Imagine that the era of humankind on this planet is over and instead turtles – slow, friendly, ancient – roam the earth and the sea. Would they dream of these strange primates once called humans who had their chance on this world, but failed so miserably?
Since 2024, Oblivia has been working with and on ideas, visions and concepts of the Anthropocene, developing experimental music theatre productions within the frame of their Turn Turtle Turn cycle. The various productions have been showcased at major European platforms and festivals, such as Munich Biennale and Sommerszene Salzburg. 2026 will see the final production of the Turn Turtle Turn works with the new piece Dreaming Turtles, in which four performers will become just that: dreaming, floating, dancing and singing turtles.
Known for their specific visuality and atmospheric works in which they combine a minimalistic approach to stage and setting with the ever so grand questions and phenomena of humankind, Oblivia sets out once more to create an entire world out of movements, words, songs, rhythm and live ensemble music – witty, sometimes comical and bordering on the absurd. Once again accompanied by the enigmatic compositions and complex soundscapes of multi-award-winning composer Yiran Zhao, Dreaming Turtles is a co-creation with the Swiss ensemble KlangLab. In the creational process, Oblivia and KlangLab – renowned for their experimental music endeavours – explore how to create a shared universe on stage with inputs from both music and physical actions, which become intertwined in intricate layers.
Together with KlangLab, Oblivia invites the audience into a world that brings back some of the serenity as well as the playfulness the earth last saw before humans entered the scene – and maybe will again after we’re gone.
Yet Dreaming Turtles is not a depressing piece by far, because within that dreamlike, imaginative approach to life that the turtles share with us lies a speck of hope that shimmers for humanity still – a possibility and a promise which lies in community and kindness.
CREDITS
Concept, devising, dramaturgy: Oblivia
On stage: Oblivia / Timo Fredriksson, Anna-Maija Terävä, Annika Tudeer, Juha Valkeapää and Yiran Zhao: synthesizer and electronics; KlangLab / Dino Georgeton: electric oud and percussion; Christopher Moy: e-guitar; Zacarias Maia: objects and percussion
Music: Yiran Zhao & KlangLab
Sound design: Mikael Szafirowski
Light and set design: Stine Hertel
Costume design: Tua Helve
Production: Jenny Nordlund
Communication: Essi Brunberg and RÖD (Jenni Salminen and Katja Tolonen); in Germany Nassrah-Alexia Denif
Co-producers: KlangLab (Basel), Klang Festival (Copenhagen), Gare du Nord (Basel)
Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, City of Helsinki, Konstsamfundet, Stiftelsen Tre Smeder, Samuel Hubers konststiftelse, Abteilung Kultur Basel-Stadt, Eugène, Elisabeth och Birgit Nygréns stiftelse, Goethe Institut Finnland
Premiere | 8 June 2026, Klang Festival Copenhagen Experimental Music
