Five Finnish world premieres – Helsinki City Theatre unveils its early autumn 2026 programme
Helsinki City Theatre’s autumn programme offers a rich mix of Finnish premieres, music and comedy. Opening the season on the Main Stage are the hit musical & Julia in August and the musical drama Nauravan kulkurin tarina in September. The Arena Stage delivers plenty of laughs with the brand-new Finnish relationship comedy Kotijoukkojen. Premiering on the Small Stage is Elolliset, based on Iida Turpeinen’s book and co-produced with the WAUHAUS collective. Other autumn premieres include the adventure musical for the whole family Fretti Mercury etsii onnea, Lilla Teatern’s dark comedy De obehöriga, and the Contemporary Performance Stage production Birds of Paradise, inspired by birds of paradise and professional wrestling. The heartwarming comedy Kurtturuusut will also continue its run on the Small Stage.
The Main Stage autumn season opens on 20 August with the premiere of the jukebox musical & Julia. Bursting with hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, this exuberant pop extravaganza sees William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway rewrite the famous love story. This time, Juliet chooses life and makes a fresh start. & Julia is directed by Samuel Harjanne, with a dazzling cast featuring Renée Böök, Mikko Peltomäki, Tuukka Leppänen, Maria Lund, Martti Manninen, Niki Rautén, Laura Alajääski, Risto Kaskilahti, Raili Raitala and Mikko Vihma.
The Main Stage’s second premiere arrives on 30 September. Written by Sami Keski-Vähälä and adapted and directed by Paavo Westerberg, Nauravan kulkurin tarina explores the artistry of the beloved Vesa-Matti Loiri and reflects on how life stories are created. Set in an era of shared popular culture, the music drama features Santeri Kinnunen, Oliver Kollberg, Maria Ylipää, Joel Hirvonen, Vuokko Hovatta, Jouko Klemettilä, Lasse Lipponen, Ella Lymi, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Jari Pehkonen, Ursula Salo, Antti Timonen and Kaisa Torkkel.
The Arena Stage autumn season begins on 2 September with the premiere of the new fast-paced comedy Kotijoukot, written by Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman and directed by Anna Dahlman. Hanna and Matti’s predictable relationship gets a new spark when their neighbours sign them up for a couples’ boot camp run by an elite forces instructor. Unfortunately, the instructor takes the training alarmingly seriously—and no one remembered to agree on a safe word. The cast features Niina Lahtinen, Joonas Nordman, Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo, Helena Haaranen, Sanna Saarijärvi and Sauli Suonpää.
Premiering on the Small Stage on 3 September, Elolliset is based on Iida Turpeinen’s bestselling book of the same name. Dramatised by Pipsa Longa, the play explores the origins of the concept of extinction. This strikingly audiovisual production is directed by Juni Klein, with artistic design by the WAUHAUS collective. The cast includes Rauno Ahonen, Noora Dadu, Heidi Herala, Sanna-June Hyde, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Aino Seppo and Alexander Wendelin.
The family adventure musical Fretti Mercury etsii onnea premieres at Studio Pasila on 23 September. Based on the children’s book of the same name by Miika Nousiainen and Sanna-Mari Pirkola, this thoughtful musical follows the downcast Fretti Mercury as he persuades his friend Jänis Virtanen to join him in a search for happiness. Dramatised for the stage by Nousiainen himself, the production is packed with inventive wordplay and ingenious music by composer Marzi Nyman and lyricist Mariska. This musical about friendship is directed by Jukka Nylund and features Inkeri Hyvönen, Tuomas Korkia-aho, Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Juha Jokela, Kai Lähdesmäki, Tiina Peltonen and Inka Tiitinen.
Dance also takes centre stage at Studio Pasila when the Nykyesityksen näyttämö summer residency production Birds of Paradise premieres on 6 August. Choreographer Tiia Kasurinen’s dance work draws inspiration from the courtship dances of birds-of-paradise, professional wrestling, love songs and longing. The dancers are Tiia Kasurinen, Kaisu Koittola and Lauri Lohi.
The Swedish-language Lilla Teatern premieres De obehöriga on 5 September, a play laced with black humour and sharp contemporary satire. A group of neighbours in Töölö gather to discuss a problem: unauthorised people have started appearing in their stairwell. The production marks David Sandqvist’s directorial debut as Lilla Teatern’s new artistic director. The cast features Aksinja Lommi, Mawlawi Rahem, Pia Runnakko, Sampo Sarkola and Joachim Wigelius.
The heart-warming Small Stage comedy Kurtturuusut remains in the programme for the autumn season. The stand-up comedy club Club act!one also continues at Studio Pasila. At the Arena Stage, Kiviä taskussa delivers its final laughs as its 24-year run comes to an end in November.
Read the new issue of Teatteriin magazine here.
Early autumn premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
6.8.2026 Birds of Paradise, chor. Tiia Kasurinen
20.8.2026 & Julia, dir. Samuel Harjanne
2.9.2026 Kotijoukot, dir. Anna Dahlman
3.9.2026 Elolliset, dir. Juni Klein
5.9.2026 De obehöriga, dir. David Sandqvist
23.9.2026 Fretti Mercury etsii onnea, dir. Jukka Nylund
30.9.2026 Nauravan kulkurin tarina, dir. Paavo Westerberg
Continuing in the programme in autumn 2026
Kurtturuusut, dir. Miika Muranen
Kiviä taskussa, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone: (09) 394022, Mon–Fri 10 am–5 pm. Box offices: Ensi linja 2, Mon–Fri 12 noon–5 pm; Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11 am–6.30 pm and one hour before each performance; and lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9 am–7 pm, Sun 12 noon–4 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (€2/min + local/mobile network charge) www.staging.hkt.fi
The press release image is from Kotijoukot and features Joonas Nordman, Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo and Niina Lahtinen. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.
Further information, press ticket reservations and interview requests:
Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@staging.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.staging.hkt.fi
*********
Five new Finnish premieres – Helsinki City Theatre launches its autumn 2026 season
Helsinki City Theatre’s autumn programme offers a rich mix of new Finnish premieres, music and comedy. The Main Stage season opens in August with the hit musical & Julia, followed in September by the music drama Nauravan kulkurin tarina. The new Finnish relationship comedy Kotijoukot brings laughter to the Arena Stage. The Small Stage premieres Elolliset, based on Iida Turpeinen’s book and produced in collaboration with the WAUHAUS collective. Other autumn premieres include the family adventure musical Fretti Mercury etsii onnea, Lilla Teatern’s blackly humorous De obehöriga and the Nykyesityksen näyttämö production Birds of Paradise, inspired by birds-of-paradise and professional wrestling. The heart-warming comedy Kurtturuusut also continues on the Small Stage.
The jukebox musical & Julia opens the Main Stage autumn season on 20 August. Bursting with hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, this exuberant pop extravaganza sees William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway rewrite the famous love story. This time, Juliet chooses life and makes a fresh start. & Julia is directed by Samuel Harjanne, with a dazzling cast featuring Renée Böök, Mikko Peltomäki, Tuukka Leppänen, Maria Lund, Martti Manninen, Niki Rautén, Laura Alajääski, Risto Kaskilahti, Raili Raitala and Mikko Vihma.
The Main Stage’s second premiere takes place on 30 September. Written by Sami Keski-Vähälä and adapted and directed by Paavo Westerberg, Nauravan kulkurin tarina explores the artistry of the beloved Vesa-Matti Loiri and reflects on how life stories are created. Set in an era of shared popular culture, the music drama features Santeri Kinnunen, Oliver Kollberg, Maria Ylipää, Joel Hirvonen, Vuokko Hovatta, Jouko Klemettilä, Lasse Lipponen, Ella Lymi, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Jari Pehkonen, Ursula Salo, Antti Timonen and Kaisa Torkkel.
The Arena Stage autumn season begins on 2 September with the premiere of the new fast-paced comedy Kotijoukot, written by Niina Lahtinen and Joonas Nordman and directed by Anna Dahlman. Hanna and Matti’s predictable relationship gets a new spark when their neighbours sign them up for a couples’ boot camp run by an elite forces instructor. Unfortunately, the instructor takes the training alarmingly seriously—and no one remembered to agree on a safe word. The cast features Niina Lahtinen, Joonas Nordman, Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo, Helena Haaranen, Sanna Saarijärvi and Sauli Suonpää.
Elolliset premieres on the Small Stage on 3 September. It is based on Iida Turpeinen’s bestselling novel of the same name. Dramatised by Pipsa Longa, the play explores the origins of the concept of extinction. This strikingly audiovisual production is directed by Juni Klein, with artistic design by the WAUHAUS collective. On stage are Rauno Ahonen, Noora Dadu, Heidi Herala, Sanna-June Hyde, Unto Nuora, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne, Aino Seppo and Alexander Wendelin.
The family adventure musical Fretti Mercury etsii onnea premieres at Studio Pasila on 23 September. Based on the children’s book of the same name by Miika Nousiainen and Sanna-Mari Pirkola, this thoughtful musical follows the melancholic Fretti Mercury as he persuades his friend Jänis Virtanen to join him in a search for happiness. Dramatised by Nousiainen himself, the production is packed with inventive wordplay and ingenious music by composer Marzi Nyman and lyricist Mariska. This musical about friendship is directed by Jukka Nylund and features Inkeri Hyvönen, Tuomas Korkia-aho, Sari Haapamäki, Sofia Hilli, Juha Jokela, Kai Lähdesmäki, Tiina Peltonen and Inka Tiitinen.
Dance also takes centre stage at Studio Pasila when Birds of Paradise, created during the Nykyesityksen näyttämö summer residency, premieres on 6 August. Choreographer Tiia Kasurinen’s dance work draws inspiration from the courtship dances of birds-of-paradise, professional wrestling, love songs and longing. The dancers are Tiia Kasurinen, Kaisu Koittola and Lauri Lohi.
The Swedish-language Lilla Teatern premieres De obehöriga on 5 September. The play is laced with black humour and sharp contemporary satire. A group of neighbours in Töölö gather to discuss a problem: unauthorised people have started appearing in their stairwell. The production marks David Sandqvist’s first directing assignment as Lilla Teatern’s artistic director. The cast features Aksinja Lommi, Mawlawi Rahem, Pia Runnakko, Sampo Sarkola and Joachim Wigelius.
The heart-warming comedy Kurtturuusut continues on the Small Stage during the autumn season. The stand-up comedy club Club act!one also continues at Studio Pasila. At the Arena Stage, Kiviä taskussa delivers its final laughs as its 24-year run comes to an end in November.
Read the new issue of Teatteriin magazine here.
Early autumn premieres at Helsinki City Theatre
6.8.2026 Birds of Paradise, chor. Tiia Kasurinen
20.8.2026 & Julia, dir. Samuel Harjanne
2.9.2026 Kotijoukot, dir. Anna Dahlman
3.9.2026 Elolliset, dir. Juni Klein
5.9.2026 De obehöriga, dir. David Sandqvist
23.9.2026 Fretti Mercury etsii onnea, dir. Jukka Nylund
30.9.2026 Nauravan kulkurin tarina, dir. Paavo Westerberg
Continuing in the programme in autumn 2026
Kurtturuusut, dir. Miika Muranen
Kiviä taskussa, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi
Club act!one
Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone: (09) 394022, Mon–Fri 10 am–5 pm. Box offices: Ensi linja 2, Mon–Fri 12 noon–5 pm; Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11 am–6.30 pm and one hour before each performance; and via lippu.fi, Mon–Sat 9 am–7 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm, tel. 0600 900 900 (€2/min + local call charge) www.staging.hkt.fi
The press release image is from Kotijoukot and features Joonas Nordman, Jarkko Pajunen, Emilia Sinisalo and Niina Lahtinen. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.
Further information, press tickets and interview requests:
Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@staging.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.staging.hkt.fi