are on 26, 27, 28, 29,  June and 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 July at 18.00 Swedish time.

Information:

+46 978 102 99

Tickets

For travel go to

www.lulebuss.se

Here it now starts, our history of

Lars Levi Laestadius,

Poppy of the mountains

And recalcitrant voice

(Tunturin unikko ja huutavan ääni –

Fjällvärldens vallmo och den ropande rösten)

on the shores of the Arctic Ocean .

He had three dreams in life:

To have his name inscribed

in the botanists’ roll of honour,

To find a girl inclined

towards a passion mild,

and to dispel the spiritual night

he had been forced to bear

since his days of youth.

(From the first song in the Laestadius Opera by Bengt Pohjanen)

Midsummer’s Day 2007 saw the premiere of a unique musical production in Pajala. At Kengis Works, the historic background to the story of Lars Levi Laestadius, voted Man of the Millennium in Norrbotten, Tornedalsteatern in collaboration with Meänmaan teatteri, is performing a new play by Bengt Pohjanen with original music by composer Kaj Chydenius. The pair had a successful cooperation that led to the Smugglers’ Opera which played to full houses in Pello and Övertorneå in summer 2004 and 2005. The director of that production, Riitta Tirri, is also directing the new production, together with the director of Tornedalsteatern, Ulf Fembro .

In the mid-19th century, Lars Levi Laestadius ignited a remarkable religious revival among the population of Arctic Scandinavia. In the small community of Karesuando, both Tornedalen Finns and Sami would cease their abuse of alcohol and instead follow the teachings of Jesus. Laestadius was a strong personality, and as much a scientist as he was a priest. Having grown up in poverty, he worked as a priest for a long time before his spiritual breakthrough.

He himself links his awakening with a meeting he had with an impoverished, humble Sami woman by the name of Milla Clemensdotter – a meeting which brought him to realise the “order of grace”. Quite suddenly, his sermons took on a sympathetic tone and hopeless alcoholics received the faith and ceased resorting to the bottle. Today, the movement which began here has followers all over the world.

The venue is Kengis Works, Pajala , Sweden , and these remarkable and exciting historical events form the theme. Kengis is the community that was Lars Levi Laestadius’ last workplace, and where he lived with his wife Brita Kajsa and their children.

The author Bengt Pohjanen has written the script and libretto. His previously published works include “Ropandets Röst” about Lars Levis Laestadius (1981). Kaj Chydenius, one of Finland ’s leading theatrical composers, wrote the score for Bengt’s texts in a wonderful mixture of folk songs, hymns and dramatic songs. The two have previously worked on the “Smuggler’s Opera” which drew audiences totalling 10,000 to the Swedish-Finnish border in 2004 and 2005.

Three theatre groups are collaborating on this production: Tornedalsteatern, Samiska Teatern and Meänmaan Teatteri. The production is engaging about forty actors, professional artists together with excellent non-professional singers from the region under the leadership of directors Ulf Fembro and Riitta Tirri.

Bengt Pohjanen, the author

www.sirillus.se

Kaj Chydenius, The Composer

Pajala, a place above the Polar Circle