The City Theatre’s spring brings a lot of new and inspiring things to the anniversary year
Helsinki City Theatre will start the theatre’s own and Finland’s centenary year with a new direction and an interesting new programme. The spring performance season continues after the first premieres of the year, Father, Retro, Kirka – Sorrow Wipes My Eyes and Tenors in the Broth, with comedy novelties, dance theatre, touching monologue, contemporary circus and interesting visits.
Studio Pasila will be visited by Saikkua under the direction of Mikko Kivinen, thank you! Written by the funniest person in the world, stand-up comedian Ismo Leikola and actor Kalle Pylvänäinen, this exhilarating performance mocks almost everything that can happen between a doctor and a patient. Cast: Mikko Kivinen, Kalle Pylvänäinen and Ville Keskilä. The Pasila reception will open on 10 February and it will be open for 15 performances.
German director Moritz Rinke’s successful play Let’s Love Without Knowing Anything (Wir lieben und wissen nichts, 2012) depicts today’s human relationships, phenomena and people in a poignant and sharply accurate way. Under the guidance of Arn-Henrik Blomqvist , two couples swap apartments – and juicers – without any idea of the consequences of this seemingly convenient practical arrangement. The witty comedy performed by Laura Alajääski, Jouko Klemettilä, Ursula Salo and Ville Tiihonen will have its Finnish premiere on February 16 on the Pengerkatu stage.
The dynamics of relationships are also the subject of Lilla Teatern’s new comedy The Insane Method (Die Wunderübung, 2014). The long-married couple, Johanna (Pia Runnakko) and Valentin (Nicke Lignell), are looking for a new kick in their relationship from therapy. The peculiar methods of the couples therapist (Joachim Wigelius) give the relationship a rough ride already in the first therapy session, and for its viewer, this brilliant comedy offers the best (and most affordable) therapy in town for absolutely all ailments.
The play by Austrian Daniel Glattauer has been translated into Finnish and directed by Marina Meinander , who started as the artistic director of Lilla Teatern in 2017, together with Kirsi Porkka . The comedy, which has captivated Lillan’s audience in Swedish since November, will have its Finnish premiere on 9 March.
There will be a hefty dose of glitter and glamour when Jyrki Karttunen’s legendary Jemina’s Many Lives , which was awarded as the theatre act of the year in 2012, gets its long-awaited sequel , Jemina – The Great American Show. This time, in addition to Jyrki Karttunen’s Jemina, the stage will feature her nine-member entourage ready to conquer America: Auri Ahola, Anne Hiekkaranta, Jyrki Kasper, Aksinja Lommi, Heidi Naakka, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Kalle Pulkkinen (Teak) and Kaisa Torkkel. The co-production of Helsinki City Theatre’s dance group Helsinki Dance Company and Zodiak – Centre for New Dance will premiere at the Cable Factory’s Pannuhalli on 22 March.
From the point of view of a little girl, and later an adult woman, Mammas flicka by award-winning journalist Jeanette Björkqvist tells the true story of a family where violence has become commonplace. The touching monologue will be performed by Linda Zilliacus, and it will premiere on April 6 at Lilla Teatern.
Naïve Man Company’s stunning contemporary circus performance for the whole family, Prospero , is based on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and takes off in an unprecedented way. The work, which combines circus, dance, physical slapstick comedy and lyrically beautiful moments, features Jiří Kohout and Milla Lahtinen. Directed by Maksim Komaro , the wordless performance is suitable for all languages, and it will premiere on 16 May at Studio Pasila.
HKT’s spring season programme continues with the all-time favourite Stones in Your Pocket and the traditional stand-up club Club act!one in Pasila. On the Arena stage, Kari Hotakainen’s The Servant, written for Martti Suosalo, and Ulla Tapaninen’s Lava-ammuntaa V. Taju, about Tyko Sallinen’s daughter, will continue on the Pengerkatu stage in January, and the relationship comedy Mirakelmetoden will continue at Lilla Teatern in January. A delightful dance adventure for the whole family, Jyrki Karttunen’s Fairy Counsellor Koo returns to Helsinki Dance Company’s repertoire in January-February at Stoa.
In addition to HKT’s own productions, HKT will feature interesting guest performances, such as Gabriel Suovanen’s and Markus Vaara’s concert evening Tyst musik, Klockriketeatern’s visit Nästa andetag, Jonna Järnefelt’s and Jussi Tuurna’s concert Eget och lånat / Omaa ja lainattua and Riksteatern’s visit Özz Nûjen är Rikard III.
The spring performance season will be conducted under the direction of the new theatre director Kari Arffman in temporary premises, and the autumn season will be opened in the renovated theatre building celebrating its 50th anniversary with Lasse Mårtenson’s musical Maija of Myrskyluoto , which also celebrates Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence and the 110th anniversary of the City Theatre.
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Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre:
Father 19.1.2017 studio in Pasila, dir. Milko Lehto
Retro 1.2.2017 at Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Joakim Groth
Kirka – Sorrow Wiped from My Eyes 2.2.2017 at the Peacock Theatre, dir. Kari Rentola
Tenors in the Broth 8.2.2017 on the Arena Stage, dir. Jaakko Saariluoma
Saikku, thank you! 10.2.2017 studio in Pasila, dir. Otto Kanerva
Let’s Love Without Knowing Anything 16.2.2017 on the Pengerkatu stage, dir. Arn-Henrik Blomqvist
The Insane Method 9.3.2017 at Lilla Teatern, dir. Marina Meinander and Kirsi Porkka
Jemina – The Great American Show 22.3.2017, age Jyrki Karttunen, dir. Heidi Räsänen
Mommy’s Girl 6.4.2017 Lilla Teaternissa
Prospero 16.5.2017 studio in Pasila, dir. Maksim Komaro
Maija of Myrskyluoto 24.8.2017, dir. Kari Rentola
Guest performances:
Silent music 14.2.2017 Lilla Teaternissa
Eget och lånat/ Own and borrowed 21.2.2017 at Lilla Teatern
Next breath 14.3.2017 Lilla Teaternissa, dir. Dan Henriksson
Özz Nûjen is Richard III 28.4.2017 Lilla Teaternissa