The Small Stage is located in the Helsinki City Theatre’s main building at Eläintarhantie 5, beside Tokoinranta. We are easy to reach by public transport: Hakaniemi metro station and several tram and bus stops are less than a ten-minute walk away.
Getting here and services
The 318-seat Small Stage is accessed through the Helsinki City Theatre’s main entrance at Eläintarhantie 5. The nearest public transport stops are located around Hakaniemi Market Square. The nearest metro station is Hakaniemi.
The theatre doors open one hour before the performance begins.
The box office opens one hour before the performance and is located to the left of the entrance. Tickets are checked before you enter the Small Stage foyer.
The Small Stage has a free cloakroom, located on the right after the foyer doors.
Before the performance and during the interval, refreshments are available from the Sodexo counter in the Small Stage foyer. For more information and to pre-order refreshments, visit the Refreshments page.
Print the Small Stage seating plan here.
Depending on the production, there may be a central aisle in the auditorium.
Explore the Small Stage in a virtual panorama.
History of the building
The current theatre building on the shore of Eläintarhanlahti opened in autumn 1967. It was designed by architect Timo Penttilä and commissioned by the City of Helsinki.
Helsinki City Theatre has two predecessors whose histories form a significant part of Finnish theatre history. Helsingin Työväenteatteri was founded in 1902 and Helsingin Kansanteatteri in 1933. The two theatres merged in 1948 to form Helsingin Kansanteatteri-Työväenteatteri. Helsinki City Theatre became the successor to these theatres in 1965, when Helsingin teatterisäätiö was established.
