HKT starts 2023 with Finnish novelties and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the dance company
In early 2023, the Helsinki City Theatre will premiere the comedy Asmodeus and 1313 Souls, dramatised and directed by Juha Hurme, a stage adaptation of Tommi Kinnunen’s novel No Regrettable and the dance group Helsinki Dance Company’s 50th anniversary production, Anton Lachky’s Special Night.
The spring season on the big stage opens with Tommi Kinnunen’s new Finnish play based on Tommi Kinnunen’s beloved novel, which was nominated for the Finlandia Prize, and the timeless survival story Ei kertonud regretted on 9 February. The dramatisation and direction of the play is Susanna Airaksinen, and the main roles are played by a stunning quintet of Lumi Aunio, Seidi Haarla, Heidi Herala, Ursula Salo and Aino Seppo.
The play tells the story of Finnish women who worked for the German army during the Continuation War, and who are treated as traitors after the lost war and the withdrawal of German troops. To avoid the prison camp, a group of women embark on a difficult and dangerous journey, helping each other, thinking about their choices.
He said he didn’t regret giving a voice to women whose stories had not been told before and put the song about Finnish history in a new light. Despite its tough subject matter, it is an airy and beautiful story of a wandering – a vagabond story of five strong women, accompanied by a rough live band on stage.
Juha Hurme’s comedy Asmodeus and 1313 Souls is based on a miniature novel by Runar Schildt published in 1915. The Finnish novelty will premiere on 26 January on a small stage.
In the story, the demon king Asmodeus makes a bet with the Field Marshal of Hell that he will manage to collect permission from 13 people in three days to sell their souls to hell after death. In the first act, based on Schildt’s novel, we follow Asmodeus’ first trip to Helsinki in 1913. The second act, written by Hurme, takes place in 2026, when Helsinki has been evacuated to Lahti due to the flood. This time, Asmodeus should be able to collect 1300 souls in the same three days. It can be done easily.
The role of Asmodeus is played by Vappu Nalbantoglu and the other roles in the play are played by Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Mikko Virtanen, Paavo Kääriäinen, Kai Lähdesmäki, Unto Nuora, Tiina Peltonen, Inka Tiitinen and Mikko Vihma.
Petra Poutanen will compose the music for the work, and there will be two top-notch live musicians, Ville Herrala and Piia Komsi, who will create the soundscape.
On the big stage, there will be a real celebration of dance, as the crown jewel of the City Theatre, the dance group Helsinki Dance Company, celebrates its 50th anniversary, and the main work of the anniversary year, Special Night by Anton Lachky, who represents the absolute top of European contemporary dance, will premiere on 8 March.
Lachky’s intensely energetic and unique choreographic handprint has been awarded several international awards, and her works are actively touring around the world. There are only five performances of this unique masterpiece of contemporary dance.
The dancers in the work are Lewis Cook, Jyrki Kasper, Elina Lindfors, Aksinja Lommi, Misa Lommi, Pekka Louhio, Heidi Naakka, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Ioulia Zacharaki and Krista-Julia Arppo.
In the spring season, the City Theatre’s repertoire will continue with the party musical Priscilla, the Queen of the Desert and the new generation of Fanny and Alexander on the big stage. The programme on the small stage will continue with Silent Bridges starring Merja Larivaara and Kari Heiskanen, I Chose You directed by Milja Sarkola and the fantasy adventure My Friend the Pelican for the whole family.
The stand-up club Club act!one and the returning Turvamies, starring Martti Suosalo and Katja Küttner, will continue in Studio Pasila. The Arena Stage’s repertoire will continue with the ever-popular Stones in Your Pocket and the successful comedy Drama That Goes Wrong, which will return to the repertoire. Lilla Teatern’s repertoire continues with the amazing Moomin play Kris och katastrof i Moominalen and the audience and critics’ success Once in Finnish, which returns to the programme. The audience’s beloved Seniorisoppa concerts will also continue in the spring.
Read the new Teatteriin magazine here.
Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
1.11.2022 Lomonosov engine, kor. Valtteri Raekallio
17.11.2022 Fanny and Alexander, dir. Paavo Westerberg
3.12.2022 The Miser’s Christmas, dir. Heikki Sankari
26.1.2023 Asmodeus and 1313 Souls, dir. Juha Hurme
9.2.2023 Didn’t say he regrets it, dir. Susanna Airaksinen
8.3.2023 Special Night, choir Anton Lachký. Only five performances!
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 am – 5.30 pm, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11 am – 6 pm and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 am – 9 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi
@hktfi
Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Further information, 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
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Helsinki City Theatre kicks off 2023 with Finnish news and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the dance company
Helsinki City Theatre opens 2023 with the premiere of Asmodeus ja 1313 sielua, written and dramatised by Juha Hurme, Ei kertonut katuvansa, based on Tommi Kinnunen’s novel of the same name, and the 50th anniversary performance of the dance group Helsinki Dance Company; Anton Lachký’s Special Night.
The spring on the Main Stage begins on 9 February with the performance Ei kertonut katuvansa, which is based on Tommi Kinnunen’s beloved, Finlandia-nominated novel. Susanna Airaksinen is responsible for dramatisation and directing, and the main roles are played by Lumi Aunio, Seidi Haarla, Heidi Herala, Ursula Salo and Aino Seppo.
The play is about Finnish women who worked for the German army during the Continuation War and who were considered traitors after the lost war. To avoid prison camps, some of the women embarked on a difficult and dangerous journey.
Ei kertonut katuvansa gives a voice to women whose stories have not been told before and provides a new perspective on the past. Despite the heavy theme, it is an airy and beautiful play – a story about the wandering journey of five strong women, accompanied by a live band.
Juha Hurme’s comedy Asmodeus ja 1313 sielua is based on Runar Schildt’s novel from 1915. The premiere will be on the small stage on January 26.
In the story, the demon king Asmodeus makes a bet with the Marshal of Hell that in three days he will be able to gather 13 people who are willing to donate their souls to Hell after their death. In the first act, which is based on Schildt’s novel, we follow Asmodeus’ first trip to Helsinki in 1913. The second act, written by Hurme himself, will take place in 2026, by which time Helsinki will have been evacuated to Lahti due to flooding. This time, Asmodeus will gather 1300 souls in three days. It can be done without any problems.
Vappu Nalbantoglu plays the role of Asmodeus and the other roles are played by Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Mikko Virtanen, Paavo Kääriäinen, Kai Lähdesmäki, Unto Nuora, Tiina Peltonen, Inka Tiitinen and Mikko Vihma.
The music is composed by Petra Poutanen and the soundscape of the performance is created live on stage by top musicians Ville Herrala and Piia Komsi.
On the main stage, there will be a dance party when the City Theatre’s crown jewel, the dance group Helsinki Dance Company, celebrates its 50th anniversary with Anton Lachký’s performance Special Night, which premieres on 8 March.
Lachkỳ’s choreographies are internationally awarded, and his work is actively touring the world. Only five performances of this unique work will be performed.
Dancers Lewis Cook, Sofia Hilli, Jyrki Kasper, Elina Lindfors, Aksinja Lommi, Misa Lommi, Pekka Louhio, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Ioulia Zacharaki and Lysanne van Berlo.
During the spring season, the musical Priscilla, the Desert Kuningatar and Fanny ja Alexander will continue on the main stage. On the small stage, Hiljaiset sillat continues with Merja Larivaara and Kari Heiskanen in the lead roles, Minä valin sind directed by Milja Sarkola and the family performance Ystäväni pelikaani.
In studio Pasila, the stand-up club Club act!one and Turvamies will continue to return to the repertoire. On the Arena stage, Kiviä taskussa and Näytelmä joka menee pieleen will play, which will also return to the repertoire. Lilla Teatern’s repertoire continues with the Moomin performance Crisis and Disaster in Moominvalley and the audience and critics’ hit Once in Finnish. The popular Seniorisoppa concerts will also continue in the spring in the foyer of the main stage.
Read the latest issue of the Teatteriin magazine here.
Upcoming premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
1.11.2022 Lomonosov engine, kor. Valtteri Raekallio
17.11.2022 Fanny and Alexander, directed by Paavo Westerberg
3.12.2022 The Miser’s Christmas, directed by Heikki Sankari
26.1.2023 Asmodeus and 1313 Souls, directed by Juha Hurme
9.2.2023 No Regrets, directed by Susanna Airaksinen
8.3.2023 Special Night, choir Anton Lachký. Only five performances!
Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket office is open by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri at noon. 9-17.30. Ticket office on First Line 2, Mon-Fri at noon. 11-17.30, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (during performance days) at 11-18 and one hour before the start of the performance. Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 am – 9 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge/mobile call charge) www.hkt.fi @hktfi
Press images can be found in the image bank and press releases in the press room
Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Head of Communications, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki