Helsinki City Theatre, Wasa Teater and Åbo Svenska Teater are launching a three-year collaboration in which each theatre will take turns producing a show that will then tour to the other two cities. The first production is När Baba faller i poolen är kl. 23.47, premiering at Lilla Teatern on 29 October. The play by Spanish-Swedish playwright Astrid Menasanch Tobieson explores themes of class, racism and human dignity.

Based on Iida Turpeinen’s bestselling novel (Kustantamo S&S, 2023), Elolliset traces the story of a species hunted to extinction from the 18th century to the present day. This visually and aurally striking co-production by Helsinki City Theatre and the WAUHAUS collective brings to the stage a cast of historical figures who lived through pivotal moments in the history of natural science. Adapted for the stage by Pipsa Lonka, the play will have its world premiere on 3 September at the Small Stage.

Based on Iida Turpeinen's bestselling novel (Publisher S&S, 2023), Living follows the story of an extinct species from the 1700s to the present day. In the audio-visually impressive co-production of the Helsinki City Theatre and the WAUHAUS collective, a group of people who have lived at turning points in the history of natural science march onto the stage. The play, dramatised by Pipsa Longa, will premiere on 3 September on a small stage.

An enthusiastic wife and her level-headed engineer husband find a new spark in their long-established relationship at a guerrilla training camp when Kotijoukot premieres on 2 September at the Arena Stage. This fast-paced new comedy is the work of award-winning comedy talents, actor-writers Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman, and director Anna Dahlman. Kotijoukot marks the trio’s first collaboration in theatre.

The world’s best-known love story gets a new ending when & Julia, the hit musical that has captivated audiences in London and on Broadway, premieres on the Main Stage at Helsinki City Theatre on 20 August. Pulsing with producer Max Martin’s chart-topping hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, the jukebox musical has already sold 63% of its tickets.

Inspired by the courtship dances of birds-of-paradise, professional wrestling and gender stereotypes, choreographer Tiia Kasurinen’s new dance work Birds of Paradise explores the forms of masculinity rewarded by our culture. What kinds of choreographies do birds and humans create to be noticed, accepted and chosen? Developed during Helsinki City Theatre’s Stage for Contemporary Performance summer residency, the work premieres at Studio Pasila on 6 August.