Sonja Pöyhia – theater make-up artist/hairdresser: The Jungle Book features modern animal characters

Teatteri Imatra's spring play is a big adventure musical based on Rudyard Kipling's successful novel The Jungle Book, which premieres on February 8.2. on the big stage. 

The play is directed by the theater director Timo Rissanen. The staging and costumes were designed by a guest Maarit Kalmakurki. The theater's own hairdresser/make-up artist Sonja Pöyhiä realizes the characters' hairstyles and masks. 

The design of the masks and hairstyles for The Jungle Book started in the fall, in November, when the first rehearsals were held and stage/costume designer Maarit Kalmakurki presented her own plans for the set and costumes. 

- In Viidakkokirja, the design of the masks and hairstyles has been done in collaboration with set designer/costume designer Maarit Kalmakurje and director Timo Rissanen. In planning, we have tried to combine the visions of all parties. In addition, efforts have been made to take into account the wishes of the actors. I hope the end result is such that it is as good as possible for the actor to be on stage, says Sonja Pöyhiä. 

The first time Pöyhi heard about Viidakkokirja was in the spring, when theater director Timo Rissanen hinted that such a production was coming. Rissanen's wishes were for something modern for the masking and hairstyles, not traditional fur-dressed and animal-headed figures. 

- I started by making metal frames for the wigs for animal ears, around which the hair and hairs are built. The characters start to take shape when the set and costumes are added. Masks and hairstyles get their final shape when you get to see them on the actors in the right environment on stage, says Pöyhiä about the planning process.

- Now we're already on the winning side, we have to be ready on the 28th of January, when the last week before the premiere begins. In the preparatory week, everything settles into its final shape. 

In the jungle book, we will see new types of modern characters from the animals and inhabitants of the jungle.

Sonja Pöyhia has been working at the theater Imatra since 2014. 

- The productions are different. For some of them, I get to design the masks and hairstyles more freely, and sometimes we collaborate more closely with the costume designer and the director, like now in Viidakkokirja, says Pöyhiä. 
- I am also involved in the shows, before the show I help with the masks and hair and prepare the changes. During the play, I also help with costume changes. After the show, you still have to take care of the wigs, mustaches, etc. for the next show. 
- I feel that I am in the right place, I am doing a job that I enjoy, continues Pöyhi. 

By training, Sonja Pöyhia is a rehabilitation nurse, hairstylist and make-up artist. At the moment, he is also studying for a vocational qualification for manual worker in Lappeenranta. She is barefoot from Imatra, studied in Helsinki and Lappeenranta and moved back to Imatra in 2007. The family includes three children and husband Heikki Pöyhi. 

More information: Theater director Timo Rissanen, tel. 020 617 6645, timo.rissanenimatra.fi (timo[dot]rissanen[at]imatra[dot]fi)

Teatteri Imatra - The Jungle Book