In the lead role, Malmi performs: The children’s theatre performance My Neighbour
What kind of a place is a new home when everything is still unfamiliar? When the walls make strange noises, the doorbell rings unexpectedly – and there are perhaps a thousand million neighbours?
My Neighbour is a warm, humorous and imaginative children’s theatre performance that tells about moving, excitement and how new things can become familiar and safe. The main character of the story, the Movers, has just arrived at a new home in Malmi. There are strange noises in the new house, and it’s not easy to open the doorbell when you don’t know who is behind the door. Luckily, Kaveri comes to the rescue – a neighbour with courage, curiosity and wild ideas. Together, they study sounds, snoop on neighbors, come up with imaginary guests, and build a map of the entire neighborhood. Along the way, excitement slowly turns into joy, and loneliness into shared play.
The performance is based on the children’s thoughts about the neighbourhood, and the text, sound and movement material has been created together with the children of the daycare centre in Malmi. The performance will tour in the autumn of 2026 in Malmi in different performance spaces and communities, with the aim of also connecting different generations to meet each other around the performance. The performance is part of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Malmi in the Main Role project.
Open performances at MalmitaloFri 11 Sept at 18.00Sat 12 Sept at 11.00Performances are free of charge, but pre-registration is required.
Book your place HERE.
Duration 35 min.Recommended age: 4 years and up
Performed in Finnish.Working group:
Script: Janne Puustinen
Director: Jenny Jumppanen
Sound design and music: Aleksi Kinnunen
Scenography: Riikka Karjalainen
Performers: Laura Ikonen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Production: Helsinki City Theatre’s audience outreach and Malmi in the lead role
Preschool groups participating in the project (autumn 2025): Daycare Centre Longinoja, Daycare Poutapilvi, Daycare Takatasku, Daycare Centre Ylä-Malmi
Photo: Miika StormThe Malmi in the Main Role project implements community-based art and theatre activities in the Malmi area together with residents. The activities are funded by the City of Helsinki.
@paaroolissamalmi
www.facebook.com/paaroolissamalmi
***
My Neighbour – Children’s theatre performance
What is a new home like when everything still feels unfamiliar? When the walls make strange noises, the doorbell rings unexpectedly—and there might be a thousand million neighbours?
Naapurini (My Neighbour) is a warm, playful, and imaginative children’s theatre performance about moving house, feeling nervous, and how the unfamiliar can gradually become safe and familiar. The story follows a character called the Mover, who has just arrived in a new home in Malmi. The building is full of odd sounds, and it’s not easy to answer the door when you don’t know who might be on the other side.
Luckily, help arrives in the form of a Friend—a neighbour with courage, curiosity, and wonderfully wild ideas. Together, they explore mysterious sounds, spy on the neighbours, invent imaginary visitors, and build a map of the whole neighbourhood. Along the way, fear gradually turns into joy, and loneliness becomes shared play.
The performance is based on children’s own thoughts about neighbourhoods, and its text, sound, and movement material has been created together with preschool children from Malmi. In autumn 2026, the production will tour different venues and communities in Malmi, with the aim of bringing people of different generations together through theatre. The performance is part of the Helsinki City Theatre project Malmi in the main role.
Open performances at Malmitalo
Fri 11 Sept at 6:00 PM
Sat 12 Sept at 11:00 AMThe performances are free of charge, but advance registration is required.
Reserve your seat HERE.
Duration: 35 minutes
Recommended age: 4+
Language: Finnish
Creative team
Script: Janne Puustinen
Director: Jenny Jumppanen
Sound design and music: Aleksi Kinnunen
Scenography: Riikka Karjalainen
Performers: Laura Ikonen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Production: Helsinki City Theatre, Audience Outreach & Starring Malmi
Participating daycare groups (autumn 2025):
Longinoja, Poutapilvi, Takatasku, Ylä-Malmi
Photo: Miika Storm
The Malmi project creates community-based art and theatre together with local residents in the Malmi area. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki.
@paaroolissamalmi
www.facebook.com/paaroolissamalmi