Top comedians’ new Finnish relationship comedy is inspired by a reality TV series
The routine relationship between an enthusiastic wife and a sensible engineer husband gets a new kick from a guerrilla camp when Home Troops premieres on September 2 at the Arena stage. The fast-paced premiere is created by award-winning comedians, actor-screenwriters Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman, and director Anna Dahlman. This is the trio’s first theatre collaboration.
Home Troops is a hilarious new comedy in which the everyday lives of two middle-aged couples are turned upside down when an elite troop trainer known from reality TV is called to run a weekend-long guerrilla camp in the middle of a peaceful area of detached houses. In addition to physical fitness, the boundaries of relationships, expectations and perceptions of one’s own coping are put to the test.
The play is written by top names in Finnish comedy, Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman. Humour arises not only from relatable relationship dynamics and misunderstandings, but also from the macho world of military training.
“Taking yourself so seriously is terribly humorous, but I also laugh at people’s unrealistic notions that they think they can handle it all,” Niina Lahtinen describes.
The idea for the play was born a few years ago when Lahtinen was discussing the TV series Special Forces with his sister. My sister wanted to try completing the tasks of the program. The idea of a nearly fifty-year-old mother of four dreaming of training elite troops seemed amusing to Lahtinen, and at the same time, the play’s comedic setting began to take shape: an enthusiastic wife and a cautious, rational engineer husband.
Based on this, Lahtinen wrote the first version of the script and invited Joonas Nordman to join him in developing it further. In Lahtinen’s opinion, she and Nordman have a similar comedic dynamic to the play’s main characters, Hanna and Matti, whom they play.
“We’re a fun duo because we’re so different. I’m loud and energetic, while Joonas is small and cynical,” Lahtinen laughs.
In addition to Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman, the roles of the home troops are played by comedy talents Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo, Helena Haaranen, Sanna Saarijärvi and Sauli Suonpää.
The play is directed by Anna Dahlman, who is known as a TV and film scriptwriter and director. The dramaturg is Sanna Niemeläinen. The set design is by Antti Mattila. The costumes were designed by Riia Parviainen. Petteri Heiskanen is responsible for the lighting design and Eero Niemi for the composition and sound design. The camouflage was designed by Maija Sillanpää.
Read Niina Lahtinen’s interview on the theatre’s website: Cheering up a relationship from guerrilla soldier training
Home Troops premieres on 2.9.2026 at the Helsinki City Theatre’s Arena stage (Hämeentie 2).
Tickets: basic ticket 52 €, student ticket 26 € (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket 49 € (Mon-Thu)
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Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-19, Sun 12-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi
In the photo: Joonas Nordman, Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo and Niina Lahtinen, photographer Otto-Ville Väätäinen.
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