My Friend’s Pelican is a hilariously wise play about the wonder of life
The charming fantasy adventure for the whole family, My Friend the Pelican, will premiere on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre on 12 October. Paula Salminen’s new dramatisation of Leena Krohn’s novel In Human Clothes tells the story of the encounter of two strangers in a large city, a surprising friendship, homesickness and the relationship between man and nature. The play is directed by award-winning Irene Aho and stars Ylermi Rajamaa and Elias Salonen.
When Emil’s (Elias Salonen) parents divorce, the boy moves with his mother from the countryside to the city. There, Emil meets his new neighbor, the mysterious Mr. Hyyryläinen (Ylermi Rajamaa), who turns out to be a pelican in human clothing. The boy and the pelican become friends, end up on exciting adventures and teach each other to see the world with new eyes.
“The play is first and foremost about friendship, but also about the relationship between man and nature and the importance of art for people. When learning about human life, the pelican falls in love with the arts, and we humans also need art to experience life as meaningful,” says director Irene Aho .
The other roles in the play are played by Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Inkeri Hyvönen, Juha Jokela, Pertti Koivula, Sanna Majuri, Unto Nuora, Aino Seppo, Marjut Toivanen and Kaisa Torkkel.
Leena Krohn’s novel retains its basic story and philosophical spirit. On top of that, a rich world has been created, which has been made with a strong imaginative touch. The working group has been inspired by opera, baroque and fantasy, among others. The set design was designed by Antti Mattila, the costumes by Kirsi Manninen and the camouflage by Tuula Kuittinen. William Iles is responsible for the lighting design and Toni Haaranen for the video design. The composition and sound design of the work is by Aleksi Saura.
The performance is suitable for the whole family, from school-age children upwards.
My Friend the Pelican is Irene Aho’s first production at the Helsinki City Theatre. In 2020, Irene Aho was awarded the Eino Kalima Incentive Prize for her work Koiramäki’s Finnish History, which was her previous children’s theatre direction (Finnish National Theatre, 2019).
Read Irene Aho’s interview on the theatre’s website: A philosophical fantasy adventure takes you to the big questions
The premiere of My Friend the Pelican on 12.10.2022 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5). Tickets: children’s ticket 19 € (Mon-Thu), pensioner ticket 36 € (Mon-Thu), basic ticket 39 € #ystävänipelikaani @hktfi
Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9-17.30. Ticket offices Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 11-17.30, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18 and one hour before the performance and Lippupiste, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-18, 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:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager , kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki