Människa värdighet temat i etning som inbörjar tre svenskspråkiga teatrars nya samarbete / Human dignity as a theme in the performance, which launches a new collaboration between three Swedish-language theatres
Helsinki City Theatre, Wasa Theatre and Turku Swedish Theatre are starting a three-year collaboration in which the theatres in turn produce a performance that will then be performed in the other locations. First up is the performance När Baba faller i poolen är kl. 23.47, which premieres on October 29 at Lilla Teatern. Spanish-Swedish author Astrid Menasanch Tobieson’s play deals with themes such as class, racism and human dignity.
The word Baba, which appears in the play’s name, is an informal and loving word for dad in many languages. The story begins when Baba (Elihú Galván) loses his job. Secretly, he starts working as an event mascot. One evening ends fatefully when a luxury party goes off the rails and Baba sinks into a pool dressed as a rabbit.
The story is told through the daughter’s (Antonia Atarah) perspective. She is a young person with an immigrant background in the second generation. In her attempt to understand what has happened, she begins to remember: her childhood, her relationship with her father, her roots. The performance is about the relationship between child and parent and also describes a society where a beloved family man is an invisible stranger in the eyes of others.
“We three theatres most recently collaborated on the audience and critically acclaimed musical Katrina (2024). There is a broad consensus on the value of increased collaboration in the performing arts field. Through co-productions, we can combine our artistic and production resources and create a diverse and bold repertoire. At the same time, the performances will have a longer life and the opportunity to meet a wider audience in several locations. It benefits the theatres and the entire theatre field, but above all the audience,” says Kira-Emmi Pohtokari, Theatre Director of Turku Swedish Theatre.
“I am pleased that the collaboration continues. We want to develop the Finland-Swedish theatre field,” says David Sandqvist, who started as artistic director of Lilla Teatern on 1 August this year.
The play was written for the stage Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Husby (2021).
On stage: Antonia Atarah and Elihú Galván. Author Astrid Menasanch Tobieson. The director is Icelandic Hallveig Eiríksdóttir, set and costume design by Riku Suvitie. Light and video design by Ville Tolvanen, sound design by Moe Mustafa. The mask design is created by Jutta Kainulainen and the dramaturg is Sanna Niemeläinen.
Performed in Swedish. The performance is subtitled in Finnish, Swedish and English via the Subtitle Mobile mobile application.
When Baba Falls into the Pool is at 23.47, premiere on 29.10.2026 at Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, Helsinki.
Performance period at Wasa Theatre 13.1 – 2.2.2027 and at Åbo Svenska Teater 11.2 -20.3.2027.
Ticket price at Helsinki City Theatre: normal price €43, student price €21.50 (Mon–Thu), pensioner price €40 (Mon–Thu).
#närbabafalleripoolenärkl2347 @lilla.teatern @hktfi @abosvenskateater @wasateater
Helsinki City Theatre’s customer service is available by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon–Fri at noon. 9–17. Ticket office on First Line 2, Mon–Fri at noon. 12–17, Djurgårdsvägen 5 and the ticket offices at the other stages open one hour before the performance starts on the stage in question. Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9–19 tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge/mta) www.hkt.fi
Press images are available in the image bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Pictured in the press release: Antonia Atarah and Elihú Galván. Photo Heli Blåfield.
Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250. Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki.
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Human dignity as a theme in a performance that launches a new collaboration between three Swedish-language theatres
Helsinki City Theatre, Wasa Theatre and Åbo Svenska Teater are starting a three-year collaboration in which the theatres will each take turns producing a performance that will also be performed in two other locations. The first film to be seen is När baba faller i poolen är kl. 23.47, which premieres on 29 October on the Swedish-language stage of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Lilla Teatern. Spanish-Swedish author Astrid Menasanch Tobieson’s play deals with class, racism and human dignity.
The Baba in the title of the play is an informal affectionate word for father in many languages. The story begins when Baba (Elihú Galván) loses his job. He secretly starts working as a mascot at events. One evening ends fatefully when the lavish party gets out of hand and Baba sinks into the pool dressed as a rabbit.
The story is told from the point of view of Baba’s daughter (Antonia Atarah). He is a young second-generation immigrant who is trying to understand what happened and begins to reminisce about his childhood, his relationship with his father and their roots. The performance deals with the relationship between a child and a parent and depicts a society in which a beloved family man is an invisible stranger in the eyes of others.
“Our previous collaboration was the musical Katrina (2024), which was praised by audiences and critics. In the field of performing arts, there is a broad consensus on the value of increasing cooperation. With the help of co-productions, we can combine our artistic and production resources and create versatile and bold repertoire. At the same time, the performances will have a longer life cycle and the opportunity to meet wider audiences in several locations. This benefits theatres and the entire theatre field, but above all the audience,” says Kira-Emmi Pohtokari, Theatre Director of Åbo Svenska Teater.
“I am happy that our great cooperation continues. We want to be involved in the development of the Finnish-Swedish theatre field,” says David Sandqvist, who started as the artistic director of Lilla Teatern on 1 August this year.
The play was originally written for the Husby stage at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm (2021).
Antonia Atarah and Elihú Galván will be seen on stage.
The play is written by Astrid Menasanch Tobieson. The director is Icelandic Hallveig Eiríksdóttir. The set and costume design is done by Riku Suvitie. Lighting and video design is by Ville Tolvanen, sound design by Moe Mustafa. The disguise was designed by Jutta Kainulainen and the dramaturg is Sanna Niemeläinen.
Performed in Swedish. The performance will be subtitled in Finnish, Swedish and English using the Subtitle Mobile mobile application.
When Baba Falls into the Pool is at 23.47, premiere 29.10.2026, Lilla Teatern, Yrjönkatu 30, Helsinki.
Performance season at Wasa Theatre 13.1.-2.2.2027 and at Åbo Svenska Teater 11.2.-20.3.2027.
Ticket prices at the Helsinki City Theatre: basic ticket €43, student ticket €21.50 (Mon-Thu), pensioner ticket €40 (Mon-Thu).
#närbabafalleripoolenärkl2347 @lilla.teatern @hktfi @abosvenskateater @wasateater
Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket office Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5 and other stages ticket sales always one hour before the event in question. stage performances and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi
Press photos can be found in the media bank and press releases in the newsroom.
Photo in the press release: photographer Heli Blåfield, Antonia Atarah and Elihú Galván in the photo.
Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen, ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250. Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki