"We are a highly international theatre in terms of our programming, but we still have a lot to learn about building a genuine and long-term connection with the city's immigrant communities. We want to challenge our ways of working and learn something new ourselves," says our artistic director, Jussi Sorjanen.
At the heart of the &Naapurusto project is the idea that we do not dictate the content – instead, we act as facilitators, providing space, technical resources, workshops, and artistic methods. The content emerges from the needs and wishes of the communities themselves. We hope to learn more about what theatre can be and how its deep structures can be transformed to be genuinely inclusive.
"This theatre belongs to everyone," says our managing director, Matilda von Weissenberg.
"We want to get to know Espoo's multicultural communities better and offer opportunities for shared activities. We are genuinely open to different initiatives. That’s why we don’t know exactly what will happen during the project!"
The &Naapurusto project is funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. HyTe ry and the Finnish-Syrian Friendship Association are involved in developing the project.
First Step: Freedom festival
The project kicks off with Freedom Festival, a family-friendly event held on April 10–12, organized by the Finnish-Syrian Friendship Association with support from the City of Espoo.
"The festival’s name is inspired by freedom, which is the foundation of creativity and artistic expression. The goal is to promote intercultural dialogue and enrich the local cultural scene," explains Mania Alkhatib, Executive Director of the Finland-Syria Friendship Association.
The free, open-to-all event takes place at &Revontuli (Revontulentie 8). The program includes music, theatre, film screenings, discussions, and workshops where participants can, for example, create their own shadow theatre puppets.
Join us in building a diverse and inclusive urban culture!
