Young people’s own stories on stage, presented by themselves
Helsinki City Theatre’s audience outreach is preparing a theatre performance based on young people’s own stories, WHO DIS?. The performance, which is about belonging, longing for experiences and new beginnings, will premiere at Malmitalo on 29 November, performed by the young people themselves.
“We are overwhelmed by the honesty and openness that the young people have shown during the process,” says Janne Puustinen , the scriptwriter of the performance.
“When working on the performance text, we have wanted to be as faithful as possible to the young people’s own voices, and that has been easy with this material.”
WHO DIS? performance will see and hear bits and pieces of young people’s lives as told by themselves. The performance wants to create a surface for identification, especially for young viewers, and to make visible real stories – even those that are too often left hidden. In the performance, the audience gets to meet their world as they have wanted to reveal it.
On stage, the main role will be played by Malmi’s youth group, which includes about twenty young people aged 13–19 from different parts of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
All the material for the performance has been created in theatre and music workshops during the autumn of 2022 from young people’s ideas, views and experiences. In addition to the text material for the performance, the young people are also responsible for the music. The group has been directed by Malmi’s artists Laura Ikonen, Janne Puustinen and Aleksi Kinnunen.
The youth production is part of the Helsinki City Theatre’s audience outreach Malmi project, which implements regional and community-based theatre and art activities. The performance will be carried out in cooperation with Malmitalo. In the main role, Malmi is one of the City of Helsinki’s Helsinki Model projects.
WHO DIS? performances 29.11., 2.12., 7.12., 13.12. at 6 p.m., Malmitalo, small hall (Ala-Malmin tori 1)
There are limited seats in the performance. Book your place in advance: paaroolissamalmi@hkt.fi or by text message, tel. 040 652 9932. The performance is free of charge. The performance is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
On stage/text material: Bobi Bozhidov, Juuso Heikkilä, Sara Hietarinta, Aada Kiianlinna, Kerttu Kimmonen, Alexander Koskimo, Peppi Kuisma, Roope Lappalainen, Justus Merikallio, Ricardo Miranda, Minsku Paalasmaa, Jemina Salonen, Frode Stenar, Helka Tanskanen, Emilia Tatti, Oskari Vuorisalo, Noomi Öhman, Narmin Al-Jburi, Riksu Hedberg, Allu Ikäheimo, Lilian Ritve
Music, compositions, sound design: Alex Kallio, Bobi Bozhidov, Arian Khanjar, Verna Ojanperä, Vladi Shitkov, Juuso Heikkilä, Riksu Hedberg
Director: Laura Ikonen
Screenplay: Janne Puustinen
Dramaturgical brainstorming: Janne Puustinen, Laura Ikonen, Aleksi Kinnunen, Jenny Jumppanen
Sound design, music direction and music production: Aleksi Kinnunen
Scenography: Immanuel Pax
Costumes: Working group
Photos: Satbir Singh
Poster: Narmin Al-Jburi
Production: Jenny Jumppanen (HKT), Mirka Nokka (Malmitalo)
@paaroolissamalmi www.facebook.com/paaroolissamalmi www.hkt.fi/projektit/paaroolissamalmi
Further information: Audience Worker jenny.jumppanen@hkt.fi, 040 652 9932