& (theatre)
{{short description|Theatre in Espoo, Finland}}
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File:Espoon_kaupunginteatteri_Revontulentie.jpg
& (until 2023 Espoo City Theatre{{Cite web |date=18 August 2023 |title=& |url=https://espoonteatteri.fi/uutiset/espoon-kaupunginteatteri-on-nyt/ |access-date=18 August 2023 |publisher=Espoo Theatre}}) is a professional theatre operating in Espoo, Finland. It is maintained by the Espoo City Theatre Foundation, established in 1988.{{Cite web |title=Board and Support Association |url=https://espoonteatteri.fi/meista/hallitus-ja-kannatusyhdistys/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |publisher=Espoo Theatre |language=fi}} Since 2017, the theatre has been led by Erik Söderblom.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The theatre mounts its own productions and hosts 2–4 international guest performances annually.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} It offers subtitles through its own mobile application. An English translation is always available, and some performances also have Finnish subtitles.{{Cite web |title=Espoo City Theatre website |url=https://espoonteatteri.fi/palvelut/tekstitys/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723093458/https://espoonteatteri.fi/palvelut/tekstitys/ |archive-date=23 July 2020 |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher=Espoo Theatre}} The theatre attracts around 30,000 visitors annually.{{Cite web |title=Theatre Statistics 2019 |url=https://www.tinfo.fi/documents/esittavan-taiteen-tilastot_2019_web_.pdf |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher=Tinfo – Theatre Info Finland}}
The theatre has two main performance venues: Louhisali and Revontulihalli, both located in the Tapiola district – Louhisali in the Espoo Cultural Centre and Revontulihalli on Revontulentie.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
New name
In August 2023, the theatre announced its new name as "&". Artistic director Erik Söderblom described it as a "positive provocation" that highlights "community, cooperation, and togetherness."{{Cite news |author=Eleonoora Riihinen |date=21 August 2023 |title=The Institute for the Languages of Finland criticizes the &-theatre name: "Unclear and impractical" |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009797288.html |access-date=21 August 2023 |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat}} According to the theatre, the sign "&" symbolises combining things and ideas as well as bringing performers, audiences and cultures together. And also the sign "&" is pronounced as "et", which can also be interpreted as the initials of "Espoon teatteri", meaning the Espoo theatre.
The new name is the result of a two-year branding process, involving theatre representatives and advertising agencies Open Flower, TBWA, and Great Apes.{{Cite news |author=Samuli Tiikkaja – Mari Koppinen – Don Lehtinen |date=20 August 2023 |title=Espoo City Theatre changed its name |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009793770.html |access-date=21 August 2023 |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |page=B 22}} Ulla Onkamo, a language planning specialist from the Institute for the Languages of Finland, criticized the name change as unclear and impractical. She argued that & says nothing about its subject and doesn't even appear to be a name.{{Cite web |author=Ulla Onkamo |date=21 August 2023 |title=The purpose of the name &simä |url=https://www.kotus.fi/nyt/kotus-blogi/nimien_viemaa/nimen_tarkoitusta_simassa.39947.blog |access-date=21 August 2023 |publisher=Institute for the Languages of Finland}} The Finnish Association of Visual Communication Designers, Grafia, awarded the &-logo the Gold Peak of Design at the 2023 Vuoden huiput gala. A total of 14 works received the Gold Peak Award, and 40 works received the Silver Peak Award.{{Cite news |author=Susanna Laari |date=20 April 2024 |title=Espoo Theatre's controversial & logo wins an award |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000010371709.html |access-date=28 April 2024 |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Sanoma Media Finland Oy |location=Helsinki |page=B 32 |issn=0355-2047}}
References
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