000 | Artistic Director of Ylioppilasteatteri (Student Theatre of Helsinki) |
| 1997-2000 | Charter Member & Director of Kallio Theatre, Helsinki |
| 1990-1991 | Member of Kuopio Student Theatre |
Confidential posts |
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| 2017- | Member of Theatre Museum delegates |
| 2011- | Chairman of youth theatre project Nuori Näyttämö Advisory Panel |
| 2019-2020 | Chairman of Eskus – Performance Center Aministrative Board |
| 2016-2020 | Member of Dance Theatre Minimi Administrative Board |
| 2010-2014 | Member of National Council for Theatre |
| 2012 | Member of Baltic Circle – International Theatre Festival Advisory Panel |
| 2008-2013 | Member of Union of Theatre Directors and Dramaturges Finland Administrative Board |
| 2002-2006 | Vice Chairman of Theatre Centre (Teatercentrum) Administrative Board |
| 2000-2004 | Vice Member of PAND – Artists for Peace of Finland Administrative Board |
Group prizes |
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| 2017 | Theatre of the Year 2017 Prize for Riihimäen Teatteri by The Assiciation of Finnish Theatres |
| 2015 | “Kiitos kotimaisesta näytelmästä” Price for Nuori Näyttämö youth theatre project by Finnish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild |
| 2014 | Cultural Magazine Quality Price for Esitys-magazine by Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture |
| 2010 | TINFO-prize for Communicating Theatre for Esitys-magazine by Theatre Info Finland |
| 2010 | Honorary Award for Esitys-magazine in Quality Magazines Competition of The Association for Cultural, Scientific and Advocacy Magazines, Kultti |
| 2008 | Third Prize in manuscript competition of Finnish Institute of Occupational Health about “changes in working life during the last 200 years”. Prize texts: Lure – Exhibition of Infinite Possibilities (Pilvi Porkola) & Portrait of a New Worker (Janne Saarakkala), Reality Research Center |
| 2002 | Theatre State Prize for Reality Research Centre |
Workshops and teaching in Finland |
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| 2012- | Part-time Teacher in directing, radio fiction, workers’ theatre and live art in Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki |
| 2011 | Teacher in “Crash Course in Site Specific Performance” at Turku University of Applied Sciences, Theatre Studies |
| 2006 | Teacher in “Writing for Stage” -course, Open University, Theatre Academy of Finland |
| 2005 | Tutor in Directing; Theatre Academy of Finland, Arts Academy at Turku Polytechnic |
| 2001-2003 | KOMTEKSTI -project for developing and promoting new Finnish drama; part-time Dramaturge, Workshop Director (2001) and a Personal Dramaturge (2001-2003). |
Other works |
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| 2020 | KANSA ELÄÄ NÄYTTÄMÖLLÄ! Exhibition Text Writer. An exhibition celebrating the centennial of Association for Amateur and Professional Theatres in Finland. Theatre Museum, Helsinki; Finnish Labour Museum, Tampere |
| 2015-2016 | JUSSI’S LAST TAPE – waypoint report no.1 Video installation. Director & Cameraman. Reality Research Centre * Eskus – Performance Center, Helsinki 2015 * Myymälä2 Gallery, Helsinki 2016 -> recension * Ars Auttoinen, Padasjoki 2016 -> arvio |