Performing Memory, Challenging History : Two Adaptations of The Unknown Soldier

Abstract

We discuss how theatre production and radio play engage with the Finnish social and political reality by challenging the memory culture of war, especially questions related to masculinity and violence. The productions we look at are based on a novel by Vaino Linna. Productions are simply called The Unknown Soldier, like the novel. The theatre adaptation is written and directed by Kristian Smeds at the Finnish National Theatre in 2007-09 and a radio play, The Unknown Soldier: A Dialogue with Linna's Novel, directed by Juhana von Bagh and written by Jussi Moila for the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yle, in 2014. Both adaptations challenged Finnish historians in discussing questions related to the war that had long been silenced. History and performance can both be seen as representations of the past, which shape our understanding and identity. We use the concepts of memory and memory culture - that is, how the past is remembered because of the particular performances we chose to focus on.