Monckton, Peden & Votkin

Optimismi

Thom Monckton is the co-founder and current artistic director of Kallo Collective and "one of today's most accomplished and inventive physical comedians." - London International Mime Festival 2018. Monckton has carved a niche for himself in the international theatre scene by placing himself at the forefront of a resurgence of non-verbal theatre. Constantly playing with and reforming the art of clowning to fit in with the modern and contemporary theatre world, he has toured to over 20 countries worldwide and established an extensive global network, enabling him to create work and distribute to an expansive market. In 2018 he was awarded a 5 year personal working grant from the Finnish Arts Council and he has received over 15 awards and nominations for his work.

Since the age of 5, Wes has worked to twist gravity and objects into the most beautiful knots physics will allow. He has created and performed unique juggling for over 20 different shows, touring around the world from Olympic stadiums in Tokyo to Broadway theaters in NYC and Glacier Museums in Iceland. His energetic, modern, and punk juggling style has won him awards from the International Juggling Association and the festival Cirque de Demain. He's known for his creativity and deep research of new juggling techniques. Wes has made over a dozen juggling films to share his research with the juggling community. 
Today, Wes is based in Stockholm, touring his solo shows, teaching master classes, and using every spare moment to create new juggling and twist gravity into as beautiful knots as physics will allow.

Niko Votkin has worked as a professional musician since 2008, when he finished his studies in Helsinki Pop & Jazz institute. He plays drums in groups of famous finnish pop and rock artists: Ismo Alanko, Jonna Tervomaa and Malla. 2006-2016 Niko was touring with rock n´roll band Knucklebone Oscar. The band was known by their wild live show witch was performed in hundreds of rock clubs all over Europe and China. At the same years he was creating progressive folk music with Stringpurée Band. Niko has worked as an circus musician and composer in Wintercircus -Uni 2014, -Muisti 2016 and -Rakkaus 2018. He has been performing in 250 shows as a member of circus band "Peloton".  2019 Niko worked as an composer and sound designer for YLE. Recently Niko has actively expanded his musical expression by using synthesizers, effects, samplers and digital audio workstation. He is composing experimental electronic music in groups Varis & Votkin and Wilhelmiina.  

Sanna Silvennoinen is a Finnish circus and theater director. Graduated as a contemporary dancer from Amsterdam Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. Worked as a freelancer artist, choreographer and director with several companies since 2002. She’s interested in working with artists and designers from different fields of art, and the way of work is collective. Worked as a circus chorepographer in large productions with Finnish National Opera and The National Theater. Directed both The Pianist (2013) and The Artist (2017), world wide succesful solo shows for clown Thom Monckton.

Premier on 10^th August 2022, Stoa, Helsinki. Duration approximately an hour. For young and adult audiences.

On stage: Thom Monckton, Wes Peden, Niko Votkin

Directed by: Sanna Silvennoinen

Sound design: Niko Votkin, Atte Kantonen

Light design: Juho Rahijärvi

Costume design: Nina Paakkunainen

Set design: Rahijärvi, Paakkunainen