The story of John Rykener - Puppet theatre for grown-ups

Two John – Eleanor performances during the Medieval Market of Turku

John – Eleanor combines puppet theatre and history, performances in The Old Town center 30.6.-1.7.

John – Eleanor exposes a different perspective on Medieval times that are today perceived as morally strict and repressive. Above all it brings out an interesting life story.

Multi- phased story from medieval England

London, 1394. The court records reveal the story of John Rykener, caught performing a sexual act with another man – in exchange for money, dressed as a woman. During the court proceedings, John Rykener accounts for his personal multi-phased story of becoming his own hero and heroine on the alleys, taverns and bedrooms of medieval London.

Who – or what – was John/Eleanor in the eyes of his contemporaries? Did he have his own place in contemporary culture during the late Middle Ages? A story that breaks the norms for gender and sexuality combines research on the Middle Ages with puppetry theatre. It exposes a different perspective on Medieval times that are today perceived as morally strict and repressive. The performance will raise a question: “Has anything changed?”.

15th Medieval Market of Turku

Cobblestones rumble when the Medieval market will take over the surroundings of the Old Great Square in Turku this week. You may be a knight or a young maid, you may represent the peasantry or the nobility, but after Midsummer, it is time for you to dive into to the Middle Ages.

The Medieval Market of Turku  30th June – 3rd July 2011, Thu–Sat 12p.m. to 8p.m. and Sun 12p.m. to 6p.m, in the Old Town center.