Dreams of utopia: Musical about tiny B.C. town returns to the stage … in Finland

The remarkable story of a charismatic leader who founded the remote British Columbia community of Sointula more than a century ago is returning to the stage after a 10-year absence, albeit 7,500 kilometres away from the tiny town itself.   

Sointula, a Finnish-language musical written by Tuomo Aitta, is set to open Saturday in Lappeenranta, Finland, not far from where the main character, Matti Kurikka, was born. 

Although set at the start of the 20th century, play producer Mika Kaartinen says the theme of searching for a better life resonates just as strongly today.

“It’s a universal story,” he said, speaking from Helsinki.

“When we think of the … similarities in the current situation, people are seeking a better future and also new leaders. It’s a question of what kind of leaders are we following, what kind of dreams are we trying to reach?”

In 1901, Kurikka — an esteemed journalist, philosopher and speaker — joined 200 of his countrymen and women in settling on Malcolm Island, northeast of Vancouver Island.

They named their new community Sointula, which roughly translates to “place of harmony” in Finnish.

The followers were inspired by Kurikka’s vision of a socialist utopia founded on values of shared labour, co-operation and equality of the sexes.

But high ideals faded in the face of harsh realities.

A series of naive business decisions left the collective essentially bankrupt. Then a fire in 1903 killed eight children and three adults, tearing out the already frayed heart of the community. 

In 1904, Kurikka and his most devoted supporters left Sointula.

Those who remained found ways to survive as farmers, fishermen and loggers, and the essence of community lived on. The first co-op store in Western Canada was founded in Sointula, along with the construction of a public library and large community hall that hosted free theatre, exercise classes and dances. 

Sointula, the musical, was first performed in Masala, Finland, by a youth theatre troupe in 2012. At the time, cast and crew were unaware the town was still standing.

“At some time during the rehearsals, we realized, yes, the place still exists. And we [made] connections there, and it was a pretty amazing moment to realize that, OK, we are having a play telling the story of their ancestors,” said Kaartinen.

The next year, after a massive fundraising drive, Sointula the musical came to Sointula the town.

Watch | CBC’s Duncan McCue went to Finland and Sointula in 2013:

Featured VideoDuncan McCue examines the link between a Finnish cult leader with visions of Utopia and a tiny village on the tip of Vancouver Island.

Sue Ness, a descendant of original Sointula settlers, still remembers the excitement of seeing a B.C. ferry flying the flag of Finland arriving with the actors. 

“That was miraculous,” said Ness. “We had to billet everyone because we have very little accommodation here.”

Sointula’s population in 2013 was about 600.

“All of the people doing the billeting were down at the ferry dock to greet them. It was just the most wonderful visit. And I think they felt the same way,” she said.

Even in Finnish, the Sointula performance struck a deep chord, said Ness. 

“We didn’t learn that much about our history [growing up] and of course we went to an English-speaking school,” she said. “But I certainly felt it.”

Sointula’s return to the stage in Lappeenranta has created a major buzz, according to Kaartinen.

Special guests on opening night include Kurikka’s great granddaughter and great grandson, and Kathy Gibler, director of the Sointula Museum, who made the trip to Finland.

Kaartinen hopes the play’s revival will spark history to repeat itself. He’d love nothing more than to bring an English-language version of Sointula to B.C., only this time to a bigger audience in Vancouver.

“It’s one of those dreams. It’s come back in Finland, and now it’s Canada’s turn again,” he said. “It would be great to see a local theatre group [in Vancouver] take this and make it your play. We can help with the translations, no problem.”

“This is not just a Finnish story, this is also a Canadian story … about people who moved to Canada 125 years ago. So it’s part of our common history.”