Helsinki City Theatre to start co-operation negotiations

On 25 November, the Helsinki City Theatre will start co-operation negotiations concerning the entire staff. The cancellations caused by the coronavirus epidemic and performances in half auditoriums during the autumn have significantly weakened the theatre’s finances.

“The purpose of the negotiations is to go through all possible means to balance the theatre’s finances and secure future operations, including layoffs that affect the entire staff. The goal is to conclude the negotiations on a fast schedule, hopefully by Saturday 28 November this week,” says Theatre Director Kari Arffman.

“The coronavirus epidemic has tested the theatre’s finances since the spring. Now we have had to close our doors to the public again and we cannot do our job. We are trying to get the theatre’s finances in such shape that when the epidemic eases its grip and we can get back in front of the audience, we will have the best conditions for it,” Arffman continues.

Helsinki City Theatre employs approximately 240 theatre professionals with a monthly salary and approximately 100 temporary staff.

The previous co-operation negotiations at the Helsinki City Theatre took place in March. At that time, layoffs were avoided by, among other things, rearranging the staff’s working, holiday and holiday days and postponing premieres.

The turnover of the Helsinki City Theatre is approximately EUR 10 million, and the annual budget is approximately EUR 29 million, which includes not only the operating grant, but also renovation and rental grants. In a normal year, the theatre’s own funding share is about 40 per cent.

Further information and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki, https://hkt.fi/