The City Theatre opens the spring season with the romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love

Helsinki City Theatre’s spring performance season begins with the romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love on the big stage and on the small stage with Arthur Miller’s topical drama The Price. The year on the Arena stage begins with Jaakko Saariluoma’s farce direction Don’t Dress for Dinner and at Lilla Teatern with Tove Jansson’s beloved Sommarboken. Studio Pasila’s early years include Anna-Leena Härkönen’s No Thank You and the sequel to the popular comedy set in the medical world, More Saikkua, kiitos!

Based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard (1998) and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall in 2014, Shakespeare in Love will have its Finnish premiere on 25 January on the big stage. The play, translated into Finnish by Reita Lounatvuori, is directed by theatre director Kari Arffman. The set design for the play, which is set in the world of theatre, is designed by Katariina Kirjavainen and the splendid period costumes by Elina Kolehmainen. The main couple of the romantic comedy is Heikki Ranta and Miila Virtanen.

The play takes place in London in 1593. Will Shakespeare, who suffers from a lack of money and problems with women, tries to work on a new work for his theatre, but the writing work is completely stalled. At the auditions, Will meets a skilled actress who turns out to be the beautiful Lady Viola. The young couple’s love ignites, and a passionate romance sends Will’s writing into a new flight. However, the lovers are forced to keep their relationship a secret, as Lady Viola has already been promised to another man with the Queen’s blessing.

Based on Tove Jansson’s novel, Sommarboken will premiere at Lilla Teatern on 31 January, directed and choreographed by Jakob Höglund . The roles of the beloved classic are played by Jessica Grabowsky and Sue Lemström.

The play depicts the friendship between a girl named Sophia and an old grandmother and spending the summer together on an island in the Gulf of Finland. When one person’s life is already starting to fade, the other is still completely ahead of it.

The set and costumes are designed by Sven Haraldsson. The musical and playful performance is designed by Hanna Mikander and the lighting design by Paavo Kykkänen.

Arthur Miller’s timeless and touching family drama Price will premiere on a small stage on February 1. The play, translated into Finnish by Aleksi Milonoff , is directed by Paavo Westerberg, and the set and costumes are designed by Antti Mattila. The roles are played by a wonderful quartet, Eero Aho, Santeri Kinnunen, Esko Salminen and Aino Seppo.

After a break of years, brothers Victor and Walter meet at the estate of their late father. The estate has been summoned by the elderly antique dealer Solomon, whose last big gig this will be. Is there more left of the family’s shared past than just stuff? What price does each person pay for the life choices they make?

The most delicious table setting of the spring will be on offer on the Arena stage, when Marc Camoletti’s farce classic Don’t Dress for Dinner premieres on 2 February, directed by Jaakko Saariluoma and set in today’s Finland. Unbridled explanations and near misses are offered by skilled comedians Sanna-June Hyde, Jonna Järnefelt, Katja Küttner, Pekka Strang, Pertti Sveholm and Joachim Wigelius.

At his summer home in Fiskars, Matti is preparing to celebrate his girlfriend Katariina’s birthday in a romantic way. Unfortunately, wife Linda cancels her departure to her mother at the last minute. There won’t be a romantic night out, but we’ll be able to party. Matti’s friend Harri, who is also involved in an affair with Matti’s wife, a catering chef and her slightly scary boyfriend. Who plays whom and how does the concoction hold together?

Studio Pasila’s spring season begins with the comedy No Thank You, based on Anna-Leena Härkönen’s popular novel, on 7 February. The play, dramatised by Heikki Paavilainen, is directed by Mira Kivilä, and the set and costumes are designed by Tuomas Lampinen.

Heli loves her husband Matti, but what to do when he is more interested in a computer than a wife? Hungry for attention, Heli gets to know the young Jarno, and a wild affair also opens Heli’s eyes to the reality of her marriage. The roles of the bold comedy are played by Aksinja Lommi, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Leenamari Unho, Antti Timonen and Pyry Äikää.

Studio Pasila’s season continues on 12 February with the distribution part of the popular performance Saikkua, kiitos! In the novelty, written by the world’s funniest person Ismo Leikola and the working group, the pace only accelerates when doctors participate in the Doctor of the Year competition. As usual, Duo Aspir’s unique interpreter of Ismo Leikola’s songs and the roles are played by a familiar trio: Mikko Kivinen, Ville Keskilä and Kalle Pylvänäinen.

HKT’s spring season programme continues on the big stage with the Finnish musical Maija of Myrskyluoto, the whole family’s favourite Pippi Longstocking and Mannerheim and the German Kiss, directed by Kari Heiskanen. On the small stage, Hansu and Pirre – Mieleni minun tekevi and the funniest man in Finland, starring Martti Suosalo, will continue. Studio Pasila’s repertoire will continue with the record-breaking popular Stones in Your Pocket and the stand-up club Club act!one, and Lilla Teatern’s Vinterkriget, here we go again.

Read the new Theatre Extra here.

Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre:

Trench Road 1.11.2017 at the Arena Stage, dir. Otso Kautto
Finland’s Funniest Man 2.11.2017 on a small stage, dir. Heikki Kujanpää
Christmas calendar for adults 15.11.2017 on a small stage, dir. Jyrki Karttunen
The Winter War – here we go again 16.11.2017 Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Arn-Henrik Blomqvist
Sleeping Beauty – Back to the Future 8.12.2017 in Studio Pasila, dir. Marco Bjurström
Shakespeare in Love 25.1.2018 on the big stage, dir. Kari Arffman
Summer book 31.1.2018 Lilla Teatern
Don’t Dress Up for Dinner 2.2.2018 Arena Stage, dir. Jaakko Saariluoma
Price 1.2.2018 on a small stage, dir. Paavo Westerberg
No thanks 7.2.2018 studio in Pasila, dir. Mira Kivilä
More, please! 12.2.2018 Studio in Pasila, dir. Otto Kanerva and working group