Elonsiivous – a story of enduring friendship

Kaksi vanhempaa, lyhythiuksista naista seisoo lähekkäin ja katsoo kameraan lempein ilmein. Toisella on yllään oranssi pusero, toisella vaaleansininen toppi tummaa, epäselvää taustaa vasten.

Since May 2021, Helsinki City Theatre has run the Taidetta ikääntyneiden koteihin project, which included the creation of the theatre production Elonsiivous – tarina sitkeästä ystävyydestä. The production draws on sixty-five interviews with older people, so everything seen on stage is true.

Aino (Marjut Toivanen) and Raisa (Leena Rapola) live next door to each other in an apartment building. They share a weekly sauna slot and a newspaper subscription, check in on each other and bring each other braided sweet buns. 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 one another, while still standing firmly on their own two feet,” says director Martta Pesonen.

Creative team:

Performers: Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen
Script and lyrics: Janne Puustinen
Director: Martta Pesonen
Production dramaturg and scenography: Laura Ikonen
Sound design and composition: Aleksi Kinnunen
Production: Helsinki City Theatre’s Audience Development Department

@hkt_yleisotyo @hktfi

The Taidetta ikääntyneiden koteihin project is part of Helsinki City Theatre’s audience development programme. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki and delivered in collaboration with an extensive network of partners.

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

Kaksi logoa: vasemmalla beige maalitahra, jossa on teksti Taidetta ikääntyneille, ja oikealla puhekupla, jossa on Helsinki Helsingfors mustalla tekstillä.