The director of the theater festival came up with a new swear word for the patriarchy in the middle of the interview

The festival’s program features theater, circus, dance, music, improvisation, puppetry and clowning. At the same time, we talk about money, or actually the lack of it. Free field resources have been scarce for a long time, and inflation has eaten away at them even more.

In this interview, the director of the festival Anna Veijalainen has to do what many performers do on stage: improvise.

1. In 15 seconds, tell what the Outlaws festival is about.

“This is a free field festival. It means that there are no city theaters here, but small groups that may not have any organization at all, and perhaps no facilities. It’s very rare to see so many things from the free field at the same time. There are many kinds of children’s performances every day. There is puppetry, clowning, dance, theater and music. In the evening, there are performances for adults.

2. It took 40 seconds. One show is called Do not tickle angry woman, I have filled my body with fire. Invent a new swear word to describe the supremacy of the patriarchy in Finland.

“A new swear word, no help. What could it be? What would it have to do with patriarchy? Tarkele comes to mind.”

4. Tarkele?

“Yes. Look. It won’t get better all of a sudden.”

5. Complete the sentence. If the audience leaves the show confused, that’s…

“Successful.”

6. In improv they say: use everything you have. So are small resources a blessing for making art?

“Yes, of course, it stimulates ingenuity, but it’s not a blessing. However, everyone here is a trained professional. It would be a great thing if everyone got paid for their work. It’s less common to walk into a barbershop and be told that if you cut just a little bit of that, I won’t pay anything. Or we go to a private doctor and are told that you can just take a quick look, there’s no need to treat it. This is also largely a question of valuing the work.”

7. Appeal to the decision-makers by means of poetry.

“An outlaw also needs protection.”

8. Then a role-changing exercise. You are a reporter for Helsingin Sanomat and you are doing an interview. What would you like to ask yourself?

“Perhaps I would like to ask myself what is the best thing about lawlessness. And why the operation of the free field and the performances of the free field are such a terribly important part of Finnish culture.”

9. If Kallio were a sound, what would it be?

“Probably a kind of drum roll.”

10. Your reaction to the sentence: wonderful idea, but bad.

“In improvisation, you should never question a friend’s idea, but go along with it. A wonderful idea, but bad… Does that mean that the idea is good, but the execution is bad? Or that the idea is wonderful or profitable in some way, but if it doesn’t produce anything, then someone might consider it bad.”

11. Rock, paper or scissors?

“Paper.”

12. You lost, I have scissors. Tell me the most common word you’ve left unsaid.

“Share. You should probably remember to talk more about values.”

13. What improv cliché would you like to end?

“Perhaps I don’t find it the funniest of all when a drunk or street-walker-type character is portrayed.”

14. One rule of improvisation is to follow the feeling. How well did it go during this interview?

“Full well.”

15. Was the feeling a deep trance?

“Yes, excitement!”

Outlaws festival in Hakaniemi and Kallio 1-6 June 2026. The main stage is Koko theater, Hämeentie. Outdoor performances at Hakaniemi market, Karhupuisto and Kallio library.