Written by Juha Jokela (Finland, 2012) and translated by Eva Buchwald (UK, 2013). Upon their retirement, construction engineer Heimo and language arts teacher Virpi move to France. Yet Heimo finds it impossible to settle into a life of leisure. Despite Virpi’s resistance, he is determined to go back to Finland to see if there is one more service he can perform for his country. Their return disrupts the lives of the couple and their children, calling to the surface tensions and suppressed feelings that have accumulated over the years.

Intergenerational conflict comes to a head when all that has been left unsaid comes bursting out. Each member of the family is forced to look in the mirror and ask, “What is my place in the world?”

Written for the Finnish National Theatre’s 140th anniversary, this award-winning play skillfully melds universal and personal themes: conflicts between generations and genders, the changing world, aging, and love. Patriarch is presented by arrangement with Nordic Drama Corner OY.

About the playwright

Juha Jokela (b. 1970) is a modern writer in the best sense of the word. His witty and surprising humor, compelling narratives, and nuanced characterizations are tightly bound to the present moment. Whether focusing his sharp vision on the world of business or the spirit, he writes with deep understanding of the personalities involved.

Credits include: Mobile Horror/A Mobile Horror (2003), Fundamentalisti/The Fundamentalist (2006), which SATC produced at The New York International Fringe Festival in 2011, and Esitystalous/Performance Economy (2010).

About SATContemporary Reading Series

The SATContemporary Reading Series consists of five staged readings that take place throughout the year,

in which Scandinavian American Theater Company (SATC) introduces a new generation of Nordic playwrights.

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WED—5-2-2016—7:30 PM
Pre-reception—7 PM
free