Kultalampi opens Teatteri Imatra's autumn season, the premiere will be celebrated on Saturday, September 12.9.

Teatteri Imatra's autumn season opens with the warm-hearted comedy Kultalampi. The work tells about the decades-long marriage of Norman and Ethel Thayer and how the years together have shaped them together.

Norman and Ethel arrive at their villa in Kultalammi every summer. This summer will be different though, as it could be Norman and Ethel's last summer together.

During the summer, Norman, who is ten years older than Ethel, turns 80. Their daughter Chelsea arrives to visit together with her new boyfriend Bill and his 13-year-old son Billy - with the intention of leaving Billy in the care of Ethel and Norman during Chelsea and Bill's trip to Europe.

The world-famous dramatic comedy is still relevant

The play is directed by Timo Rissanen, director of Teatteri Imatra. He saw Kultalammi for the first time on the stage of the Finnish National Theater in 1979 when he was 15 years old. The work impressed him already at that time.

- I feel very proud to direct this skillful, warm-hearted drama-comedy to our theater, whose universal themes are evidenced by its continued popularity in the repertoire of theaters around the world. The work is the most up-to-date and also provides a basis for life in this boring, corona-dominated era," says Rissanen.

On Golden Pond, written by Ernest Thompson, is one of the world's most famous and performed comedies. It has been translated into 30 languages ​​and performed in more than 40 countries on six continents. Thompson has been awarded an Oscar for his screenplay adaptation.

The version seen in Teatteri Imatra has been updated by the author himself. The updated version has not been shown in Finland before.

Ilmari Saarelainen guest plays the role of Norman

The role of Norman Thayer is played by the actor Ilmari Saarelainen, who is known for example as the original Juhana in the series Tankki rinne and also as the funny character in the series Sisko ja sen veli. Saarelainen has had a nearly fifty-year career in Finnish theater life. He acted for a long time in Tampere's Työväen Theater and has entertained audiences on his tours with a one-man play.

Ulla-Maija Järnstedt plays the role of Ethel Thayer.

The piece is directed and staged by Timo Rissanen, and costume design is by Marja Liukkonen. In addition to Ilmari Saarelainen and Ulla-Maija Järnstedt, Hanna Kaskela, Marko Kurikka, Antti Laine and Oliver Rosenholm will be seen in the roles.

The premiere of Kultalammi will be celebrated on Saturday, September 12.9. The screenings continue throughout the fall season.

Safety is taken into account in the theater

Due to the corona epidemic, a number of measures have been taken in the theater, taking into account the visit to the theater is safe.

The number of spectators on the main stage has been halved, and in the theater halls, maintaining safety distances is ensured by leaving two empty seats between the groups. It is also good to maintain safety distances elsewhere in the theater premises.

Hand hygiene is important and hand sanitizer is available at several different points. Face masks are available from the theater, which the theater recommends to be used indoors.

For more information:

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