Johanna Kultala
Puppet making (puppet handling)
Johanna is a puppeteer and art pedagogue. She graduated from the puppetry department of the Turku Academy of Arts in 2010 and has been a freelance artist ever since. As a performer, she has worked not only as a puppeteer but also as a masked actor and clown. Johanna graduated as a theatre teacher from the Theatre Academy in 2017 and as a visual arts educator from Aalto University in 2024. As an art pedagogue, she has focused particularly on teaching puppetry. In addition to performing, teaching is a channel for Johanna to explore self-expression and artistic processes together. As a teacher, she experiences joy in being able to share her expertise in the field of puppetry and in having the opportunity to learn new things together with her students. Photo: Laura Malmivaara
Marjaana Kuusniemi-Korhonen
Acting
Marjaana graduated as an actress from Näty and as a theatre teacher from the Theatre Academy. She has taught acting, theatre expression and basic drama education at various colleges, educational institutions and associations. Marjaana has also directed monologues, demos and full-length plays for amateurs. In addition, Marjaana has worked as a guest and hired actress in departmental theatres and theatre groups. She has also acted in auditions and TV and film productions. In her teaching, Marjaana utilises her expertise by offering exercises in various acting techniques. According to student feedback, the teacher has succeeded in creating a good team spirit.
Annukka Lindqvist and Arto Muukka
Basics of Physical Theatre
Annukka Lindqvist is a versatile artist from Helsinki who works as an actress, clown and pedagogue. She specialized in physical theatre at the Ecole Lassaad in Belgium and is active in the field as both a performer and teacher. Annukka is part of the Nordic Nonsense clown duo, which combines mime, silent film and clowning techniques in her performances. Circus is also part of Annukka's diverse artistic background.
Arto Muukka is a theatre maker and clown from Helsinki. He has studied theatre both in Finland and abroad since 2016 and has specialized in physical theatre in Belgium at the Ecole Lassaad school. Arto has regularly directed clowning exercises for alumni of Laajasalo College. In 2022, he founded the theatre duo Nordic Nonsense, with which he has performed in Finland, Belgium and Switzerland. Arto has also studied to be a youth director and worked as an art director in various projects, and has substituted for youth theatre exercises at Narri's stage.
Heli Lyytikäinen
Acting
Heli is a vocal pedagogue (Savonia-AMK 2017) and a theatre expression director (Turku Academy of Arts 2024). In addition to teaching, Heli works as an actor in various theatres and as a freelancer in front of the camera. Heli's teaching emphasizes play, breathing, physicality, and searching and exploring together. For Heli, all art is a playground for exploring humanity. "Theater studies are a great way to get to know not only the genre, but also yourself. Playing and exploring is healthy and necessary even as an adult. Theatre guides you into contact with yourself, other people, and the entire surrounding reality," Heli sums up.
Student feedback
“A wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, modern guidance.”
"Sunny and good instructor. The exercises were interesting."
"The teacher has a professional approach and the course had a good atmosphere, which made it possible to immerse yourself in the subject"
Ally Manson
Acting, Acting, Improvisation
Ally is an actor and theater director from London, UK. He graduated from East 15 Acting School in 2014 and has since acted and directed in some of the most prestigious Theaters and Theater schools in the UK. Ally has also acted on TV and radio and lent his voice to numerous Voiceover commercials and projects. Since moving to Helsinki, he has founded the Helsinki Contemporary Theater Company, a brand new International Theater company aiming to create new work and adapt Classical texts too for Finnish and International audiences in Helsinki and beyond. For Ally, the best thing about teaching is the safe and creative collaboration between teacher and students.
Fanny Paananen
Acting, voice acting
Fanny is an actress, theatre maker and audiobook reader from Jyväskylä. She graduated from Copenhagen International School of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre Arts. During her career, Fanny has experienced various challenges, such as voice fatigue and loss, sore throats, speech impediments and also a lack of self-confidence. Fanny is constantly exploring new ways to improve her well-being and express herself more holistically and convincingly, while maintaining her own free and personal style. Fanny now wants to share this valuable knowledge and experience with others.
Hanna Sharp Crow
Clownery
“I am a clown, circus artist, circus teacher and dancer. I graduated as a dancer from the Stockholm Danshögskolan in 2001 and as a Master of Clowning from the Stockholm Theatre Academy in 2010. I work in a variety of theatre clowning settings, both for adults and children. I also teach baby circus to the youngest members of the family. I have performed in the acclaimed winter circuses of the Hurjaruuth Dance Theatre since 2002. Among my own works I could mention Naku, which is aimed at an adult audience, which is a work for a clown and a musician, and Balaluku, which is aimed at the whole family. As a teacher I am observant, but quite gentle. Together we search for insights into clowning in an unhurried, exploratory manner.” Image from the work “Dream” 2016, photographed by Soile Mäkelä.
Johanna Torasvirta
Improvisation, acting
Johanna is a theatre director, improviser, actress and pedagogue, whose passion is to help people discover new sides of themselves and each other. She has been directing theatre and teaching acting, improvisation and performance skills for twenty years – to amateurs and professionals, adults and children. As a teacher, Johanna is easily enthusiastic and inspiring, encouraging insights, open and flexible. The starting point is to create a safe atmosphere where everyone can be guided and challenged in a way that suits them. Photo: Luisa-Claudia Sovijärvi