Jukka Kajava

Jukka Kajava (February 25 1943, Oulu – May 16 2005, Berlin) was one of the most well known Finnish theatre and television critics. He worked for Helsingin Sanomat from the year 1967, joining the papers permanent staff in 1978. In addition to reviewing and criticizing, Kajava also directed theater and musical theater. The first production he directed was the operetto "Iloinen Leski" (Merry Widow) collaborating with Antti Einari Halonen, for the Åbo Svenska Teater in 1972 Kajava was also known as the spokesperson for quality culture for children and received a State Award for Children's Culture in the year 1985. The State Award for Critics, he received in 1992. Kajava was a critic held in esteem by many, whose reviews could notoriously consign a mediocre performance to total oblivion, but often highlighted new and notable performances and performers from the Finnish general theatrical scene.