Projects
Espoon teatteri Espoo Theatre is a theatre but is has also evolved into something beyond that. It has grown into a platform for new ways of thinking and become a vibrant meeting place for people, ideas, and societal and artistic influences. We continuously evolve our operations and engage in international projects in support of live performing arts and communities.
The &Naapurusto project brings multicultural Espoo residents together through performing arts
Nearly a quarter of Espoo residents speak a language other than Finnish, Swedish, or Sámi as their mother tongue. Our neighborhoods are highly multicultural. This sparked the idea for the &Naapurusto project, rooted in our commitment to being a meeting place for people from diverse backgrounds. Our long-term vision is to become a truly multicultural theatre.
Read more about the project
Espoon teatteri Changes
For three decades, the idea of a new theatre building in Espoo has been taking shape. In this decade, that idea has taken a stride forward as the project plan for the new theatre house was approved by the Espoo City Council on November 21, 2022.
Our vision for 2027: Espoo Theatre, known as Espoon teatteri, has just unveiled its new stage next to the Espoo Cultural Centre. It has become a theatre that garners recognition and curiosity not only within Espoo, but also in Finland and on the international stage. With the advent of the new theatre building, Tapiola has emerged as a unique pioneer in the realm of performing arts across the entire country.
The new theatre rises alongside the existing Cultural Centre on Tapiola's Culture Square. This new venue offers a high international standard for performing arts, allowing for even more exceptional visiting performances to be brought to Finland. With the new theatre, the center of Tapiola transforms into a captivating cultural hub, inviting everyone to experience art up close and from afar. The new cultural hub – comprising Espoon teatteri, Espoo Cultural Centre, Culture Square, and the nearby EMMA museum – is a tremendous opportunity for Espoo.
"Espoo is a rapidly evolving city, and cultural spaces must evolve with its growth. It is crucial that Espoo Theatre finally gets the appropriate facilities." Susanna Tommila, Cultural Director of Espoo City.
The architectural design of the theatre is entrusted to ALA Architects, led by Chief Architect SAFA Juho Grönholm. ALA Architects are also behind Helsinki's latest landmark, the Oodi library. According to the current plans, the doors of the theatre will open to the public in 2027.
"Building a new theatre offers a brand-new opportunity for its operations. Now, it's finally the theatre's turn. Studies show that cultural investments in cities yield manifold returns. Every theatre-goer also spends a considerable amount on other regional services, such as restaurants and accommodations. Developing the Cultural Centre, the theatre, Culture Square, and its surroundings will enhance Espoo's appeal as a cultural city." Paula Viljakainen, Espoo City Councillor and Chair of the Board of Directors of Espoo City Theatre Foundation.
Love Simulation EVE and VR Theatre on Tour
he love simulation EVE is the world's first work that combines live actor performances and a VR world multiplayer environment. In a project made possible by the NextGenerationEU support from the Ministry of Education and Culture, a virtual reality performance has been created, with location-based segments being developed to suit content distribution. Tour performances with production models that best serve them are being created, and the technical requirements for bringing the VR experience to various locations are being explored. Developing a digital distribution model provides the opportunity to showcase VR works in other venues.
Virtual reality is an evolving form of media that combines cinematic storytelling, immersive world-building, and gamified interaction to create novel embodied experiences. The goal of this pioneering project is to map out a model for bringing high-quality performative VR art content into theatrical environments.
Centriphery
The Centriphery project was collaboratively produced by nine European cultural organizations between 2019 and 2023. Within the framework of the EU's Creative Europe program, the project aimed to facilitate collaboration between European artists and ordinary citizens in towns situated in peripheral areas.
The project's program included artistic residencies, art workshops for the local population, as well as the creation and performance of artworks. & collaborated with partners such as the Festival of Regions (Austria), New Culture Foundation (Bulgaria), Dansehallerne – Choreographic Center (Denmark), La Manufacture (France), Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture (Croatia), Cultura Nova Festival (Netherlands), Walk & Talk Festival (Azores, Portugal), and Prin Banat in collaboration with Timisoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture (Romania).
