Senior soup available at the City Theatre – and permission to sing along

The Helsinki City Theatre will offer five Senior Soup lunch concerts during the spring. The morning event, tailored to the daily rhythm of a pensioner and tailored to suit the budget, includes a small-scale concert followed by a joint soup lunch in the theatre’s foyer. The mother of the idea, actress Merja Larivaara, has also organised similar concerts in other theatres, and the events have been hugely popular.

“This is an event where you can come alone, as a couple or with a larger group. There is company, and you can always sing along! The songs for the concert have been compiled mainly from the wishes of a pensioner. There are hits from past decades, and there is always room for a newer, even surprising song,” says actress Merja Larivaara, who came up with the idea for the Senior Soup concept and will perform at the concert together with actor Kari Mattila and a four-piece orchestra.

“Before theatre school, I worked in elderly care and even had time to study the field. I was my grandmother’s first grandchild, and through that, I got special attention and a lot of time from her. Perhaps this is partly why it has always been easy and natural for me to meet older people,” Larivaara says.

“As soon as I graduated from the theatre school, I started visiting nursing homes and service homes. With my friend Taina Semi , who specialises in memory work, we have done various projects, combining care work, music and different areas of theatre. I’ve been working in theatre for almost 34 years, and many things have changed their shape. I feel it is important that the performances and events in the theatre are diverse, and I believe that there is also a demand and need for Seniorisoppa . It increases encounters and helps us get closer to each other,” Larivaara believes.

The Senior Soup Orchestra consists of Aarne Toivonen, Anna-Liisa Väkeväinen, Markku Kanerva and Tuure Koski.

Senior Soup events from 22.3.2022 onwards in the foyer of the Helsinki City Theatre’s main stage (Eläintarhantie 5)
Tickets: 18 €. In addition to the concert, the ticket price includes a soup lunch.

#seniorisoppa #hktfi

Helsinki City Theatre ticket office, Ensi linja 2, Mon-Fri 9 am – 5.30 pm, Eläintarhantie 5 Sat 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.hkti.fi

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