Helsinki City Theatre offers a diverse and inclusive programme for the elderly
Helsinki City Theatre wants to enable all elderly people in Helsinki to encounter art and theatre. With the Art in the Homes of the Elderly project, which was launched by HKT in 2021, the Elonsiivous theatre performance has also been created, which has delighted the audience. The favourite performance has been touring service units in Helsinki since February 2023, and two performances of it will also be held in the balcony foyer of the City Theatre in November and December. In February 2024, the Art in the Homes of the Elderly project will culminate in a streamed performance of the play Elonsiivous, which the theatre invites all the elderly to watch.
The Helsinki City Theatre’s programme includes a diverse and participatory programme for the elderly, inviting people to enjoy art and theatre. The starting point for the Art in the Homes of the Elderly project is people’s own stories and the uniqueness of each story. The Elonsiivous performance is also based on the life stories of the elderly in Helsinki and stars Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen. Elonsiivous will be seen in the balcony foyer of HKT’s main stage on 29 November and 4 December. In February 2024, the project will culminate in a streamed performance by Elonsiivous, to which we invite all elderly people in Helsinki.
This season’s Art in the Homes of the Elderly project will include:From Story to Theatre groups: Ongoing at the Myllypuro and Kinapori service centres, and will continue later also in remote groups for home care clients. The activities will culminate in public events at the Armas Festival in March 2024.
Tekijä työllä broadcast series: A live broadcast series where you can meet HKT’s employees remotely at work in the middle of everyday life. Broadcasts on Wednesdays (15.11., 29.11. and 13.12. at 10 a.m.) in November-December on HKT’s YouTube channel and on the Foyer.fi platform.
Virtual exhibition and workshops: In the autumn of 2022, HKT produced a video version of the photo exhibition Light Draws the Furrows of Your Face, in which the stories of the photographed elderly people were read by actors. During the autumn, workshops related to the exhibition will be held at service centres in Helsinki. Workshops are also organised for remote groups at Foyer.fi.
Cooperation with higher education institutions: HKT has started cooperation with the theatre expression directing students of Turku University of Applied Sciences. The students plan and implement remote art sessions for the elderly.
Elonsiivous performance: The performance will tour Helsinki’s service units for the elderly, and the performance will also be seen twice in the balcony foyer of the Helsinki City Theatre on 29 November and 4 December.
Elonsiivous stream: The Art for the Homes of the Elderly project will culminate in a streamed performance by Elonsiivous on 7 February at 1.30 pm. The stream is free of charge and can be watched by anyone via YouTube and the Lämpiö.fi platform. More information about the stream can be found on HKT’s website closer to the performance date.
The Art for the Homes of the Elderly activities are part of the Helsinki City Theatre’s audience outreach and are funded by the City of Helsinki.
Other activities of particular interest to the elderly in the Helsinki City Theatre’s repertoire: Senior Soup concerts: An event conceived by actress Merja Larivaara, which includes a wish concert, a soup lunch enjoyed together and unhurried chat. The concert will be held in the balcony foyer of the main stage on Tuesdays until 5 December. On 12 December, the Senior Soup Christmas Concert will be held on the big stage. There will be beautiful Christmas carols, togetherness, atmosphere and coffee will be served. The beloved concerts will continue in the spring of 2024.
Coffee with a Writer events: A warm-hearted programme created by three actors, Aino Seppo, Eija Vilppas and Heidi Herala, in which a trio of actors interview the author. Admission to the event is free. The last event of the autumn will be on 15 November, when the author Rosa Liksom will be the guest. The events will continue in the spring of 2024.
@hkt_yleisötyö @hktfi #elonsiivous #tarinastateatteriksi #tekijätyönsääärellä #seniorisoppa #kahvillakirjailijankanssa
In the photo of the press release, Leena Rapola and Marjut Toivanen. Photo: Miika Storm.
Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Ticket offices Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 11-17.30, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fiFurther information about the Art in the Homes of the Elderly project:
Project Coordinator Reetta Kankare, reetta.kankare@hkt.fi, 050 434 4930
Hanna Nuorala, Project Manager, hanna.nuorala@hkt.fi, 050 4409670
Media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki