It Could Be Worse. (ICBW.) is a one-person performance exploring issues of economic polarization, immigration, racism and xenophobia in Finland.
ICBW. is presented as an unconventional convention given by one host (Felix Kuullppaa) on the theme of “it could be worse.” It is a playful experimentation with traditional presentational forms: conference-convention, monologue, stand-up, and power-point presentation. Performance languages: 80% English, 10% Finnish, 5% Swedish, 1.1% Russian, 0.9% Czech, 3% Other.
Performance History
ICBW. was premiered at Takomo Theatre in Helsinki, Finland on May 5th, 2014. After a run of six shows, it received praise form audiences and critics alike. It was later presented at the InterKultFest at Stoa on September 13th, 2014.
Production
ICBW. was produced in cooperation with Teatteri Takomo and supported by Kultuuriyhdistys Culture Current ry, and by grants from the Arts Promotion Center Finland and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
Performance Sources
ICBW.’s subject matter is drawn from on one hand from the author’s personal experience (as a white Czech-American immigrant to Finland) as well as interviews of individuals who have been affected by the immigration debates in Finland, and people who have strong opinions about the immigration question. In gathering the material for the performance, we interviewed and photographed recent and long-time immigrants to Finland, first-generation Somali and Indian Finns, middle-aged Finnish men, Swedish-speaking teenagers as well as well-known individuals like Li Andersson, Jussi Halla-Aho, Simon Elo, Heikki Hursti and Ben Zyskowicz.
Creative Team
Writer, director, actor: Alexander Komlosi
Sound Design: Ina Aaltojärvi
Set Design: Camilla Nenonen
Light Design: Heikki Paasonen
Technician: Markus Heino
Interviews: Tuukka Pasanen
Photography: Paula Virta
Selected Reviews
- “De främlingsfientliga rösterna hör vi när Alexander Komlosi äter bulle tillsammans med Jussi Halla-aho i ett videoklipp. Halla-aho drömmer om ett Finland som inte erbjuder inflyttade några som helst sociala stödformer, något som får Komlosi och publiken att rulla på ögonen. Vi skrattar åt cirkelargumenten och den överlag enkelspåriga retoriken, samtidigt som vi vet att ett verkligt, skrämmande Sannfinland lurar där någonstans bakom knuten. Det kan bli värre, mycket värre.”
Ätä bulle med en främling, Isabella Rothberg, Hufvudstadsbladet, 07.05.2014
- “It could be worse on … tärkeä avaus. Maahanmuuttajataustaisten ääntä suomalainen teatteri toden totta tarvitsee.”
Maria Säkö, Helsingin Sanomat, 09.05.2014, www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1399525773148#
Other publicity
- A Youthful Festival of Culture, James O’Sullivan, Helsinki Times, 11.09.2014
www.helsinkitimes.fi/culture/culture/culture3/11984-a-youthful-festival-of-culture.html
- Yhden miehen maahanmuuttokonferenssi, Tiina Vanhanen, Voima, 4.2014
http://uusi.voima.fi/blog/arkisto-voima/yhden-miehen-maahanmuuttokonferenssi/
- It Could Be Worse. at Teatteri Takomo
www.teatteritakomo.fi/events/category/it_could_be_worse/
- InterKultFest ‑festivaalin ohjelmistoa
www.stoa.fi/tapahtuma/96893DA599999CB9B6D340552C155991/fi/Alexander_Komlosi_FI_It_Could_be_Worse
kassandra.fi/interkultfest/ohjelmisto/
More Information
Please contact Alexander Komlosi, alexander@culturecurrent.org.
It Could Be Worse…in your home town – Jakobstad 18.11.
It Could Be Worse…in your home town is a performance on the theme of immigration in Finland hosted by Felix Kuullppaa. This trilingual (English/Swedish/Finnish) ”Unconventional Convention” was presented in April at Wasa Teater. Now it’s time to see if It Could Be Worse in Jakobstad.
It Could Be Worse…in your home town – Vaasa
It Could Be Worse…in your home town is a performance on the theme of immigration in Finland hosted by Felix Kuullppaa. The premiere of this trilingual (English/Swedish/Finnish) ”Unconventional Convention” at Wasa Teater is the first stop on our tour of Ostrobothnia.
It Could Be Worse.
It Could Be Worse. (ICBW.) is a one-person performance exploring issues of economic polarization, immigration, racism and xenophobia in Finland.
ICBW. is presented as an unconventional convention given by one host (Felix Kuullppaa) on the theme of “it could be worse.” It is a playful experimentation with traditional presentational forms: conference-convention, monologue, stand-up, and power-point presentation.