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In this fascinating double-bill evening Finnish and Japanese contemporary circus meet in the most interesting way. The audience will see two amazing shows: Atlas by Ilmatila that combines animation and aerial acrobatics and Inverted Tree by Hisashi Watanabe that skirts the boundaries between contemporary dance and juggling.
Atlas is a family-friendly mix of contemporary circus, animation and architecture that combines Ilona Jäntti’s aerial acrobatics with Tuula Jeker’s projections. The suprising performance paints a picture about understanding and perceiving the world: how directions and scales change when some element is in an unexpected position. At the same time, Atlas is a story about fleeting yet meaningful encounters from the far reaches of space to the depths of the seas.
Hisashi Watanabe has emerged on the Japanese performing arts scene like a shooting star with a new type of performance that skirts the boundaries between contemporary dance and juggling, which he calls “Floor Juggling.” Watanabe´s performance displays his unique physicality, combining amazing flexibility and control of his body.
Hisashi tells about his performance: “When I was little, I used to walk on all fours around the town at night. Climbing on the fences and poles, jumping off, and holding my breath not to be found by passersby. I was thinking how to trace back from the tip of the evolutionary tree to its root. And now, I’m trying how to be an animal with the human body. I think neoteny, the form we acquired during our evolution, the ability to keep the many possibilities without specializing, encourages us to search and discover the unknown. It might be the tolerance of the species that can reserve insignificant elements.”
ATLAS
Concept, choreography and performance: Ilona Jäntti
Concept, script and animation: Tuula Jeker
Lighting design: Kauri Klemelä
Sound design: Saku Kämäräinen
Photo: Gian Luca
Production by Ilmatila
INVERTED TREE
Choreography and performance: Hisashi Watanabe
Photo: Takahisa Yasuta
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Performances
tue 6.10. at 19 Relaxed performance. See more information below.
wed 6.10. at 10 & 13:30
thu 7.10. at 10 & 13:30
Venue
Cultural Centre Valve, Valve Hall
Hallituskatu 7
Tickets
Normal 28€
Retired 22€
Students, unemployed, kids under 16 years, military and civil service conscript 17€
Theatre and dance workers 17€
Limited amount of Kaikukortti tickets are available for Flow Circus shows.
Prices include handling fees. No handling fees at Valve Ticket Office.
Ticket sales
Valve Ticket Office, Hallituskatu 7
Ticketmaster.fi
Age recommendation
Adults and youth 7+
Duration
The duration of the performance is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.
Relaxed performance
The double-bill evening on Tuesday 5.10. at 19:00 is a so-called relaxed performance.
A relaxed performance is a performance situation in which the different and special needs of the audience are taken into account in a more diverse way than usual.
Visually impaired guests and guide dogs are welcome to the show, and the assistant ticket is free of charge.
Tuesday’s performance will be audio described in Finnish for visually impaired audience members. The audio description can be followed from your own seat via headphones. The receiver and headset will be provided and instructions on how to use them will be given in the lobby of Valve Hall at 18:30.
The audio describer will describe the performance behind the technical desk at the top of the auditorium. The audio describer will narrate the performance on stage in a low voice. The describers voice may be heard by spectators sitting in the back rows of the auditorium.
Non-visually impaired audience members can also listen to the audio description through headphones if they wish. Audio description can support concentration and understanding of the work and, for example, facilitate learning Finnish. Headphones will be distributed primarily to visually impaired viewers, with the rest distributed to others.
Before the start of the performance, a touch tour for visually impaired viewers will be organized in the Valve Hall from 18:00 to 18:20. Viewers will be able to feel out the aerial acrobatics ropes and other props used in the Atlas, as well as the juggling balls used in the Inverted Tree. Viewers can also talk to the performers.
Before the performance and during the intermission, it is possible to spend time in a quiet space. A quiet space is a room where the noise from the café and lobby is not carried. The entrance to the quiet space is located at the back of the Paljetti café. There are signs and staff will help if necessary.
You can reserve a seat in the first two rows for a better view. If your guide dog needs more space, reserve a seat in the front row.
To reserve a seat in the first row, call Valve ticket sales:
+358 8 5584 7575.
Valve ticket sales normal opening hours are:
Wed–Thu at 14:00–19:00
Fri–Sun at 12:00–19:00
On Tuesdays, 30 minutes before the shows.
The Valve ticket office is located in the entrance lobby, on the left when looking from the door.
Accessibility
Valve is accessible without barriers through the Hallituskatu-side entrance; the automatic doors open with a sensor. The ticket office is located in the lobby; the ticket counter is high, with an induction loop available. The accessible restroom is located in the basement. There is barrier-free access to the Valve hall, which also has an induction loop. More detailed Valve accessibility information can be found here.
Non-verbal performance, suitable for viewers of all languages.
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2026. Double-bill evening is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and cultural climate change.
