The piece A Couple of Humans by Tsuumi Dance Theatre has been selected for the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, through the From Start to Finnish project. The piece will be performed 17 times on the main stage of Summerhall Theater during the world’s largest performance arts festival.
Building on the phenomenal interest in performing art from Finland and the Nordic region, From Start to Finnish is an international showcase project that taps into Finland’s astonishing performing arts tradition by presenting successful Finnish artists and works at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performance arts festival, takes place every August. Lasting for three weeks, the celebration of arts and culture features thousands of performances including theater, dance, circus, music, exhibitions, and events. A Couple of Humans is the first piece by Tsuumi Dance Theatre to be showcased at the Fringe.
“It’s fantastic to represent Finnish contemporary dance in Edinburgh! Fringe is a significant and well-known cultural platform, and performing there has been our dream. We hope to establish new international connections for Tsuumi during the trip,” says Riikka Puumalainen, one of the performers in the piece and the artistic director of Tanssiteatteri Tsuumi.
The piece explores the challenges of social interaction in a digitally dominated world
A Couple of Humans is a visually stunning piece that combines physical theater and dance. It explores the challenges of social interaction in a digitally dominated world. Examining humanity from the perspectives of communication and interaction, the piece raises questions about identity and collective existence.
Edinburgh Fringe, established in 1947, will take place this year from August 4th to 27th. In addition to Tanssiteatteri Tsuumi, the From Start to Finnish program at the Fringe will feature two Finnish contemporary circus performances: Race Horse Company’s Chevalier – Keppihevossirkus and Agit-Cirk’s Insomniac’s Fable.
In Finland, Tanssiteatteri Tsuumi’s A Couple of Humans will be performed next in Oulu, at Kulttuuritalo Valve from October 12th to 14th, 2023.