Fragile Collective: What do the trees whisper? Contemporary circus performance at Gammelbacka forest
What do the trees whisper? peeks into the secrets of the forest and takes you on an experiential journey into the heart of the forest. Combining contemporary circus, dance and live music, the performance moves among the trees and in the fern jungle, listening to how the trees communicate with each other through their underground networks and are a link between the past and the present, the above and the below, the visible and the invisible.
Inspired by the constant change of nature and the mysterious microworld of the forest, What do the trees whisper? places the acrobats’ bodies as part of the forest’s breathing. The soundscape vibrates with frequencies specific to trees themselves.
Performance venue: Porvoo, Gammelbackan kartanonmetsä
Performance time: Sun 31.8.2025, performances at 2 PM and 4 PM
Gathering place (at 2 PM/4 PM): Hamarin kentän parkkipaikka, Kenttätie 1, 06650 Porvoo
Duration: 60-75 min
Tickets: Free entrance. Audience capacity is limited, so please order your tickets in advance from the link below.
Suggested age: +3-years
Other: As part of the performance, you will travel along a forest road/path for approximately 1-2 km with the group. The route is mostly easy to navigate but not completely accessible .
Please bring your own seating and weather-appropriate equipment. Please note that there may be mosquitoes in the forest. Drizzle and wind will not prevent the performance, but if it rains heavily, we may postpone the performance.
Working group:
Choreographer: Riku Lehtopolku
Performers: Ile Poikela, Haidi Sadonkorpi, Tuomas Vuorinen
Sound design and composition: Mikko H Haapoja
Music: Mikko H Haapoja (bassojouhikko), Ella Isotalo (viulu, jouhikko)
Audience outreache: Paule Aladin / Pisko Aunola
Video/pohotos: Aleksi Hakala
Costume: Pauliina Sutinen
Costume/interns: Katri Koivula and Jenni Orava
Production: Haidi Sadonkorpi / Fragile Kollektiivi
Partners and supporters: Dance Thetre Hurjaruuth, The Finnish Cultural Foundation The Uusimaa Regional Fund , City of Helsinki, City of Espoo, City of Porvoo, Luontohaaste.fi, Blind Gut Company, Cirko – Center for New Circus
