Crowds of happy children and horrible creatures invaded STOA during four fun-filled hours on Saturday 5.11. MONITA artists from many cultures arranged this unique "Horror for kids" event, which gathered together an impressive crowd of 1600 people. A range of different workshops, exciting performances, small scares and happy fear were offered to the children present.

In the music workshop, the kids got to create their own worlds of sound as well as try out djembe drums. The shadow theatre and the Atshuu-room recreated the fear of being left alone, while the comfort room offered soft balls to float inside. Queues quickly formed for all the workshops.

The "Horror for kids" event was the result of cooperation between a wide variety of actors and organizations. The MONITA artists worked together with the Workerís Evening School in eastern Helsinki, Valtti - the visual arts house, and the talented young people at Sininen verstas, all the way from the first brainstorming session to leading the actual workshops in November.

The organizers were amply rewarded by the enormous enthusiasm of the children. The only negative comment heard was ìWhy donít you organize things like this more often?"

The events and performers were:

ATSHUU and the mystery of the sneeze: Keanne van de Kreeke, Tanja Eloranta, Susanna Hakanen COMFORT ROOM: Kirsi Keisanen, Melinda Nakada, Inkeri Hirvonen
ALONE AT NIGHT - shadow theatre: Kaisa Widenoja, Lincoln Kayiwa, Pilar Valdivia, Anu Korhonen, Sari Breilin
VOICES OF MAN AND DRUM: Pape Sarr, Meri-Sofia Lakopoulos, Begay Njie, Anna Videnoja-Ewoh Opu
MONSTERFACTORY - Drawing workshop: Luca Cannavo, Anu Rinkinen
SCARY PIN-FACTORY: Hanna Peltola, Helka Nurmi-Niemi, Riitta Häkälä
BLACK LIGHT-WORKSHOP: Timo Kotro, Liana Potila, Heidi Göransson, Annikki Anttila, Jari Mäenpää
GHOST BUNS: Kirsi Maijala, Annukka Hämäläinen
BUG WORKSHOP: Ulla Meskanen, Minna Rautiainen
SCARY TUNNEL: Sari Stajevic-Teodosin
Dance in the hall: Aki Suzuki
Dragon costumes, signs and fabric: Sininen verstas
Face painting: Make-up school Profilo
Storytelling and scaring in the hall: Heidi Johansson
Guide group: Jenni Bergius, Petra Salminen, Tsui-Shan Tu, Sanna-Kaisa Patrikainen, Tuire Jansson, Zhou Luxi, Tiia Salminen, Hanne Saarinen, Heli Tynninen, Jonna Hokkanen
For more information, please contact:

MONITA project coordinator:
Adriana Saarialho
tel. 09 / 68414218
adriana.saarialho(a)kassandra.fi

MONITA project secretary:
Petra Salminen
tel. 09 / 31088009
petra.salminen(a)hel.fi