Pirkko Koski

Pirkko Kaarina Mirjami Koski
Born 22 December, 1941, Rural Municipality of Jyväskylä.

Librarianship qualification, 1963, University of Tampere.
Master of Political Science, 1964 (Literary History) and Master of Philosophy, 1980 (Comparative Literature, specialising in drama), University of Tampere.
Licentiate of Philosophy, 1989 (Comparative Literature, Drama), University of Turku.
Doctor of Philosophy (Theatre Studies) 1992, University of Helsinki.

Docent and Emerita 2008-, University of Helsinki.
Docent, School of Arts and Design 1998–2007.

Associate professor of Theatre Studies and Drama (fixed term) 1989–95, associate professor 1995–98 and professor 1998–2007, University of Helsinki.

Until 1979 librarian and research assistant for various employers; Acting director, Finnish Federation of Theatre Companies (3 years), 1977–84; Director, Theatre Museum 1981–88; theatre critic for Demari newspaper 1979–91

Publications, research projects and other academic activities
Research interests: Finnish theatre and theatre history, performance research and analysis, theatre and society

Awards and special achievements
Finnish Performing Arts, Gold Medal, 2001
First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland, 2002

Written by Pirkko Koski and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.)
Translated by John Calton

When I arrived at the University of Helsinki in the 1980s, theatre research was changing rapidly all over the world, and in order to keep up we needed to strengthen its foundation in Finland. University professors need to follow both domestic and international research, but they also need to be…

In the broader field of the arts, theatre research is a small area of study, but nevertheless there would be so many interesting things to study that it is a struggle to stay within sensible limits. At present, few researchers are studying theatre. Areas overlap in one way or another…

Throughout my career, international research contacts have been important to me, and I would like to maintain them as long as I am still doing research. However, something has changed. Once you are retired, you can be more selfish and choose interesting topics with less regard for institutional cooperation.

Nowadays…

An especially fine moment for me was when I was presented with a festschrift on my birthday by the teachers and students of our international summer school. This summer school has been organised 11 times, and taught by our regular group of six professors who became a close work community…

Theatre researchers have regularly organised train seminars which serve the combined function of seeing theatre outside the greater Helsinki area, doing group work focused on a specific theme, and keeping costs as low as possible. The department could not really afford study trips, but we used to reserve space in…

When I came to work at the university, I was already familiar with both Nordic and international organisational work in theatre from my previous workplaces, and it was clear to me that I would move on to organisational work in theatre research as well. I was one of the founders…

One of my best memories is from the Spring 2007 Conferment Ceremony, which would be my last before retiring at the end of the year. During the spring, MA students in theatre studies had gathered weekly in my thesis seminar. Our shared goal was that everybody would graduate and we…

375 Humanists

Pirkko Koski

Pirkko Koski

The Links between Research and Teaching

Theatre research became a lifestyle

Active contacts with colleagues continue in retirement

My finest moments at the University of Helsinki

Unforgettable train seminars

The significance of professional societies lies in interaction and co-operation

My Best Memories from the University of Helsinki