Note: No longer in repertoire!

Since May 2021, Helsinki City Theatre has been running the Taidetta ikääntyneiden koteihin project, which has produced the stage production Elonsiivous – tarina sitkeästä ystävyydestä. Based on the life stories of older Helsinki residents, the play stars Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen.

In autumn 2022, the project’s artists Laura Ikonen and Martta Pesonen interviewed older Helsinki residents. Drawing on these interviews, Janne Puustinen wrote the play Elonsiivous – tarina sitkeästä ystävyydestä. The music is composed by Aleksi Kinnunen.

Elonsiivous tells the story of Aino (Marjut Toivanen) and Raisa (Leena Rapola), who live next door to each other in the same block of flats. They share a sauna slot and a newspaper subscription, check in on each other and bring each other loaves of pulla. What would life be without those long afternoons together, filled with conversation and dreams of dancing?

“The play centres on the friendship between two older women. They support and love each other while still standing firmly on their own two feet. Through its characters, the production also approaches death and the emotions surrounding it with tenderness and honesty: one would rather not even talk about it, while the other confronts the finite nature of life very pragmatically by getting rid of her possessions,” says director Martta Pesonen.

The play also celebrates Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen’s 40-year journey together as actors. In addition to theatre stages, the pair have appeared in numerous touring productions over the course of their careers, making art more accessible to children, young people and older people alike.

Production: Helsinki City Theatre’s Audience Outreach

@hkt_yleisotyo @hktfi

The production Elonsiivous is part of Helsinki City Theatre’s Audience Outreach project Taidetta ikääntyneiden koteihin, which brings participatory arts into the everyday lives of older Helsinki residents. The project creates opportunities to connect through art in a variety of ways, both remotely and face to face. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki.

For more information about the project, please contact project coordinator Reetta Kankare at reetta.kankare@hkt.fi or project lead Hanna Nuorala at hanna.nuorala@hkt.fi