Tatu and Patu in Helsinki finally premieres!

Finland’s most popular children’s book characters, Tatu and Patu, will finally be able to conquer the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre. Originally planned for March 2020 and postponed several times, the premiere of Tatu and Patu in Helsinki will finally take place on 7 September. The new play promises speed, strange humour and insightful joy to children and other playful people.

The script for the new musical play is written by Aino Havukainen, Sami Toivonen and Sami Rannila, who also directs the play. The music for the novelty for the whole family has been composed by Kari Mäkiranta and the fast-paced choreographies have been designed by academician Marjo Kuusela. In the play, brothers Tatu and Patu from Strange come to Helsinki to visit their cousin Jori. Jori is the most successful stranger of all time, but he is so busy that the brothers have their work cut out to keep up with Jori. While adventuring around Helsinki, Tatu and Patu encounter many of the wonders of the capital. How to deal with e.g. the potentially dangerous vest gang members dressed in fenissaries, traffic lights, restaurant days or mud overalls?

The roles of Tatu and Patu are played by the duo known as Liero and Kiero in the musical The Little Mermaid , Antti Timonen (Tatu) and Paavo Kääriäinen (Patu). The other roles are played by Paavo Kerosuo, Sanna Saarijärvi, Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Juha Jokela, Selma Kauppinen, Joonas Luomala, Kai Lähdesmäki, Unto Nuora, Tiina Peltonen, Justus Pienmunne, Emilia Nyman, Inka Tiitinen, Kaisa Torkkel, Leenamari Unho/Maija Lang and Mikko Vihma.

Set designer Markus Tsokkinen and media artist Nuutti Koskinen have conjured up an astonishing, gravity-defying Helsinki set for the City Theatre’s main stage with gigantic trams, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights. The costumes of the characters exuding Helsinki’s elegance have been designed by Elina Kolehmainen and the camouflage by Jaana Nykänen. Jenny Villikka is responsible for the design of the props, Petteri Heiskanen for the lighting design and Janne Brelih for the sound design.

The musical play is loosely based on the book Tatu ja Patu in Helsinki (2003), co-written and illustrated by Aino Havukainen and Sami Toivonen. It is the first part of the popular Tatu and Patu book series, which is constantly being reprinted. The translation rights of the book series have been sold to 23 countries, and the books have been published in China, Korea, Russia, the Nordic countries and Hungary, among others. The series has been awarded the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2007 and the Tietopöllö Prize in 2008.

Recommended age from 4 years of age.

Tatu and Patu in Helsinki premiere 7.9.2021 on the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5)
Children’s ticket 18/23 €, Student ticket 20/22,50 € (Mon-Thu), Pensioner ticket 37/42 € (Mon-Thu), Basic ticket 40/45 €
#tatujapatuhelsingissä @hktfi

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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