Helsinki City Theatre’s spring 2024 offers farce, drama, music and dance / Helsinki City Theatre spring 2024 invites farce, drama, music and dance

On 15 February, the spring premiere on the big stage will feature the classic farce, Michael Cooney’s Money from the Air. The farce, which contains exceptionally fast plot twists and surprising misunderstandings, is directed by Sari Siikander.

On stage are Janne Kataja, Pekka Strang, Helena Haaranen, Heidi Herala, Pekka Huotari, Risto Kaskilahti, Jari Pehkonen, Raili Raitala, Sanna Saarijärvi and Emilia Sinisalo.

Mikko Laine was fired from his job years ago, but as an inventive man, he has found a new way to earn money by cheating the social welfare authorities out of various benefits. Fake people are paid tons of subsidies and the money ends up in Mikko’s pockets. One day, Kela’s inspector Jantunen arrives for a surprise visit, and the structure, which has worked well for years, threatens to collapse in one fell swoop. Mikko also drags his friend Otto Pelli into the lie, and the friends create an ever-thickening soup of explanations from which it seems impossible to get out.

On 1 February, Jez Butterworth’s play Jerusalem, directed by Pasi Lampela, will premiere on the small stage. In the work, which has become an exceptional phenomenon in the world, the present meets the mythical past.

Johnny “Rooster” Byron is a former killer who has traveled the world and seen life, living outside the city in a caravan, in the woods that he claims to own. The city authorities disagree on forest management; They have decided to clear it to make way for a new residential area. During the traditional village festivals, St. George’s Day, both parties gather their strength for the final challenge. Johnny vows not to give up without a fight. He doesn’t want to give up his freedom or betray his friends, who get to escape the harsh reality for a moment at his party.

The role of Johnny Byron is played by Santeri Kinnunen, while the other roles are played by Rauno Ahonen, Lumi Aunio, Minni Gråhn, Markus Järvenpää, Jouko Klemettilä, Merja Larivaara, Betadi Mandunga, Mitra Matouf, Ursula Salo, Mikko Virtanen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.

On 8 February, the spring on the Arena stage will be kicked off with the intensifying thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story, directed by Paavo Westerberg. Written by Danny Robins, this award-winning new play tells the story of today’s people and raises fascinating questions about beliefs and supernatural experiences.

Jenny and Sam have just bought a large, old house with plenty to renovate In addition, everyday life with a baby takes a lot of energy. Then Jenny starts hearing voices at night. At 2:22 a.m., she hears, through the baby monitor in the children’s room, how someone is moving around the house. Jenny is sure that the house is cursed and haunted. Sam, who is on a business trip, does not believe in the supernatural, and he finds a rational explanation for every suspicion of his wife. Jenny and Sam invite a couple of friends over for dinner and together they plan to stay up until 2:22 a.m.

The cast includes Pia Andersson, Lauri Tilkanen, Sanna-June Hyde, Matti Rasila and Sauli Suonpää.

The second premiere of the spring on the Arena stage is Erik Gedeon’s musical comedy Forever Young on 7 March. The cast of the play, directed by Heikki Sankari, includes Vuokko Hovatta, Juha Jokela, Pertti Koivula, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Leenamari Unho and Mikko Vihma.

The performance lives in the future. The Arena stage has been converted into a retirement home, where the actors of the City Theatre spend their old age under the observation of a strict nurse. When the caretaker’s eye avoids it, the grey ramp panthers come to life. Forever Young is like a retirement home’s Just Life, where each actor is the artist of the day, and together they reminisce about the antics of youth. If your memory doesn’t always work and your leg doesn’t rise like it did in the early decades of the 2000s, then your singing voice hasn’t been eroded by time. The Arena stage will feature some of the most famous hits from the past decades.

Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin’s Spanish-Roma-Jewish-Finnish flamenco orchestra and dance group Helsinki Dance Company invite the audience to the premiere of the dance performance Blood Wedding in Studio Pasila on 24 January. The dance piece, loosely based on Federico García Lorca’s play, draws influences from 1930s Spain, where Lorca, Dalí and Buñuel created surrealist art together. The images of this art crystallized the present time and already foreshadowed the nightmares to come, in which Lorca was drowning.

The work features Sari Haapamäki, Jyrki Kasper, Heidi Naakka, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Aino Seppo and Kaisa Torkkel as well as musicians Victor Carrasco, Roni Martin, Sanna Salmenkallio and Juan Antonia Suárez “Cano”. The work is directed by Atro Kahiluoto, Kaari Martin and Roni Martin, and the choreography is by Kaari Martin.

On 31 January, Lilla Teatern will premiere the musical Katrina, directed by Jakob Höglund. The musical is based on Sally Salminen’s classic novel of the same name, published in 1936. Kaisa Lundán’s dramatization and Aili Järvelä’s new composition now bring Katrina’s touching story back to life on the stage of Lilla Teatern. The performance is produced in cooperation with Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater.

On stage, we will see Emma Klingenberg in the role of Katrina and musicians Aili Järvelä, Anni Elif and Senni Valtonen/Maija Pokela.

In the spring season, the City Theatre’s repertoire will continue on the big stage with the musicals The Little Mermaid until the beginning of February and Dear Evan Hansen throughout the spring. The relationship farce The Marriage of Figaros continues at Lilla Teatern. In February, the improvisational theatre Stella Polaris will visit the small stage with its performances Free Fall and PRIMA VISTA. Minttu Mustakallio’s and Ville Virtanen’s improvisational duet Minttu and Ville will visit Studio Pasila from 2 February. On 10 February, Studio Pasila will also be visited by Mika Eirtovaara’s stand-up show Ihminen. In addition, the stand-up club Club act!one will continue in the studio Pasila. The ever-popular Stones in Your Pocket will continue on the Arena stage. The Seniorisoppa concerts and the Coffee with the Writer events, which are loved by the audience, will also continue in the balcony foyer of the main stage in the spring.

Read the new Teatteriin magazine here.

Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
2.12.2023 The Snow Queen, dir. Heikki Sankari
24.1.2024 Wedding of Blood, chor. Kaari Martin
31.1.2024 Katrina, dir. Jakob Höglund
1.2.2024 Jerusalem, dir. Pasi Lampela
8.2.2024 2:22 A Ghost Story, dir. Paavo Westerberg
15.2.2024 Money from the Air, dir. Sari Siikander
7.3.2024 Forever Young, dir. Heikki Sankari

In the spring of 2024, the following will continue in the programme:
The Little Mermaid, dir. Samuel Harjanne (repertoire until 3.2.)
Dear Evan Hansen, dir. Kari Arffman
The Marriage of Figaro, dir. Jakob Höglund
Stones in Your Pocket, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Club act!oneSenior soupCoffee with the authorGuest performances
From 2.2. Minttu and Ville, studio Pasila
From 9.2. Stella Polaris: Free Fall and PRIMA VISTA, Small Stage
10.2.2024 Mika Eirtovaara – Human, studio Pasila

Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm. Ticket offices Ensi linja 2, Mon–Fri 12–17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11–18 and always 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.fi

In the image of the press release: Free money.Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:

Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Lilla Teatern, PR & Marketing, Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja, 00530 Helsinki

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Press release 31.10.2023

Press release updated on 21.11.2023 and 24.11.2023 regarding the actors in the performance Ilmasta rahaa.

Helsinki City Theatre spring 2024 offers farce, drama, music and danceIn the spring of 2024, the Helsinki City Theatre will premiere the classic farce Ilmasta rahaa, Jerusalem, which has been chosen as the best play of the 2000s, the thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story, directed by Paavo Westerberg, the happy and melancholic musical comedy Forever Young and the dance performanceVeren häät in collaboration with Helsinki Dance Company and Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin. Lilla Teatern’s spring premiere is the musical Katrina, which is based on Sally Salminen’s novel.

The classic farce Ilmasta raha by Michael Cooney premieres on February 15 on the main stage. The farce with exceptionally quick turns and surprising misunderstandings is directed by Sari Siikander.

The cast includes Janne Kataja, Pekka Strang, Helena Haaranen, Heidi Herala, Pekka Huotari, Risto Kaskilahti, Jari Pehkonen, Raili Raitala, Sanna Saarijärvi and Emilia Sinisalo.

Mikko Laine was fired from his job several years ago, but as the clever man he is, he has made a living by defrauding various benefits from the social services. Fictitious people receive thousands in grants and the money ends up in Mikko’s pocket. One day, Kela inspector Jantunen makes an unexpected visit, and the system, which has been in operation for years, threatens to collapse immediately. Mikko drags his friend Otto Pelli into the deception, and the friends concoct a soup of lies from which there seems to be no way out.

On the small stage, Pasi Lampela directs Jez Butterworth’s play Jerusalem, a modern British classic that combines comedy and drama. It has become a sensation all over the world and in the play the contemporary meets the mythical history. The premiere will be February 1.

Johnny “Rooster” Byron is a vagabond and former death rider who lives in a caravan outside the city, in a forest that he claims to own. The city authorities are of a different opinion; They have decided to clear the forest to build a new residential area. During the annual village festival on St. George’s Day, both parties gather their forces for a final confrontation. Johnny swears he won’t give up without a fight. He does not want to give up his freedom or betray his friends, who at his parties can temporarily escape the harsh reality.

Johnny Byron is played by Santeri Kinnunen and the other roles are played by Rauno Ahonen, Lumi Aunio, Minni Gråhn, Markus Järvenpää, Jouko Klemettilä, Merja Larivaara, Betadi Mandunga, Mitra Matouf, Ursula Salo, Mikko Virtanen, Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.

Spring on the Arena stage begins on February 8 with the intense thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story, directed by Paavo Westerberg. The award-winning work, written by Danny Robins, is about people in our time and highlights fascinating questions about faith and supernatural experiences.

Jenny and Sam have just bought a large, old house that needs to be renovated. In addition, everyday life with a baby takes its toll. Soon Jenny begins to hear noises at night. At 2:22 a.m., she hears someone moving around the house through the babysitter in the children’s room. Jenny is convinced that the house has a curse over it and that it is haunted. Sam, who is away on a business trip, does not believe in the supernatural and he finds rational explanations for his wife’s suspicions. Jenny and Sam invite friends over for dinner and together they will stay up until 2:22 a.m.

Starring Pia Andersson, Lauri Tilkanen, Sanna-June Hyde, Matti Rasila and Sauli Suonpää.

This spring’s second premiere on the Arena stage is the musical comedy Forever Young by Erik Gedeon and it takes place on March 7. In the play directed by Heikki Sankari, we see Vuokko Hovatta, Juha Jokela, Pertti Koivula, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Leenamari Unho and Mikko Vihma.

In the performance, we are in the future. The Arena stage has been converted into an old people’s home where the actors of the City Theatre live under the supervision of a strict nurse. When the caretakers’ attention gives way, the grey stage panthers are revived. Forever Young is like the old people’s home’s version of Vain elämä, where each actor is the artist of the day and together they reminisce about the escapades of their youth. Even if the memory does not always work and the leg does not rise as it did in the early 2000s, age has not gnawed at the singing voice. The Arena stage is filled with the most famous hit songs from the last decades.

Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin’s Spanish-Roma-Jewish-Finnish flamenco orchestra and the dance group Helsinki Dance Company will present the premiere of Blood Wedding at Studio Pasila on 24 January. The dance performance, which is loosely based on Federico García Lorca’s play, draws its inspiration from 1930s Spain, where Lorca, Dalí and Buñuel created surrealist art together. Art captured the present time in its images and predicted future nightmares, such as those in which Lorca himself found himself.

On stage: Sari Haapamäki, Jyrki Kasper, Heidi Naakka, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Aino Seppo and Kaisa Torkkel, as well as musicians Victor Carrasco, Roni Martin, Sanna Salmenkallio and Juan Antonia Suárez “Cano“. The director is Atro Kahiluoto, Kaari Martin and Roni Martin, and the choreography is Kaari Martin.

At Lilla Teatern, the musical Katrina, directed by Jakob Höglund, premieres on January 31. The musical is based on Sally Salminen’s novel from 1936. Kaisa Lundán’s dramatisation and Aili Järvelä’s newly composed music give new life to Katrina’s touching story. The performance is a collaboration between Åbo Svenska Teater and Wasa Teater.

Emma Klingenberg plays the role of Katrina and she is accompanied on stage by musicians Aili Järvelä, Anni Elif and Senni Valtonen/Maija Pokela.

The City Theatre’s repertoire will continue in the spring season with the musical Pieni merenneito until the beginning of February and Rakas Evan Hansen on the main stage throughout the spring. At Lilla Teatern, the relationship farce The Marriage of Figaro continues. In February, the Small Stage will be visited by the improvisational theatre Stella Polaris and their Vapaa pudotus and PRIMA VISTA performances. Minttu Mustakallio’s and Ville Virtanen’s improvisational duet Minttu and Ville will be a guest at Studio Pasila from 2 February. Mika Eirtovaara will also make a guest appearance at Studio Pasila with his stand-up show Ihminen on 10 February. In studio Pasila, the stand-up club Club act!one will also continue. On the Arena stage, the favourite Kivia taskussa continues. The popular Senior Soup concerts and Kahvilla kirjailijan kanssa events will continue in the foyer of the main stage in the spring.

Read the latest issue of the Teatteriin magazine here.

Upcoming premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
2.12.2023 Snow Queen, reg. Heikki Sankari
24.1.2024 Wedding of Blood, chor. Kaari Martin
31.1.2024 Katrina, reg. Jakob Höglund
1.2.2024 Jerusalem, reg. Pasi Lampela
8.2.2024 2:22 A Ghost Story, reg. Paavo Westerberg
15.2.2024 Ilmasta rahaa, reg. Sari Siikander
7.3.2024 Forever Young, reg. Heikki Sankari

The repertoire for spring 2024 continues:
The Little Mermaid, reg. Samuel Harjanne (in the repertoire until 3.2)
Dear Evan Hansen, reg. Kari Arffman
The Marriage of Figaro, reg. Jakob Höglund
Stones in the Pocket, reg. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Club act!oneSenior soup
Coffee with the authorGästspel
From 2.2 Minttu and Ville , studio Pasila
From 9.2 Stella Polaris: Vapaa putotus and PRIMA VISTA, small stage
10.2.2024 Mika Eirtovaara – Human, studio Pasila

The City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service are available by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon–Fri at noon. 9–17. Ticket office at First Line 2, Mon-Fri at 12–17, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) at noon. 11–18 and always an hour before the show ends. Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun at 9 a.m. 10–18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min++ mta/lnc) www.hkt.fi

Pictured in the press release: Ilmasta rahaa.Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@hkt.fi, 050 357 4250
Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki