Vajoama

Trial & Theatre is a fresh, internationally active collective of experimental puppetry. The group is known for its research-based projects that examine phenomena through the lens of puppetry and redefine what puppetry can be. The core of Trial & Theatre consists of puppet artist Aati Hanikka, dramaturge Iiris Syrjä, and object theater and sound artist Valtteri Alanen. This trio is responsible for the collective’s organization and artistic direction. The collective is complemented by guest artists and designers invited for specific productions.

The collective’s previous and first performance series, Nano Steps originated from a research question: What could be the world's smallest theater puppet? In collaboration with Cornell University (US), the Czech Academy of Sciences (CZ), and Aalto University (FI), the group partnered with experts in applied physics. Today, acoustic and electric field manipulation are subjects of intensive research in the field, from which the group developed puppetry applications. In this series, the group views the physics laboratory as an ongoing puppet performance and translates their observations of the scientists' work onto the theater stage. So far, two performances have been created in the Nano Steps -series Nano Steps – a Particle Performance, which premiered at Helsinki City Theatre’s Stage for Contemporary Performance (Nykyesityksen näyttämö), and Nano Steps – Into the Lab, which premiered at Alfred ve Dvoře in Prague.

Trial & Theatre’s performances are created using the devising method—ideating, reflecting, and making decisions together. The collective’s artistic process includes the co-writing and publication of essays and articles to deepen their artistic thinking. Texts have been published, among others, on the Koneen Säätiö Kaivolla blog, in the Näyttämö ja Tutkimus journal, in the publication series of Fidena (the German Institute of Puppetry), and on the Aura of Puppets blog.