Pääroolissa Malmi presents: Naapurini – a children’s theatre performance
What is a new home like when everything is still unfamiliar? When the walls make strange noises, the doorbell rings unexpectedly – and there might be a billion neighbours?
Naapurini is a warm, humorous and imaginative children’s theatre performance about moving house, feeling nervous and how the unfamiliar can become familiar and safe. The story’s main character, the Mover, has just arrived at a new home in Malmi. Strange noises echo through the new building, and opening the door is not easy when you do not know who is on the other side.
Luckily, a Friend comes to the rescue – a neighbour with courage, curiosity and wild ideas. Together, they investigate the noises, spy on the neighbours, invent imaginary visitors and create a map of the entire neighbourhood. Along the way, nervousness gradually turns into joy and loneliness into shared play.
The performance is based on children’s thoughts about neighbours and neighbourhoods, and its text, sound and movement material was created together with children from daycare centres in Malmi. In autumn 2026, the production will tour various performance spaces and communities in Malmi, with the aim of bringing different generations together through theatre. The performance is part of Helsinki City Theatre’s Pääroolissa Malmi project.
Open performances in autumn 2026
Sat 31.10. at 13 Säveltäjänpuiston Monitoimisali
(Melartininpolku 2, Helsinki)Thu 19.11. at 17.30 Malmin Varustamo
(Pekanraitti 16, Helsinki)The performances are free of charge. No advance registration is required.
Duration: 35 min.
Recommended age: 4+
Language: Finnish.
Creative team:
Creative team responsible for the production: Laura Ikonen, Jenny Jumppanen, Riikka Karjalainen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Script: Janne Puustinen
Director: Jenny Jumppanen
Sound design and music: Aleksi Kinnunen
Scenography: Riikka Karjalainen
Make-up design: Henri Karjalainen
Performers: Laura Ikonen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Production: Helsinki City Theatre Audience Outreach and Pääroolissa Malmi
Participating preschool groups (autumn 2025): Päiväkoti Longinoja, Päiväkoti Poutapilvi, Päiväkoti Takatasku, Päiväkoti Ylä-Malmi
Photo: Miika Storm
The Pääroolissa Malmi project creates community-based art and theatre in the Malmi area together with local residents. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki.
@paaroolissamalmi
www.facebook.com/paaroolissamalmi
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Naapurini – 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 billion neighbours?
Naapurini 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 Pääroolissa Malmi.
Open performances in autumn 2026
Sat 31 Oct. at 1:00 PM, Nuori taide -säätiö, Pukinmäen monitoimitalo
Thu 19 Nov. at 5:30 PM, Malmin VarustamoThe performances are free of charge. No advance registration is required.
Duration: 35 minutes
Recommended age: 4+
Language: Finnish
Creative team
Project leads: Laura Ikonen, Jenny Jumppanen, Riikka Karjalainen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Script: Janne Puustinen
Director: Jenny Jumppanen
Sound design and music: Aleksi Kinnunen
Scenography: Riikka Karjalainen
Make-up design: Henri Karjalainen
Performers: Laura Ikonen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Janne Puustinen
Production: Helsinki City Theatre, Audience Outreach & Pääroolissa Malmi
Participating daycare groups (autumn 2025):
Longinoja, Poutapilvi, Takatasku, Ylä-Malmi
Photo: Miika Storm
The Pääroolissa 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