Jasmine, a young Romani girl, lives in Helsinki with her grandmother who once upon a time came there as an evacuee from Karelia. Jasmine spends her childhood with her grandmother, but also in Sweden and at a boarding school. Life is full of challenges – the school feels foreign, she encounters prejudice and feels different from the others. But one day she gets her hands on a guitar, and through it she finds her strength, her voice and her community. With hard work, courage and passion, she progresses step by step all the way to the Eurovision Song Contest where she represents Finland on stage.
Jasmine and the Squirrel is a story about a courageous Romani girl’s journey to becoming a star musician, a cheeky squirrel and a grandmother who is a master crochetier. It’s a story about daring to be yourself and following your dreams!
Jasmine herself appears on stage to tell her story. She is joined by actor Riina Tikkanen, who brings Elina Sarno’s charismatic puppets to life.
Content warnings:
Occasionally loud music.
Director and puppet maker: Elina Sarno
Musician: Jasmine Valentin
Puppeteer: Riina Tikkanen
Script: Jasmine Valentin, Milena Parland & työryhmä
Producer: Mojo Finne
Support person: Tiina Timonen
Photography: Andre Scherbakov
Production & presented by: Ad Astra i Helsingfors rf
Producer: Mojo Finne
Riina Tikkanen is a Helsinki-based puppeteer and performer. Since graduating from the puppetry programme at the Turku Arts Academy in 2011, she has worked in more than fifty performing arts productions as a performer, actor, puppeteer and clown. She has performed in several theatres and independent theatre groups (including Kallo Collective, Kuuma Ankanpoikanen, Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth, Teatteri Metamorfoosi, Åbo Svenska Teater and Helsinki City Theatre) both in Finland and internationally.
Jasmine Valentin is a Romani musician and performer with extensive experience of international performances and tours. She participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 (Niin kaunis on taivas) and has performed at festivals in Finland, across Europe and beyond. As a guitarist, singer and songwriter, she inspires young people to follow their dreams.