HKT’s programme for the beginning of 2020 features Finnish novelties and masterpieces from around the world

Helsinki City Theatre brings Emily Brontë’s masterpiece Humming Ridge to the big stage, directed by Lauri Maijala. On the small stage, the year begins with Steve Martin’s comedy novel Starfall. This spring’s Finnish novelties include Timo Kahilainen and Heikki Vihinen’s Le Coq – the battle for a restaurant on the Arena stage and Faktum händelser at Lilla Teatern, which is based on true stories collected from the audience . The third sequel to the comedy favorite, Saikkua, please, arrives at Studio Pasila! PART 3.

Emily Brontë’s primordial novel Wuthering Heights (1847) has been adapted for film and stage, and from 30 January, the powerful story will also be seen on stage for the first time in Helsinki, dramatised by Jo Clifford (1994), translated into Finnish by Ville Koskivaara and directed by Lauri Maijala.

The Humming Ridge tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between the wild Catherine and the orphan boy Heathcliff, who was brought into her family as a child. It is a love story from childhood to adulthood about pride, class differences and the destructive power of revenge. It is a triangle drama and a sibling story, a story about people who thirst for freedom in a world where only a few have the opportunity for freedom.

Catherine’s amazing role is played by Oona Airola, who has won the Jussi Award twice. The other roles are played by Markus Järvenpää (Heatcliff), Markku Haussila (Hindley), Rauno Ahonen, Vuokko Hovatta, Martti Manninen, Sonja Pajunoja, Matti Olavi Ranin, Leena Rapola and Matti Rasila. The set design was designed by Katariina Kirjavainen and the costumes by Sari Suominen.

On 29 January, the Finnish premiere of the new comedy Meteor Shower (2016) by the well-known actor and stand-up legend Steve Martin will take place on the small stage.  Translated into Finnish by Sanna Niemeläinen and directed by stand-up comedian Mika Eirtovaara, this absurd and at the same time intelligent comedy offers not only laughter but also a mirror to one’s own relationship.

Corky and Norm are just an ordinary middle-aged couple with a comfortable home and a well-developed relationship. When a spectacular meteor shower has been predicted for the evening, a new acquaintance, Gerald and Laura, have been invited to admire it. They are superbly stylish and entertaining guests, or is there something strange about them after all?

The roles of the sitcomic that combines surreal twists and oblique humour are played by the amazing comedians Katja Küttner, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Mikko Penttilä and the versatile theatre professional Peter Ahlqvist, a man known from the sets of The Little Mermaid and Kinky Boots , among others, who has also designed the set design for the play Tähtiradetta. The costumes for the performance are designed by Elina Kolehmainen.

Le Coq – Battle for a Restaurant, a new Finnish comedy on the Arena stage, draws humour from top chefs, restaurant critics and a love of French cuisine. The play is the first premiere in Helsinki by the Tampere-based duo Timo Kahilainen and Heikki Vihinen, who are also known from Kummelit. Le Coq – The Battle for a Restaurant, directed by Vihinen, will premiere on 6 February.

The former Michelin-starred restaurant Le Coq, owned by Max von Salmi, is struggling with its debts. Time has passed us by our world-class master chef, customers have disappeared and the restaurant is on the verge of bankruptcy. Black clouds have gathered in the sky of our protagonist. When an unexpected half-brother from Russia appears to claim the restaurant for himself, a battle for dominance of the restaurant begins. What do freedom, fraternity and equality mean?

The new farce stars Riitta Havukainen, Heikki Hela, Kaisa Hela, Jouko Klemettilä, Pertti Koivula, Jarkko Niemi and Eija Vilpas. The set design was designed by Timo Kahilainen and Vilma Mattila and the costumes by Elina Vättö.

Lilla Teatern puts the audience at the centre and starts the theatre year with the Finnish premiere of Actual Events on 11 January. The play, which is based on true stories collected from the audience, has been dramatized by Elisa Makarevitch and directed by Joakim Groth.

Actual Events is about what is important or worth remembering in people’s lives, about love and loss, about what we believe in, what we regret, what we would like from those in power and what scene of our lives we would like to see on stage. The work presents a series of people of different ages, professions and neighbourhoods, who are united only by the fact that they have all been an audience at Lilla Teatern at some point. The inspiration and role model for the performance has been Mattias Andersson’s The Mental States of Sweden, which was performed at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm.

The cast includes Birthe Wingren, Niklas Häggblom, Linda Zilliacus, Joachim Wigelius, Kira-Emmi Pohtokari and Alexander Wendelin, who have mainly acted in Sweden in recent years. The set designer is Katariina Kirjavainen, and the costumes are designed by Maria Rosenqvist.

The popular doctor jokes Saikkua, kiitos! and More Saikkua, please! will be continued when the even funnier Saikkua, kiitos! PART 3 will premiere on February 27 at Studio Pasila. Written and directed by Mikko Kivinen, Ville Keskilä and Kalle Pylvänäinen , and directed together with Otto Kanerva , the novelty draws on lively sketch humour from everyday encounters between healthcare professionals and patients at doctor’s offices, just like its predecessors. The performance is complemented by new songs written by the world-conquering stand-up comedian Ismo Leikola .

Read the new Theatre Extra here.

Next premieres
7.12.2019 Christmas in the foreststudio in Pasila, dir. Heikki Sankari
11.1.2020 Actual events Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Joakim Groth
29.1.2020 Starburst on a small stage, dir. Mika Eirtovaara
30.1.2020 Humming ridge on the big stage, dir. Lauri Maijala
6.2.2020 Le Coq – battle for the restaurant On the Arena stage, dir. Heikki Vihinen
27.2.2020 Saikkua, thank you! PART 3 studio in Pasila, dir. Otto Kanerva and working group
 

Visits
2.11.2019 Iikka Kivi – Spede is dead Arenastage
24.11.2019 Songs from Broadway and the West End On the big stage
9.-10.12.2019 Christmas at Lillan Lilla Teatern
1.12.2019 Ismo Leikola – Words apart studio in Pasila
 

Public events
Coffee with a writer events in the foyer of the main stage. Free admission. Heidi Herala, Aino Seppo and Eija Vilppas will be joined by author Sanna Karlström on 19 November
Wednesday’s backstage tours

Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, First Line 2, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) 
www.hkt.fi 
Press photos can be found in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
 

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