Helsinki City Theatre’s entire autumn 2025 programme has been published / Helsingin Stadsteater har publicerat hela repertoaren för hösten 2025

The autumn season on the big stage will be opened by the new comedy Let’s Play Business, which premieres on 30 August. Written and directed by Juha Jokela, one of Finland’s most successful playwrights, who is visiting HKT for the first time, this exhilarating comedy about working life and its performance deals with the challenges of modern working life with a hilarious touch. The cast includes Wanda Dubiel, Sari Haapamäki, Sanna-June Hyde, Santeri Kinnunen, Aksinja Lommi, Kai Lähdesmäki, Martti Manninen, Unto Nuora, Raili Raitala, Ursula Salo and Jan-Christian Söderholm.

The autumn on the Arena stage will start with the new and fresh farce comedy The Cottage, directed by Sari Siikander, which will premiere on 3 September. Written by Sandy Rustin, which premiered on Broadway in 2023, this comedy about relationships is set in 1920s England, but its twists and turns are full of today. The cast includes Ella Lymi, Pihla Penttinen, Heikki Ranta, Emilia Sinisalo, Sauli Suonpää and Mikko Virtanen.

On 28 August, the Queen’s Play will premiere on the Small Stage, which tells the story of the fascinating Queen Christina, who ruled Sweden from 1632 to 1654. Written by Jussi Moila and directed by Sini Pesonen, this contemporary historical drama breathes strongly today with its themes of power, gender and love. The role of Queen Christina is played by actress, musician and activist Elsi Sloan, and the role of the Queen’s lady-in-waiting Belle is played by Aino Sirje.

The second premiere of the autumn on the Small Stage is Aleksi from Finland, which premieres on 9 October, which is a true story about the Finnish professional soldier Aleksi Lysander (1989–2024). The play is dramatised by Ari-Pekka Lahti based on Tuomas Kyrö’s work of the same name (WSOY, 2023) and directed by Tuomas Rinta-Panttila. The delicate and shocking story is presented by actors Roderick Kabanga and Eetu Känkänen.

Helsinki Dance Company’s guest choreographer for autumn 2025 is internationally acclaimed Hungarian choreographer Adrienn Hód. The dance performance Project No. 2191, which will premiere on the small stage on 12 November, invites the audience on a unique movement exploration of the human body and mind. The choreographer and dancers stretch the boundaries of movement and dance and curiously explore the depths of the expression of the human body. The dancers in the work are Sofia Hilli, Anni Koskinen, Pekka Louhio, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Inka Tiitinen and Anna Virkkunen.

On 25 September, Studio Pasila will premiere a musical play for the whole family, Who Captured the Sun, based on the book of the same name by Mauri Kunnas. The work has been dramatised and directed by musician, writer and dramaturg Liila Jokelin, who has also composed the music for the play together with multi-instrumentalist Lauri Schreck. The cast includes Juha Jokela, Arttu Kapulainen, Jouko Klemettilä, Sanna Majuri, Inkeri Raittila, Sanna Saarijärvi, Antti Timonen and Leenamari Unho.

This year’s musical of the Shed Music Theatre will be Peter Pan, which will premiere at Studio Pasila on 2 and 3 December. The musical, based on the British version of the Chickenshed Theatre, has been adapted and directed by Jyri Numminen. Alongside the Shed youth, the stage will feature actress Helena Haaranen, who has had a 50-year career at HKT.

On 11 September, Hyenans dagar, based on the novel by award-winning director and author Saara Turunen and directed by Turunen herself, will premiere on the Swedish-language stage of Lilla Teatern. Hyenans dagar is aimed at everyone who has ever pursued something, encountered difficulties or been pushed into an unknown world. The cast includes Kreeta Salminen, Elmer Bäck, Katja Küttner, Pia Runnakko and Alexander Wendelin.

Lillan’s autumn season continues on 13 November, based on the books En finir avec Eddy Bellegueule (2014) and The History of Violence (Histoire de la violence, 2016) by Rasmus Arikka, based on the books Eddy Bellegueule (2016) by the French contemporary literary reformer Édouard Louis. The play is directed by Jakob Höglund and stars Andreas Kvisgaard (Theatre Academy), Salomon Z. Patrick (Theatre Academy), Pia Runnakko, Maria Lura Skrudland (Theatre Academy), Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.

In the autumn season, the repertoire will continue on the big stage with the mega-hit Moulin Rouge! A musical and a classic fairy tale Veljeni Leijonamieli. Until 20 August, Studio Pasila will host the performance Nykyesitysn näyttämön little_star95 – ooksä online?, which dives into the internet of the early 2000s. In addition, the stand-up club Club act!one will continue in the studio Pasila. The ever-popular Stones in Your Pocket will continue on the Arena Stage, and in November, comedian Iikka Kivi will visit the Arena Stage with his stand-up solo performance Special Relationship with Nature. Comedian André Wickström will also visit the Arena stage and Lilla Teatern in November with his jubilee show André Wickström 30 years on stage – and there is no end in sight!. Red Nose Company will also visit Lilla Teatern with their performance Strömsö. In addition, the audience’s beloved Coffee with the Writer events will continue in the balcony foyer of the main stage, and the children’s theatre performances Molli’s Evening Hepuli and Twelve Gifts to Santa Claus will continue in the foyer of the small stage.

Read the new Teatteriin magazine here.

Next premieres at the Helsinki City Theatre
28.8.2025 The Queen’s Play, dir. Sini Pesonen
30.8.2025 Let’s Play Business, dir. Juha Jokela
3.9.2025 Buzzing and Adjustment, dir. Sari Siikander
11.9.2025 Hyena Days, dir. Saara Turunen
25.9.2025 Who Captured the Sun, dir. Liila Jokelin
9.10.2025 Aleksi from Finland, dir. Tuomas Rinta-Panttila
12.11.2025 Project No. 2191, age. Adrienn Hód
13.11.2025 History of Violence, dir. Jakob Höglund
2 and 3.12.2025 Peter Pan, dir. Jyri Numminen

In autumn 2025, the following will continue in the programme:
Moulin Rouge! Musical, dir. Anders Albien
My Brother Lionheart, dir. Jakob Höglund
Stones in Your Pocket, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Mollin iltahepuli, dir. Jenny Jumppanen
Twelve Gifts to Santa Claus, dir. Kimmo VirtanenCoffee with the author
Club act!one
Seniorisoppa Christmas ConcertGuest performances
From 16.9.2025 Strömsö, Red Nose Company, Lilla Teatern
20. and 21.11.2025 Iikka Kivi – Special Relationship with Nature, Arena Stage
22.11.2025 André Wickström 30 years on stage – and there is no end in sight!, Arena Stage
27.11.2025 André Wickström – 30 years on stage and no end in sight!, Lilla Teatern

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

Photo from the play Let’s Play Business, in the photo Wanda Dubiel, cinematographer Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Lilla Teatern, Communications Coordinator, Ida Virkkunen ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250

Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki, www.hkt.fi

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Helsinki City Theatre has published the full repertoire for autumn 2025The acclaimed Hungarian choreographer Adrienn Hód’s dance piece Project No. 2191 will premiere on the Small Stage in November 2025, and the Little Theatre will stage The History of Violence, based on the books by Édouard Louis. In December, Shed Music Theatre’s Peter Pan will premiere at Studio Pasila. Other autumn premieres include Juha Jokela’s new comedy Let’s Play Business, the fresh farce comedy Sutinaa ja säätöä, the historical contemporary drama Kuningatarnäytelmä, the reality-based Aleksi Suomesta, the new family musical Kuka kaappasi aurinko and Hyenans dagar, based on Saara Turunen’s book. In addition, the crowd favorites Moulin Rouge continue! Musikaali and Veljeni Leijonamieli on the main stage throughout the autumn.

The Main Stage’s autumn season begins on August 30 with the premiere of the new comedy Let’s Play Business. This exuberant comedy about working life and its staging is written and directed by Juha Jokela, one of Finland’s most successful playwrights, who is visiting the Helsinki City Theatre for the first time. The play deals with the challenges of contemporary working life with accurate humour. The cast includes Wanda Dubiel, Sari Haapamäki, Sanna-June Hyde, Santeri Kinnunen, Aksinja Lommi, Kai Lähdesmäki, Martti Manninen, Unto Nuora, Raili Raitala, Ursula Salo and Jan-Christian Söderholm.

The autumn on the Arena stage begins on 3 September with the premiere of the new and fresh farce comedy The Cottage, directed by Sari Siikander. This comedy about relationships, written by Sandy Rustin, had its world premiere on Broadway in 2023. It takes place in England in the 1920s, but its twists and turns are highly contemporary. Starring Ella Lymi, Pihla Penttinen, Heikki Ranta, Emilia Sinisalo, Sauli Suonpää and Mikko Virtanen.

On the small stage, Kuningatarnäytelmä will premiere on 28 August. The show is about the fascinating Queen Kristina, who ruled Sweden between 1632 and 1654. The historical contemporary drama is written by Jussi Moila and directed by Sini Pesonen. With themes such as power, gender and love, it is a story that speaks directly to our time. In the role of Queen Kristina, we see the actor, musician and activist Elsi Sloan. The lady-in-waiting Belle is played by Aino Sirje.

The second premiere of the autumn on the small stage is Aleksi Suomesta, which premieres on 9 October. The performance is based on the true story of the Finnish professional soldier Aleksi Lysander (1989–2024). The play is dramatised by Ari-Pekka Lahti, based on Tuomas Kyrö’s book of the same name (WSOY, 2023) and directed by Tuomas Rinta-Panttila. The sensitive and gripping story is performed by actors Roderick Kabanga and Eetu Känkänen.

In the autumn of 2025, the internationally acclaimed Hungarian choreographer Adrienn Hód will be a guest at Helsinki Dance Company. On November 12, her dance piece Project No. 2191 will premiere on the small stage. The performance invites the audience to a unique journey through the human body and mind. The choreographer and the dancers push the boundaries of movement and dance and explore the body’s possibilities of expression in depth with curiosity. The dancers in the work are: Sofia Hilli, Anni Koskinen, Pekka Louhio, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Inka Tiitinen and Anna Virkkunen.

On 25 September, the family musical Kuka kaappasi aurinko, based on Mauri Kunnas’ book of the same name, will premiere at Studio Pasila. The work is dramatised and directed by musician, writer and dramaturg Liila Jokelin, who has also composed the music for the performance together with multi-instrumentalist Lauri Schreck. The cast includes Juha Jokela, Jouko Klemettilä, Sanna Majuri, Jari Pehkonen, Inkeri Raittila, Sanna Saarijärvi, Antti Timonen and Leenamari Unho.

This year’s Shed Musical Theatre’s musical is Peter Pan, which premieres on 2 and 3 December at Studio Pasila. The musical, which is based on the British theatre Chickenshed’s version, has been adapted and is directed by Jyri Numminen. On stage with the Shed youth is actor Helena Haaranen, who has a 50-year career at the Helsinki City Theatre behind her.

At Lilla Teatern, Hyenan Days will premiere on September 11. The performance is based on the novel by director and author Saara Turunen and is directed by Turunen herself. The Hyena Days are aimed at anyone who has ever strived for something, encountered adversity or been thrown into a world that feels alien. Starring Kreeta Salminen, Elmer Bäck, Katja Küttner, Pia Runnakko and Alexander Wendelin.

Lillan’s autumn season continues on November 13 with the premiere of The History of Violence, a play dramatized by Rasmus Arikka and based on the books Getting Rid of Eddy Bellegueule (A finir avec Eddy Bellegueule, 2014) and The History of Violence (Histoire de la violence, 2016) by Édouard Louis, a reformer of contemporary French literature. The performance is directed by Jakob Höglund and the cast includes Andreas Kvisgaard (Theatre Academy), Salomon Z. Patrick (Theatre Academy), Pia Runnakko, Maria Lura Skrudland (Theatre Academy), Alexander Wendelin and Joachim Wigelius.

During the autumn season, the mega success Moulin Rouge continues! The musical and the classic Veljeni Leijonamieli on the main stage. At Studio Pasila, the performance little_star95 – ooksä online? will be played until 20 August. It dives into the internet in the early 2000s and is performed as part of the Nykyesitysn näyttämö. In addition, the stand-up club Club act!one will continue in studio Pasila. The ever-popular Kivia taskussa will continue on the Arena stage, and in November, comedian Iikka Kivi will be a guest on stage with his stand-up solo show Erityis luontosuhte. Comedian André Wickström also visits the Arena stage and Lilla Teatern with his anniversary show André Wickström – 30 years on stage and no end in sight!. Lilla Teatern is also visited by Red Nose Company with the performance Strömsö. In addition, the beloved events Kahvilla kirjailijan kanssa will continue in the foyer next to the main stage, and the children’s performances Mollin iltahepuli and Kaksitoista lahjaa Joulupukkille will continue in the foyer of the small stage.

Read the latest issue of Teatteriin magazine here.

Upcoming premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
28.8.2025 The Queen’s Play, reg. Sini Pesonen
30.8.2025 Let’s Play Business, reg. Juha Jokela
3.9.2025 Buzzing and adjustment, reg. Sari Siikander
11.9.2025 Hyena Days, reg. Saara Turunen
25.9.2025 Who Captured the Sun, reg. Liila Jokelin
9.10.2025 Aleksi from Finland, reg. Tuomas Rinta-Panttila
12.11.2025 Project No. 2191, age. Adrienn Hód
13.11.2025 The History of Violence, reg. Jakob Höglund
2 and 3.12.2025 Peter Pan, reg. Jyri Numminen

Performances that continue on the repertoire in the autumn of 2025Moulin Rouge! Musical, dir. Anders Albien
My Brother Lionheart, reg. Jakob Höglund
Stones in the Pocket, reg. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Mollin iltahepuli, reg. Jenny Jumppanen
Twelve Gifts for Santa Claus, reg. Kimmo Virtanen

Coffee with the author
Club act!one
Seniorisoppa Joulukonsertti

Gästspel
From 16.9.2025 Strömsö, Red Nose Company, Lilla Teatern
20 och 21.11.2025 Iikka Kivi – Special Relationship with Nature, Arena Stage
22.11.2025 André Wickström 30 years on stage – and there is no end in sight!, Arena-scenen
27.11.2025 André Wickström – 30 years on stage and no end in sight!, Lilla Teatern

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service can be reached by phone (09) 394022 Mon–Fri at noon. 10–17. Ticket office on First Line 2, Mon–Fri at noon. 12–17, Djurgårdsvägen 5, Sat (performance days) at noon. 11–18.30 and one hour before the performance and via Lippu.fi, Mon–Sat at noon. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun at noon. 10–16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local call charge) www.hkt.fi

In the picture in the press release, Wanda Dubiel from the Let’s Play Business show. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Head of Communications, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Lilla Teatern, Communications Planner Ida Virkkunen ida.virkkunen@lillateatern.fi, 050 357 4250

Helsinki City Theatre, First Line 2, 00530 Helsinki, www.hkt.fi