Christmas in the forest is born from the joy of doing things together and brings Christmas to hearts

Christmas in the Forest by Helsinki City Theatre and ShedHelsinki is a Christmas story about a surprising friendship and the importance of forests. Friendship and working together are also emphasised in the working method, as children and young people from a wide range of backgrounds prepare the performance together with theatre professionals. The Finnish musical theatre novelty will premiere on 7 December at Studio Pasila.

The new Christmas musical, which deviates from the mainstream and takes into account children and young people with special needs, is directed by Heikki Sankari, and the script for the musical is written by the ShedHelsinki working group, whose children and young people have been able to influence the content of the play’s text during the rehearsal process. Christmas in the Forest is a story not only about friendship, but also about protecting biodiversity and what is most important about Christmas. 

“Christmas in the forest is about making everyday things that we take for granted important. During the training process, Christmas has slowly crept into our hearts. It comes from experiencing and doing things together with the people who are here. Christmas in the forest is the good thing that is in all of our hearts, the desire to improve common things,” says director Heikki Sankari.

The play tells the story of the Kuusinen family, who have just moved into a new home for Christmas. However, the anticipation of Christmas is overshadowed by her mother’s unemployment. The family’s children Usko, Toivo and Lempi decide to go to the forest to find a Christmas tree for the family, which they cannot afford to buy this year. In the forest, they meet the animals and trees of the forest, which can also speak. When the forest is threatened again by a new construction project, the children decide to work together with the animals to save the forest. First, they need to find a way to prevent the logging of the forest. They are faced with a greedy mayor and his assistants.

The musical features nearly a hundred children and young people aged 8-21, most of whom have been involved in ShedHelsinki’s musical theatre activities since the beginning (2016), and some of them will take to the big stage for the first time. Some of the young people are reeling around in wheelchairs, others are helped by performing to concentrate – and everyone has the courage and desire to put themselves on the line.

“It’s wonderful to be part of a group where everyone is accepted as they are. Shed gave me more courage, no matter what my bully says, I know what I want to do!”, says 19-year-old Anna Pesonen, who plays the role of the fox.

“At Shed, I’ve made new friends and the opportunity to learn about theatre, myself and others. It’s also wonderful to be able to help others and do things together!”, says 16-year-old Milla Rissanen, who plays the role of the squirrel. 

The music heard in the performance is mainly new, composed by Tuomas Kesälä .

“The music follows the eclectic line familiar from previous Shed productions. There is metal music, bossa nova, rap, wire, prog-jazz, gospel and pop-ballads, not forgetting musical madness. There is also a Finnish forest landscape: folk songs and national romanticism, e.g. texts by Aleksis Kivi ,” says Tuomas Kesälä, who is also the conductor of the four-piece Forest Christmas Orchestra.

The choreography is designed by Jyri Numminen. The set and costumes are designed by Vilma Mattila, and the lighting design is by Teppo Saarinen.

Age recommendation from 4 years old.

ShedHelsinki in brief
ShedHelsinki’s musical theatre for children and young people gives different young people aged 9–19 the opportunity to engage in hobbies and gain experiences of success in a safe community. The activities enable children and young people to be presented as their own, unique individuals. Together and safely.

ShedHelsinki is inspired by the London-based Chickenshed Theatre, which has been making art out of diversity together with children and young people for more than 40 years. ShedHelsinki is based on a foundation established by Elisa in 2017, the purpose of which is to make ShedHelsinki’s operations long-term. The Foundation’s most important work is done through continuous hobby activities. Thanks to it, children and young people find friends and get to test their limits. The Foundation enables diverse child and youth work that takes special needs children into account.

Christmas in the Forest premieres on 7 December 2019 at 2 pm and 7 pm at the Helsinki City Theatre’s studio in Pasila (Ratamestarinkatu 5)
Tickets: 39 € (incl. pm)

Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, First Line 2, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) 
www.hkt.fi 

https://www.shedhelsinki.fi/
https://hkt.fi/

@hktfi @ShedHelsinki #jokainenkelpaa

Further information and interview requests:
Helsinki City Theatre, Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, 040 552 3788, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi
Elisa Corporation, Katiye Vuorela, Senior Vice President, Communications, 050 66997, katiye.vuorela@elisa.fi
ShedHelsinki, Project Director Riikka Kannas, 040 354 6331, riikka@shedhelsinki.fi

Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
 

Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki