This theatrical adaptation of Alice McLerran’s beloved tale about the friendship of a lonely mountain and a bird straying onto it makes use of the fascinating means of shadow play. Music composed by Aino Lehtovaara accompanies its visually versatile ambience. The play tells a story about the most important theme in the world - love - in a language that children understand through symbols. The life of the lonely mountain changes in a tremendous way when it hears the beautiful song of a small bird flying above it. Their common journey eventually comes to an end because, unlike mountains, birds do not live forever. Still, the bird has brought joy to the Mountain that will never disappear.

The story offers a platform for children and adults to talk about death in a natural and safe way. It is, after all, not an unfamiliar topic for children, although we adults tend to keep quiet about it. Environmental awareness can also be perceived as a soft undertone in the background, although it is not emphasized. There is no shadow without light, and in this play the shades are bright and bring forth joy, life, and love!

It is a great joy and an honour for me to return to the Bird Theatre for the fourth time.

The first production I directed and designed for the theatre, Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre, visited the festival twice, although I was not able to accompany it myself. My colleagues returned with wonderful stories about the charming mountain village of Shikano. In 2013, I was invited to perform my solo production Breathing. They had been absolutely right—what a delightful village, filled with warm and welcoming people! I fell in love with Shikano and did not hesitate to return later that same year to work on the Christmas production of The Nutcracker. My role was to create the puppets and assist with the shadow theatre sequences. For several weeks I lived in a tiny cottage (whose roof the November wind seemed determined to carry away!) while trying to adapt to the local way of life, so wonderfully different from life in Finland. One of my most unforgettable memories is bathing alone in the village onsen beneath a brilliant full moon.

A few years later, in 2019, I had the pleasure of returning once again, this time with The Little Man Who Wanted to See the Whole World, together with my colleague Mila Nirhamo. On that visit we also took the opportunity to discover more of Japan, travelling to Kyoto to admire its temples, autumn gardens, and elegant women dressed in beautiful kimonos.

This year I return to Shikano with my shadow theatre performance The Mountain That Loved a Bird. I am especially happy to bring this particular production, as I feel it has been deeply inspired by qualities I associate with Japanese culture: tranquillity, respect for nature, and thoughtful reflection on life’s deeper questions.

Although the performance is created for children, its themes are universal and speak to audiences of every age.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Bird Theatre and its distinguished director, Makoto Nakashima, whose appreciation of my work has made several of my visits to the festival possible. My sincere thanks also go to the festival and theatre staff, whose dedication has kept this remarkable event alive for the past twenty years.

Of course, neither theatre nor festivals could exist without their audiences—the people who love art and stories. So I would also like to warmly thank you for being here today. Perhaps you will even come and see my performance.

And finally, my thanks go to the children—the theatre audiences of the future. I hope our performances will bring them joy, wonder, and ideas that will stay with them long after the curtain falls.

From my home country of Finland, I send my warmest greetings to all of you.

Congratulations, Bird Theatre, on your anniversary, and my very best wishes for many inspiring years to come!

— Iida Vanttaja