Somatic Sitcom draws on 90s sitcoms, transforms everyday gestures into choreography and celebrates friendship
The Somatic Sitcom performance on the stage of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Contemporary Performance combines the room staging and contemporary dance of classic sitcoms from the early 90s. The performance, which will premiere at Studio Pasila on 21 April 2026, layers seemingly insignificant everyday gestures choreography that examines the strangeness of being.
The Somatic Sitcom performance is based on choreographer Anna Maria Häkkinen, scenographer Erno Aaltonen and dramaturg Emil Santtu Uuttu’s shared interest in classic 1990s sitcoms. The working group has spent hundreds of hours watching the era’s sitcoms, deconstructing their rhythms, gestures and moods, and transferring them to the language of contemporary dance and bodily expression.
Anna Maria Häkkinen’s choreography is based on the soft somatic methods of contemporary dance, which emphasize the observation of bodily experience. “In this work, this observation is extended from the body towards the surrounding space and situations between people and objects. I’m fascinated by how everyday gestures, such as sitting down, opening a door and reaching for a cereal box, can turn into dance when you observe and observe them consciously,” Häkkinen describes. The work is set in the early 1990s and draws on the nostalgia of the time: pop and alternative culture, idle physicality and analogue objects. As in the classic comedies of the 1990s, Frasier and Seinfeld, which served as inspiration, the doorbell rings and events take a surprising turn in Somatic Sitcom. The end result is a gentle, wonderful and comedic depiction of friendship. The concept of the work was created by Anna Maria Häkkinen and Erno Aaltonen. Häkkinen is also the choreographer of the work, and Aaltonen is responsible for the set design and lighting and sound design of the work. The dramaturg of the work is Emil Santtu Uuttu. The trio has previously worked together on Phoenix – a deep relaxation serotonin release (2023), which was created for dance students at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, and Afterglow, low lingering slips of light (2023), which premiered at the Performa Biennale in New York.
The cast includes Hanna Ahti (guest), Juha Jokela, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Esete Sutinen (guest) and Antti Timonen. The costumes for the work are a collaboration between Paula Ojala and the working group. The camouflage is designed by Ronja Nylund. Dancer Taru Aho participates in the preliminary work of the dance.
The Contemporary Performance Stage in Studio Pasila brings new forms of performing arts into the Helsinki City Theatre’s repertoire. The stage of a contemporary performance creates unique encounters between a fixed professional theatre and independent operators.Somatic Sitcom premiere 21.4.2026 and performances until 9.5.2026 in Studio Pasila (Ratamestarinkatu 5). Tickets: basic ticket €25 and student ticket €12.50 (Mon-Thu) #somaticsitcom @hktfi #nykyesityksennäyttämö Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/from min+local network charge) www.hkt.fi The picture in the press release was drawn by Kaarlo Stauffer. 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