Helsinki City Theatre’s programme for early spring 2026 has been published / Helsingfors Stadsteaters vårrepertoar 2026 har publicerats

The spring premiere on the big stage on February 5 will feature the diamond farce comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, from the same creators as the hit comedy The Play That Goes Wrong. The play combines nostalgic Helsinki of the past with an inventive plot and funny twists. This is the first spoken word play direction for the big stage by the successful director Samuel Harjanne.

We are in Helsinki in the 1950s, and prisoner Roger Rahikainen has planned the robbery of all time together with prison guard Tauno Kyykkä. The intention is to break into the Hakaniemi Stock Bank, where a huge diamond is stored. At the same time, bank manager Jorma Kuusikko and his subordinates at Hakaniemi Osakepankki are tuning the bank’s security systems to the limit to keep the priceless diamond safe. The bank manager’s daughter Aino has met a charming new boyfriend, Veikka. The problems begin when Veikka ends up in Roger Rahikainen’s robbery squad, especially since Rahikainen also happens to be Aino’s ex-fiancée. Scammers all, and that’s why the whole plan becomes an incredible series of unexpected coincidences.

The cast includes Rauno Ahonen, Risto Kaskilahti, Jouko Klemettilä, Samuel Kujala, Merja Larivaara, Linnea Leino, Lasse Lipponen, Kai Lähdesmäki, Martti Manninen, Samuli Pajunen, Sauli Suonpää and Kaisa Torkkel.

On 4 February, Miika Muranen’s dramatisation and direction based on Pirjo Tuominen’s best-selling novel of the same name (Tammi, 2024) will premiere on the Small Stage.

The Roses of the Valley, Paula, Eini, Erika and Sirkka, are four widows and friends in their seventies who share their lives together. They don’t stay complaining about their ailments, but live a life that looks like them, enjoy themselves to the fullest and have fun together. But something is missing. Love. The roses plunge into the search for love boldly, because if you want to do something, you have to do it now. Women start dating different kinds of men, including both old acquaintances and new acquaintances found online.

The main roles are played by Helena Haaranen, Sari Havas, Aino Seppo and Leenamari Unho. The other roles are played by Pekka Huotari, Lasse Karkjärvi, Santeri Kinnunen, Vappu Nalbantoglu and Mikko Vihma.

On 28 January, the spring premiere of Hildur on the Arena stage will be based on the first and eponymous part of Satu Rämö’s popular detective series (WSOY, 2022). The new dramatisation of the play is made by Satu Rasila and directed by Tuomas Parkkinen.

Hildur tells the story of detective Hildur Rúnarsdóttir and takes viewers to Iceland’s mythical West Fjords, where Hildur solves murders in her hometown together with her Finnish colleague Jakob. Hildur, who is struggling with her traumas, and Jakob, who is fleeing his past, find themselves in the middle of a strange web of crimes that is linked to Hildur’s own childhood.

The role of Hildur is played by Elena Leeve and the role of Jakob is played by Paavo Kinnunen. The other roles are played by Sari Haapamäki, Sanna-June Hyde, Linda Hämäläinen, Unto Nuora, Jari Pehkonen, Ursula Salo and Mauno Terävä.

On 12 February, Lilla Teatern will premiere the absurd working life comedy Status Quo, directed by Jakob Höglund.The play, written by Maja Zade, reflects on what happens when the power structures of society are turned upside down.

In Status Quo, women are leaders and men are coffee makers. The play follows a young Mikael at the beginning of his career, who navigates through several different professions – from real estate agent, pharmacist trainee to theatre actor. Everywhere she encounters the same patterns: discrimination, manipulation and sexual advances. At home, Mikael takes care of the home and tries to be a good partner, but in a society where women rule, every Mikael is just Micke. The play turns society’s current status quo upside down and cleverly depicts how familiar roles and worlds become absurd when women take the place of men.

The role of Mikael is played by Alexander Wendelin and the other roles are played by Alexandra Gustafsson, Vuokko Hovatta, Peter Kanerva, Pia Runnakko and Joachim Wigelius.

In the spring season, the City Theatre’s repertoire continues on the big stage with the working life comedy Let’s Play Business and the classic fairy tale Veljeni Leijonamieli. On the small stage, the true story of the Finnish professional soldier Aleksi Suomi continues, and in Studio Pasila, the musical play Who Captured the Sun for the whole family and the stand-up club Club act!one. In addition, Studio Pasila will be visited in March by Minna Kivelä and Ria Kataja’s comedy Tuula and Pirkko – We Always Have Toro. The ever-popular Stones in Your Pocket will continue on the Arena stage, which will only be seen in the repertoire until the end of 2026. The History of Violence, which premieres at Lilla Teatern on 13 November, will continue in the spring season. In addition, the public’s beloved Coffee with the Writer events will continue in the spring in the balcony foyer of the main stage.

Read the new Teatteriin magazine here.

Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
12.11.2025 Project No. 2191, age. Adrienn Hód
13.11.2025 History of Violence, dir. Jakob Höglund
2 and 3.12.2025 Peter Pan, dir. Jyri Numminen
28.1.2026 Hildur, dir. Tuomas Parkkinen
4.2.2026 Kurtturuusut, dir. Miika Muranen
5.2.2026 Comedy about a bank robbery, dir. Samuel Harjanne
12.2.2026 Status quo, dir. Jakob Höglund

In the spring of 2026, the following will continue in the programme:
Let’s Play Business, dir. Juha Jokela
My Brother Lionheart, dir. Jakob Höglund
Aleksi from Finland, dir. Tuomas Rinta-Panttila
Who Captured the Sun, dir. Liila Jokelin
Stones in Your Pocket, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Club act!oneOver coffee with the authorGuest performances
From 7.3.2026 onwards Tuula and Pirkko – We always have Toro, studio Pasila

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon–Fri 10 am–5 pm. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon–Fri 12–17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11–18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9–19, Sun 12–16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi

Photo from the play Comedy about the Bank Robbery, in the photo Linnea Leino, Samuel Kujala and Sauli Suonpää, cinematographer Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner, Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja, 00530 Helsinki

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Press release 24.10.2025Helsinki City Theatre’s spring repertoire for 2026 has been published At the beginning of 2026, Helsinki City Theatre will premiere the horror comedy Comedy Pankkiryösttöstä, directed by Samuel Harjanne, Kurtturuusut, a warm-hearted play about friendship, love and aging, as well as a new dramatisation of Hildur, which is based on Satu Rämö’s bestselling novel. At Lilla Teatern, we get to see the absurd workplace comedy Status Quo. Performances that will continue include the contemporary comedy Let’s Play Business, which is also about working life, the classic fairy tale Veljeni Leijonamieli, the real-life story of a Finnish professional soldier, Aleksi Suomesta, and the family musical Kuka kaappasi aurinko, which is based on Mauri Kunnas’ book.
The spring premiere on the Main Stage on 5 February is the glittering horror comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, by the same team that created the hit Näytelmä, joka menee pieleen. The play combines a nostalgic Helsinki of the past with a witty plot and comic twists. It is director Samuel Harjanne’s first speech play on the main stage.

We are in 1950s Helsinki, where prisoner Roger Rahikainen is planning the Battle of the Ages together with prison guard Tauno Kyykkä. The goal is to break into Hakaniemi Osakepankki, where a huge diamond is stored. At the same time, Bank Director Jorma Kuusikko is strengthening the security systems to the maximum to protect the priceless diamond. His daughter Aino has met a charming new boyfriend, Veikka. The problems begin when Veikka is drawn into Rahikainen’s plan, especially since Rahikainen is Ainon’s ex. Everyone is an impostor, and it all unfolds into an unlikely chain of unexpected events.

The cast includes Rauno Ahonen, Risto Kaskilahti, Jouko Klemettilä, Samuel Kujala, Merja Larivaara, Linnea Leino, Lasse Lipponen, Kai Lähdesmäki, Martti Manninen, Samuli Pajunen, Sauli Suonpää and Kaisa Torkkel.

On the small stage, Kurtturuusut will premiere on 4 February. The play is dramatised and directed by Miika Muranen, and it is based on Pirjo Tuominen’s bestseller (Tammi, 2024).

Paula, Eini, Erika and Sirkka are four widows in their 70s who share life with each other. They don’t complain about their ailments, but live life to the fullest and have fun together. But something is missing – love. They bravely set out in search of love, meet different men, both old acquaintances and new ones online.

The main roles are played by Helena Haaranen, Sari Havas, Aino Seppo and Leenamari Unho. The other roles are played by Pekka Huotari, Lasse Karkjärvi, Santeri Kinnunen, Vappu Nalbantoglu and Mikko Vihma.

Hildur premieres on the Arena stage on January 28. The play is based on the first part of Satu Rämö’s popular detective series (WSOY, 2022). The new dramatisation has been made by Satu Rasila and the play is directed by Tuomas Parkkinen.

Hildur is about Detective Inspector Hildur Rúnarsdóttir and takes the audience to Iceland’s mythical Westfjords. Together with her Finnish colleague Jakob, Hildur investigates murders in her hometown. She struggles with her traumas and Jakob flees his past. Together, they end up in the middle of a strange crime that is linked to Hildur’s own childhood.

Elena Leeve plays the role of Hildur and Paavo Kinnunen plays Jakob. The other actors are Sari Haapamäki, Sanna-June Hyde, Linda Hämäläinen, Unto Nuora, Jari Pehkonen, Ursula Salo and Mauno Terävä.

At Lilla Teatern, Status Quo will premiere on February 12, directed by Jakob Höglund. Maja Zade’s play explores what happens when society’s power structures are turned upside down.

In the Status Quo, women are bosses and men make coffee. The play follows the young Mikael at the beginning of his career, who moves between different professions – from real estate agent to pharmacist trainee and actor at a theatre. Everywhere he encounters the same pattern: discrimination, manipulation and sexual advances. At home, Mikael takes care of the household and tries to be a good partner, but in a society where women rule, every Mikael is just a Mike. The play turns today’s status quo upside down and sharply shows how familiar roles become absurd when women take the place of men.

The cast includes Alexander Wendelin as Mikael, Vuokko Hovatta, Peter Kanerva, Tiina Peltonen, Pia Runnakko and Joachim Wigelius.

During the spring, Let’s Play Business and Veljeni Leijonamieli will continue on the main stage. Aleksi Suomesta will continue on the small stage, and in studio Pasila Kuka kaappasi aurinko and the stand-up club Club act!one. In March, the comedy Tuula ja Pirkko – We Have Always Toro by Minna Kivelä and Ria Kataja will be a guest performer at Studio Pasila. On the Arena stage, the audience favourite Kivia taskussa continues, which will have its last performance at the end of 2026. At Lilla Teatern, The History of Violence continues, which premieres on November 13. The popular events Kahvilla kirjailijan kanssa will also continue in the spring in the foyer next to the main stage.

Read the latest issue of the Teatteriin magazine here.

Upcoming premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
12.11.2025 Project No. 2191, age. Adrienn Hód
13.11.2025 The History of Violence, directed by Jakob Höglund
2 and 3.12.2025 Peter Pan, directed by Jyri Numminen
28.1.2026 Hildur, directed by Tuomas Parkkinen
4.2.2026 Kurtturuusut, directed by Miika Muranen
5.2.2026 Comedy about a bank robbery, directed by Samuel Harjanne
12.2.2026 Status Quo, directed by Jakob Höglund

Performances that continue in the repertoire in spring 2026
Let’s Play Business, directed by Juha Jokela
My Brother Lionmind, directed by Jakob Höglund
Aleksi from Finland, directed by Tuomas Rinta-Panttila
Who Captured the Sun, directed by Liila Jokelin
Stones in Your Pocket, directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi
Club act!oneKahvilla kirjailijan kanssa – evenemangenGästspel
Fr.om. 7.3.2026 Tuula and Pirkko – We always have Toro, studio Pasila

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service can be reached by phone (09) 394022 Mon–Fri at noon. 10–17. Ticket office on First Line 2, Mon–Fri at noon. 12–17, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) at noon. 11–18.30 and one hour before the performance and via Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat at noon. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun at noon. 12–16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local call charge) www.hkt.fi

Pictured in the press release is the performance Komedia pankkiroböstöststä. In the photo: Linnea Leino, Samuel Kujala and Sauli Suonpää, photo Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Head of Communications, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki, www.hkt.fi