From Story to Theatre activities for older people

In autumn 2023, Helsinki City Theatre’s audience engagement team launched Tarinasta teatteriksi, an initiative for older people that brings participants together through stories. The initiative will continue in the 2026–2027 season. Tarinasta teatteriksi uses playback theatre to create meaningful encounters. Playback theatre is a form of improvisational theatre in which participants’ experiences and stories are brought to the stage as short performances.

Groups meeting weekly at senior centres across Helsinki began practising playback theatre in autumn 2023. The initiative has now been running for three years, and the original closed groups have evolved into a performing ensemble whose participants work as playback theatre actors under the guidance of professionals. The initiative has expanded into a touring production, and in autumn 2026 the ensemble will once again perform at various locations around Helsinki.

Tarinasta teatteriksi is led by Laura Ikonen and Reetta Kankare, with Heli Lyytikäinen as the playback theatre musician.

Further information:

Reetta Kankare, reetta.kankare@hkt.fi, tel. 050 4344 930.

Tarinasta teatteriksi is part of Aika loistaa, an audience engagement project by Helsinki City Theatre that brings participatory arts activities into the everyday lives of older Helsinki residents. The project creates encounters through art in a variety of ways. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki.