Note: No longer in repertoire!

Since May 2021, the Helsinki City Theatre has been implementing the Art in the Homes of the Elderly project, as part of which the theatre performance Elonsiivous – a story of a tenacious friendship has been completed. The play is based on the life stories of the elderly in Helsinki and stars Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen. 

In the autumn of 2022, the project’s artists Laura Ikonen and Martta Pesonen interviewed elderly people in Helsinki, and based on the interviews, Janne Puustinen wrote the script for the play Elonsiivous – a story of tenacious friendship. The compositions are by Aleksi Kinnunen. 

Elonsiivous tells the story of Aino (Marjut Toivanen) and Raisa (Leena Rapola), who live in apartment buildings next door to each other. There is a shared sauna shift and a joint newspaper subscription, inspection visits and bun breaks. What would life be without long, shared afternoons, with conversations and dance dreams?

“The play focuses on the friendship between two elderly women. The friends support and love each other, but still stand on their own two feet. The performance also approaches death and the emotions related to it in a gentle and honest way through its characters: one would not even want to talk about the subject and the other faces the limitations of life very pragmatically, getting rid of their belongings,” 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 duo has been seen in numerous touring performances during their careers, where they have made art more accessible to children, young people and the elderly alike.

Production: Helsinki City Theatre’s audience outreach

@hkt_yleisotyo @hktfi

The Elonsiivous performance is part of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Art for the Homes of the Elderly project, which brings participatory art activities into the everyday lives of the elderly in Helsinki. In the project, people encounter art in different ways, 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, reetta.kankare@hkt.fi or Project Manager Hanna Nuorala, hanna.nuorala@hkt.fi