Physical Opera

Physical Opera is a group of physical theater professionals. We execute uncompromisingly movement based performing art with an emphasis on multi-art, storytelling and visuals. We make high-quality performing arts for different audiences and collaborate with different organisations and people. Our performances feature our own professionals as well as changing visitors.

Physical Opera was founded in 2016 on the initiative of Laura Humppila as a collective and a place for communal training, professional development and creative work. The aim was, and still is, to promote the position of physical theater in Finland and to unite and support the creators of movement based performing arts. Now Physical Opera is a professional theatre, whose founding members are, in addition to Humppila, Sonja Järvisalo, Freia Stenbäck and Anton Siipilähde (form. Krylov). Our team includes nine artists, in addition to the above, Katriina Kantola, Verna Laine, Marjukka Myllyntaus, Niko-Joonas Sinkkonen, and Valter Sui. “Opera” comes from the Latin word “opus,” which means work of art or work - we do physical work when we do physical theatre.

Our group is supported by the Association of Movement Based Performing Arts. (LET). In addition to Physical Opera's performances, the association does public work, conducts workshops, provides training and education and organizes training opportunities for professionals. Through our activities, we promote Finnish diverse and non-categorical physical theater. At the same time, we seek to open doors to an understanding of movement expression and the importance of the body as part of dialogue. For us, the body and its movement is the main channel of artistic communication, and at the same time it is so much more than theatre. Movement is part of humanity and through it we can understand each other.

Physical Opera is a group of physical theater professionals. We execute uncompromisingly movement based performing art with an emphasis on multi-art, storytelling and visuals. We make high-quality performing arts for different audiences and collaborate with different organisations and people. Our performances feature our own professionals as well as changing visitors.

Physical Opera was founded in 2016 on the initiative of Laura Humppila as a collective and a place for communal training, professional development and creative work. The aim was, and still is, to promote the position of physical theater in Finland and to unite and support the creators of movement based performing arts. Now Physical Opera is a professional theatre, whose founding members are, in addition to Humppila, Sonja Järvisalo, Freia Stenbäck and Anton Siipilähde (form. Krylov). Our team includes nine artists, in addition to the above, Katriina Kantola, Verna Laine, Marjukka Myllyntaus, Niko-Joonas Sinkkonen, and Valter Sui. “Opera” comes from the Latin word “opus,” which means work of art or work - we do physical work when we do physical theatre.

Our group is supported by the Association of Movement Based Performing Arts. (LET). In addition to Physical Opera's performances, the association does public work, conducts workshops, provides training and education and organizes training opportunities for professionals. Through our activities, we promote Finnish diverse and non-categorical physical theater. At the same time, we seek to open doors to an understanding of movement expression and the importance of the body as part of dialogue. For us, the body and its movement is the main channel of artistic communication, and at the same time it is so much more than theatre. Movement is part of humanity and through it we can understand each other.