“Tuma” is a play by Gustav Deinoff for children 7 years and up, presented by youth theater company Unga Klara in Stockholm, Sweden.
75 minutes. No intermission.
It premiered March 22 2022 with Unga Klara.
Photos from the production by Mats Bäcker and Carlos Zaya
Tuma’s family is warm, chaotic, and large — a vibrant constellation of people: mothers Maia and Kimmen, father Luthando, siblings Nino and the Twins, Grandmother and Richi, plus Catrine and the Cousins, whom Tuma has added on their own. And then, of course, there’s Tuma — Tuma who loves space and quantum physics, who lets out a blazing scream in the closet when anger takes over, and who once became so sad they nearly disappeared.
That’s the story Tuma has come to tell — the time when everything went wrong and shattered into a thousand pieces. It’s about Grandmother, a small broken heart, and a magical journey across sea and land. Along the way, Tuma is joined by family, song, dance, humor, a giant, boundless imagination — and the audience, of course. Everything does turn out all right in the end. At least, that’s what Tuma says.
Written and directed by Gustav Deinoff, one of Unga Klara’s two Artistic Directors, Tuma explores how the perspective of childhood can be deepened by engaging both children and adults — with and without disabilities — in the creative process and on stage. Surely it’s possible for adults and children to create together as equals? Surely it’s possible to make theatre for everyone?
A collaboration between Unga Klara and Mosaikteatern.
From the Unga Klara website.
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Gustav Deinoff
ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR: Norea Sandberg
SET DESIGNER: Jenny Kronberg
MUSIC, SOUND DESIGN: Mikael Karlsson
CHOREOGRAPHY: Sindri Runudde
LIGHTING DESIGN: Mira Svanberg
COSTUME DESIGN: Jasminda Asplund Blanco
PROPS DESIGN: Sofia Andersson
SOUND ENGINEER: Johan Bengtsson
DRAMATURGY: Åsa Lindholm
PRODUCER: Felicia Moritz Malmcrona
PRODUCTION PHOTOS: Mats Bäcker and Carlos Zaya
Full list of credits on the Unga Klara website.
WORLD PREMIERE CAST
Full cast list on the Unga Klara website.
“A warming ‘Mio, My Son’ for the 2020s.” (Svenska Dagbladet)
“‘Tuma’ is a kind of obstinate sorrow-tale about life’s fragility — but the joy is overwhelmingly greater!” (Dagens Nyheter)
“Mikael Karlsson’s music and Sindri Runudde’s choreography create moments of wordless expression that enrich the whole.” (Expressen)
“‘Tuma’ lacks neither warmth nor the courage to speak about grief and death with the very youngest.” (Svenska Dagbladet)
“…ensure that life and death are taken with the utmost seriousness — and that we can still dance to them.” (Dagens ETC)
“The production includes a wealth of newly composed music by Mikael Karlsson — swinging and beautiful by turns!” (Barn i stan)
“Mikael Karlsson’s newly written music lifts the entire production — the finale song about hope and love for a beloved grandmother stays in your head on the walk out into the grey-clouded Sergels Torg.” (Svenska Dagbladet)
“Filled with song and movement, the show carries a kind of musical sentiment where Mikael Karlsson’s score and Sindri Runudde’s choreography create moments of wordless articulation that truly enrich — rather than merely illustrate — the story.” (Expressen)
