THE SONG OF THE BEE
The bee, our bird,
king of the forest’s flowers!
Go now to gather honey,
to seek the nectar…
Fly off with the bee on a journey beyond the seas and the skies! The young and wild Lemminkäinen has injured himself, and his mother sets out to seek help from the Kalevala’s smallest sage – the bee. The buzzing little creature is tasked with finding a healing ointment, the ‘nectar of life’, to cure Lemminkäinen. Joining them on the journey is the storyteller Arhippa Kieleväinen, who wants to witness the events with her own eyes.
‘The Song of the Bee’ is a performance for the whole family, based on the 15th canto of the Kalevala. This heart-warming and visually beautiful play introduces children to the world of the Kalevala and the unique characteristics of bees. It is ideal for supporting folk tradition and nature education in nurseries and schools.
The tale is told through clowning, storytelling, puppetry and mime. The play’s large puppet character – the Earth Spirit – has been crafted in the spirit of Japanese Bunraku technique: its moving eyes emphasise the liveliness of the face.
At the heart of the play lies a beautiful message: even a tiny creature can be a great hero, and good deeds pay themselves back. The Kalevala was awarded the European Heritage Label in 2024 – the epic is as relevant as ever and forms part of our living cultural heritage!
Further information about the play can be found at: http://www.nukketeatteri-annos.com/bee.html
Cast: Oswald Basten and Anna Louhelainen
king of the forest’s flowers!
Go now to gather honey,
to seek the nectar…
Fly off with the bee on a journey beyond the seas and the skies! The young and wild Lemminkäinen has injured himself, and his mother sets out to seek help from the Kalevala’s smallest sage – the bee. The buzzing little creature is tasked with finding a healing ointment, the ‘nectar of life’, to cure Lemminkäinen. Joining them on the journey is the storyteller Arhippa Kieleväinen, who wants to witness the events with her own eyes.
‘The Song of the Bee’ is a performance for the whole family, based on the 15th canto of the Kalevala. This heart-warming and visually beautiful play introduces children to the world of the Kalevala and the unique characteristics of bees. It is ideal for supporting folk tradition and nature education in nurseries and schools.
The tale is told through clowning, storytelling, puppetry and mime. The play’s large puppet character – the Earth Spirit – has been crafted in the spirit of Japanese Bunraku technique: its moving eyes emphasise the liveliness of the face.
At the heart of the play lies a beautiful message: even a tiny creature can be a great hero, and good deeds pay themselves back. The Kalevala was awarded the European Heritage Label in 2024 – the epic is as relevant as ever and forms part of our living cultural heritage!
Further information about the play can be found at: http://www.nukketeatteri-annos.com/bee.html
Cast: Oswald Basten and Anna Louhelainen
Technical requirements
The theatre brings its own sound equipment: if necessary, the equipment can be charged in advance (in which case no power sockets are required).The performance can be staged using the venue’s own ceiling lights.
