In the autumn season of the City Theatre, a modern classic directed by Lauri Maijala and new comedy
After the Helsinki City Theatre’s grand musical The Little Mermaid , which opens the autumn season, the season continues on a small stage under the direction of Lauri Maijala from the modern German classic Game Trail. The autumn on the Arena stage will start with the French farce Perfect Saturday, and French comedy will also be offered by Studio Pasila’s Threesome. Lilla Teatern will premiere the new Finnish drama comedy Äktenskapsgrejen.
The modern classic play Wildwechsel (1971), touching with its serious themes, will premiere on the small stage on 4 September. The play, written by German Franz Xaver Kroetz, has been translated into Finnish by Vesa-Tapio Valo and directed by Lauri Maijala.
Erwin and Hilda’s only child, 13-year-old Hanni, is in love with 19-year-old Franz. The parents oppose and are ashamed of the relationship, but the daughter refuses to give up her first love. Franz is convicted of his relationship with a minor, but after his sentence, the young people continue to meet each other and the events accelerate towards a tragic end.
The roles of Riistapolku are played by Pekka Huotari, Risto Kaskilahti, Paavo Kinnunen, Ella Mettänen and Ursula Salo. The set design is by Antti Mattila and the costumes by Elina Kolehmainen.
One of France’s most interesting contemporary playwrights, Florian Zeller’s Un heure de tranquillité (2013), which was successful in Swedish (Ens lite lugn i huset) at Lilla Teatern, will have its Finnish premiere on the Arena stage on 5 September. The Finnish version of the French farce will also be directed by Jaakko Saariluoma, the set design will be by Antti Mattila and the costumes will be designed by Maria Rosenqvist.
Markus has planned to spend a quiet morning at home enjoying and listening to the new jazz album of his dreams, which he has been searching for for years and finally found at a flea market. The rest of the world just seems to be against the plan. He would only like to have an hour of alone time, but that’s when his wife, son, mistress and tenacious neighbor all need attention. A quiet morning threatens to turn into a nightmare or at least a plumbing renovation.
The role of Markus is played by the amazing Pekka Strang, and the other roles in this fast-paced farce include Vuokko Hovatta, Jouko Klemettilä, Sixten Lundberg, Vappu Nalbantoglu and Matti Rasila. The play has been translated into Finnish by Reita Lounatvuori.
Lilla Teatern’s autumn season opens with the new drama comedy Äktenskapsgrejen, written by Gunilla Hemming and directed by Cris af Enehielm, on 11 September.
The events take place at the family’s cottage, where three generations gather on a summer night. The 56-year-old Silja is trying to find a new direction for her life when a long marriage is over, the children have moved away from home and the shared home has to be emptied. The situation is not helped by an ever-young mother who decides to marry her lover, who is 25 years younger. When the man’s daughter arrives and puts the previous generations against the wall, the ingredients are in place for a memorable day at the cottage.
The roles of the warm-hearted novelty are played by the iconic Laila Björkstam, Jonna Järnefelt, Oksana Lommi, Carl-Kristian Rundman and Joachim Wigelius, who return to Lillan’s stage.The set design is by Markus Tsokkinen and the costumes by Cris af Enehielm.
On 12 September, Studio Pasila will premiere French Clément Michel’s Threesome (Une semaine pas plus!, 2011). The play, translated into Finnish by Reita Lounatvuori, is directed by Liisa Mustonen.
Paul wants to break up with his girlfriend Sophie, but can’t say it directly, preferring to try to be left alone. He asks his friend Martin to live in their home so that Sophie gets tired of living in a shared apartment and leaves. However, Sophie is very understanding of men who behave strangely, and in the end, she is the one who surprises the men.
The roles in the French comedy are played by a young trio of actors: Elina Hietala, Jarkko Niemi and Olli Rahkonen. The set and costumes of the play are designed by Tellervo Syrjäkari.
HKT’s autumn season programme continues at Studio Pasila with the ever-popular Stones in Your Pocket, the traditional stand-up club Club act!one and Fingerpori, based on Pertti Jarla’s popular comic. On the small stage, Martti Suosalo’s visit The Best in Life, the family drama Little Foxes and in the foyer, the delightful fairy tale play Tahvo and Bella, about animal friends, will continue. The programme for late autumn 2019 will be published at the opening of the year on 13 August.
Read the new Teatteriin magazine here.
Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
20.3.2019 Tahvo and Bella in the foyer of the small stage, dir. Sami Rannila
3.4.2019 Little Foxes on a Small Stage, dir. Kari Heiskanen
25.4.2019 A look is a look Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Jessica Grabowsky and Milja Sarkola
29.8.2019 The Little Mermaid on the Big Stage, dir. Samuel Harjanne
4.9.2019 Game Trail on a Small Stage, dir. Lauri Maijala
5.9.2019 A Perfect Saturday at the Arena Stage, dir. Jaakko Saariluoma
11.9.2019 The Marriage Thing Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Cris af Enehielm
12.9.2019 Threesome studio in Pasila, dir. Liisa Mustonen
Visits
19.3.2019 and 21.3.2019 Pate Mustajärvi – The Phantom of the Theatre on the Arena Stage
22.3.2019 Straight from Life Lilla Teaternissa
15. and 16.5.2019 Paradisdoktrinen at Lilla Teatern
13.4.2019 Tommi Haustola – excuse me, may I rebel? On the Arena stage
Public events
Coffee with a writer events in the foyer of the main stage. Free admission. Heidi Herala, Aino Seppo and Eija Vilppas as guests of authors
Jani Mäkivalli 26.3.2019 at 5 pm and Saara Turunen 14.5.2019 at 5 pm
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 Officer Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki