Samuli Niittymäki: Krispi Fraid
A physical comedy about a commercial film shoot turning into an absurd nightmare.
About
Krispi Fraid is a comedy about the inevitable transformation of the friendship between two advertising film professionals. The year is 1984. Director Into and producer Risto are in New York working on a TV commercial for the KRISPI FRAID company’s fried chicken pieces. For the first time, blocks of Manhattan have been closed off for the Finnish duo’s use, but what happens on the final shooting day when the commercial’s director himself turns into a chicken?
Audiences can expect sweaty, grotesque, painful, yet beautiful viewing. The performance blends drama, physical theatre, comedy, dance, performance art, and horror.
The performance is in Finnish.
The work was selected for the A Dream in Four Colours collection exhibition’s performance programme through Kiasma Theatre’s open call.
In his third direction, Samuli Niittymäki is joined by top professionals: actor Joonas Heikkinen, musician and sound designer Ilkka Tolonen, costume designer Tiina Kaukanen, and lighting and set designer Heikki Paasonen.
The performance includes loud sounds and turning into a chicken.
The performance is directed for adult audiences.
Working group
Samuli Niittymäki
Actor Samuli Niittymäki last performed at the Kiasma Theatre in 2017 in Amor fati, a work by Anna-Mari Karvonen and Anni Puolakka. Since 2021, he has focused on his independent artistic practice. In the same year, his directorial debut Plup plup premiered at Theatre Takomo, which also presented his second direction, Kohina (2024), created in collaboration with sound designer Tatu Nenonen.
Niittymäki has acted at, among others, the Finnish National Theatre, the Helsinki City Theatre, and Theatre Takomo. He received a Jussi Award for the film Seurapeli (2020), and on television he has appeared, for example, in the comedy series Sunnuntailounas (2018–2025). Niittymäki has taken a break from commercial acting and voice-over work since 2019. He is currently working with a grant from the Kone Foundation for the years 2025–2028.
Joonas Heikkinen
Joonas Heikkinen is a freelance actor based in Helsinki. He graduated from the Theatre Academy in 2007 and has since performed at, among others, Rovaniemi Theatre, Svenska Teatern, the Finnish National Theatre, Teatteri Takomo and Viirus. Heikkinen has also appeared in films and television series — his most recent roles include Queen of Fucking Everything on Yle and the Elisa Viihde series Munkkivuori.
Ilkka Tolonen
Ilkka Tolonen is a sound designer and musician. He is also currently performing in the Finnish National Theatre’s production Muistopäivä, as well as with Maija Vilkkumaa’s band and the Ykspihlaja Kino Orchestra.
Tiina Kaukanen
Tiina Kaukanen is a costume designer who has worked on more than 50 films, including Kesäkirja, Kuollet lehdet and Kikka!. In addition to film, she has designed costumes for numerous TV series, short films and over 30 theatre productions, such as Sinun, Margot, Minna Craucher and Veriruusut.
Throughout her career, Kaukanen has received six Jussi Awards and been nominated nine times. In 2021, she was granted the State Prize for Cinema.
Heikki Paasonen
Heikki Paasonen is a Helsinki-based lighting designer who has studied at the Theatre Academy’s Department of Lighting and Sound Design as well as at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. His spatial and often minimalist light and space designs have been widely seen in both contemporary dance and theatre. Paasonen’s recent work includes lighting design for Susanna Airaksinen’s production of Ei kertonut katuvansa at the Helsinki City Theatre, Liisa Pentti’s Das Musikalische Opfer at Dance House Helsinki, Milja Sarkola’s Opettaja, nyt at Q theatre, and the Finnish National Ballet’s Giselle.
Paasonen received the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Finland Prize in 2012, as well as the Säde Award from the Association of Lighting and Sound Designers for the best lighting design of 2011.