The Iron curtain rising:

Petrozavodsk National Theatre in Finland, 1965-1985

Authors

• Simo Mikkonen Itä-Suomen yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4104-534X
• Sampo Ikonen Itä-Suomen yliopisto

Keywords:

Soviet Union, theatre tours, cultural diplomacy, spoken theatre, history

Abstract

The article examines the Finnish-language theatre operating in Petrozavodsk, Soviet Karelia — the only professional Finnish-language theatre outside Finland. Founded in 1932, the theatre was one of the cornerstones of Finnish-language culture in the USSR. After the hardships of Stalin’s terror and the difficult war years, the theatre gradually recovered during the 1950s living its golden years from the mid-1960s onwards. Particularly significant for the theatre’s development were its connections with Finland. Altogether, the theatre carried out six tours in Finland (1965, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1978, and 1984), an exceptionally high number by Soviet standards. The article explores the repertoire performed during these tours, the factors influencing their organization, the reception of the performances, and the broader significance of the tours for the theatre and its activities. The tours are situated within the framework of cultural exchange between Finland and the Soviet Union, from which they also diverged in several respects. The study is based on extensive archival research and interviews, complemented by Finnish and Soviet newspaper materials.