JoJo’s programme includes both co-productions and guest performances.
Morphosis is a dance performance that has also been combined with elements of contemporary circus. The performance is about the connection between people and its uncertainty. Two characters observe and challenge each other in search of a common direction.
The performance is wordless, so the viewer does not need to understand Finnish.
The performance is suitable for you, if you enjoy for example
The performance will take place at Valve Hall (Valvesali), located on the ground floor of Cultural Centre Valve, at Hallituskatu 7.
The nearest parking spaces to Culture Centre Valve are located next to Oulu City Hall, at Hallituskatu 10. More parking is available by the market square, at the Autoranta parking area at Kaarlenväylä 5. It is approximately 210 metres from there to Valve. The nearest bus stops are Kaupungintalo P, Kaupungintalo E, and the city bus stop Silfvaninpuisto.
Valve can be entered either from Hallituskatu or Ojakatu. The exterior doors on the Hallituskatu side open automatically using motion sensors. The exterior doors on the Ojakatu side must be opened manually.
An unattended self-service cloakroom is located immediately outside Valvesali. If you would prefer a quieter space before the performance, the Kantti arts and crafts room and its adjoining entrance hall have been reserved for this purpose. Kantti is located on the other side of Café Valveen Paljetti. The entrance hall has a sofa and a coat rack. The Kantti doorway is 80 cm wide, and the access ramp outside has a gradient of 8–10%.
The toilets are located in the basement of Valve. They can be reached from the ground floor either via the spiral staircase or by lift, both located in the central stairwell.
Valvesali has step-free access. The auditorium is entered through two doors, both of which have low, ramped thresholds.
Valvesali has a retractable, tiered seating area. For the Morphosis performances, an eight-row, 123-seat auditorium will be used, with numbered seats.
The five lowest rows are on sale as normal. Some seats have been removed from sale in the top three rows to create more space in the auditorium. If you may need to leave during the performance, we recommend choosing a seat at the end of a row. An image showing the seats available for sale (light pink) and the seats not available for sale (dark grey) can be found in the image gallery below. Click on the image to view it in a larger size.
You are welcome to bring a fidget, hearing protection, or any other aids you may need. During the relaxed performance, the auditorium will be kept partially lit, and the volume of the music will be reduced.
If you wish, you can watch a YouTube video (in Finnish) in advance showing how to enter Valvesali.
The performance lasts approximately 50–55 minutes. There is no intermission.
Morphosis combines dance and object manipulation. It explores connection with another person and the uncertainty that comes with it. Two figures observe and challenge each other as they search for a shared direction. If you are unfamiliar with contemporary dance or feel unsure about attending a contemporary dance performance, you can explore the materials on the How to Watch Dance page (in Finnish) in advance, if you wish.
The performance uses theatrical haze (less during the relaxed performance) and includes a few intense, occasionally flashing lighting sequences. There are no strobe lights.
The main colour of the performance space is white, creating a contrast with the performers and the objects they use.
1. Arriving at the venue
You can arrive at Cutltural Centre Valve at your own pace. The building is open from the morning onwards. Valvesali itself will only open shortly before the performance begins. JoJo has reserved the Kantti arts and crafts room as an alternative waiting space to the Valvesali foyer. You can come to Kantti one hour before the performance begins. JoJo staff will also be there from one hour before the performance and can show you the way to the room if needed.
You can recognise JoJo staff by their JoJo hoodies. You are welcome to come to the performance just as you are. You can also dress however you feel comfortable. JoJo staff are available to help if needed.
2. Before the performance
Before entering Valvesali, you can leave your outdoor clothing in the free, self-service cloakroom located outside Valvesali. We recommend not leaving any valuables in the cloakroom. It is best to leave larger bags at home, but if necessary, you can leave a larger bag inside Valvesali for the duration of the performance, underneath the seating area.
You can wait for the performance to begin in the Valvesali foyer, near the cloakroom, or on the Café Valveen Paljetti side of the building. Unfortunately, the café may not be open on Sundays. Alternatively, you can wait in the quieter space at Kantti. A member of JoJo staff will come there to let you know when the doors to the auditorium open.
The toilets at Cultural Centre Valve are located in the basement. They can be reached either via the spiral staircase or by lift next to the staircase. If you need an accessible toilet, please ask the building’s caretaker to unlock it for you.
Remember to put your phone on silent, or preferably on airplane mode, during the performance. Recording the performance is not allowed. You may take photos or videos during the final bows.
When entering Valvesali, a member of the Valve staff will check your ticket at the door.
3. During the performance
The performance begins at the time stated on your ticket, after the Valvesali stage technician has given the signal to the technical staff. You can sit comfortably in your own seat throughout the performance. (Some seats in the three back rows of the auditorium have been removed from sale, so these rows are generally more spacious. See the image in the gallery above. If you think you may need to leave the auditorium during the performance, please choose a seat at the end of a row.) You can react naturally to the performance. Vocalisations are also allowed. However, please avoid ordinary conversation so that it does not disturb other audience members. The performance lasts approximately 50–55 minutes, including the final bows.
The stage is predominantly white: the floor and all three walls are white. The stage setting changes during the performance through the use of different arrangements of objects and changes in lighting. Some of the lighting effects are intense, but there are no strobe lights. The auditorium remains dimly lit throughout the performance.
The sound can be loud, but during the relaxed performance the sound level is slightly lower than in the other performances.
Morphosis combines dance with elements of object manipulation familiar from contemporary circus. It explores human connection and the uncertainty that comes with it. Two figures observe and challenge each other as they search for a shared direction.
The work brings together Onni Toivonen’s experience in object manipulation and circus with Olli Lautiola’s movement and dance, which convey many different meanings. The lighting, designed by Titus Torniainen, changes throughout the performance and creates different atmospheres. The soundscape, created by Konsta Leinonen, surrounds the audience and draws them deeper into the atmosphere of the performance.
There is no intermission. At the end of the performance, the performers are thanked with applause.
4. After the performance
After the performance, you can calmly collect your outdoor clothing from the cloakroom. If you wish, you can wait for a little while until the busiest part of the crowd and the noise have subsided.
If you wish, you can leave feedback and thoughts about the performance for the performers and JoJo – or share your experience in another way. You can leave feedback on paper at the venue or electronically using a QR code. You can also leave feedback later through the Leave Feedback page.
You leave Kulttuuritalo Valve and Valvesali via the same route you used to enter.
