Annual Report 2022

1 

Helsinki City Theatre 

ANNUAL REPORT 

2022 

Fanny ja Alexander 

© Otto-Ville Väätäinen

2 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ 

REPORT OF THE HELSINKI 

THEATRE FOUNDATION 2022 

© Kim Sinisalo

3 

CONTENTS 

5 Chairman's Words 

6 The mission of Helsinki City Theatre 

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

9 The City Theatre in 2022 

10 Repertoire 

12 New productions in 2022 

14 Number of Performances and Audiences 

16 Stage for Contemporary Performance project 

18 Audience outreach activities 

27 Helsinki Dance Company 

31 Audiences and communications 

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

37 Administration and personnel 

37 Board of Directors 

38 Co-determination at the City Theatre 

42 Co-determination negotiations 

45 Occupational safety and information security 

in 2022 

46 Development of operations 

49 Environmental responsibility 

51 Training and occupational wellbeing 

Development of person-years 

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

53 Finances 

54 Revenues 

57 Expenses 

59 Investments 

Financing of the renovation and theatre 

technology 

61 Significant events after the close of the year 

under review 

65 Income Statement 

66 Balance Sheet

4 

Stephan Elliott – Allan Scott 

PRISCILLA, AAVIKON KUNINGATAR 

(Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) 

Niki Rautén, Clarissa Jäärni and Lauri Mikkola 

© Robert Seger

5 

Chairman's Words 

Towards a new strategy despite Covid-19 

In 2022, the Theatre’s new Board of Directors started its 

work in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The performances 

scheduled for the early part of the year were 

cancelled, as the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus 

led to another lockdown. Co-determination negotiations 

continued amidst growing concerns over the Theatre’s 

finances. We enhanced advocacy directed at the City and the 

Ministry. At the same time, we tried to remain confident, plan 

for the future and continue working as normally as possible, 

without compromising health security. The additional subsidy 

of €2.8 million, granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, 

enabled the Theatre to avoid lay-offs, and the co-determination 

negotiations were concluded on 4 May 2022. 

The season for the spring’s first premiers was shorter than 

planned. This further strengthened our new approach of storing 

successful performances and re-using them in the future 

seasons if needed. This approach was applied with the extremely 

funny and successful comedy titled Näytelmä, joka 

menee pieleen (The Play That Goes Wrong), for example. The 

play’s premier was pushed back to the beginning of March 

due to the lockdown, but it was decided that the performance 

would be included in the programme of spring 2023 as well. 

In terms of our programme, we were able to maintain 

diversity, premiering several quality performances of different 

genres. The musical Priscilla, aavikon kuningatar (Priscilla, 

Queen of the Desert) drew a full house throughout the autumn, 

alleviating our fear that people might not resume their 

habit of going to the theatre after the pandemic. It was also 

delightful to see that even a programme with heavier themes 

attracted audience. For example, Fanny ja Alexander performed 

on the Big Stage was sold out night after night. 

I am very proud of our work community for its perseverance in 

the face of continuous challenges. We were all willing to continue 

our work to develop a better strategy and a better work 

culture. We held onto hope and prepared for the time when 

we could all go back to normal again and get our audience 

back. Despite the exceptional circumstances, we were able to 

develop our operations in order to perform even better in the 

future. Our mission, stated in our strategy, of “enabling people 

to see one another and, thus, to enrich our lives,” felt increasingly 

meaningful to us. 

When we began updating our strategy with the new Board, 

corporate responsibility issues and, most importantly, responsibility 

for the environment, became a central theme. Together 

with the Finnish National Opera and the Association of Finnish 

Theatres, Helsinki City Theatre took up the task of translating 

the Theatre Green Book. The Theatre Green Book, developed 

by experts and theatre sector operators in Britain, sets standards 

in three volumes to enable the sustainable making of 

productions. Helsinki City Theatre aims to be a pioneer among 

Finnish theatres in this respect as well. 

In addition to the pandemic, 2022 brought along other crises, 

too. The war in Ukraine loomed large in everyone’s mind since 

the spring, and the energy crisis caused new pressure on the 

Theatre’s finances during the autumn. Despite all the gloom, 

we were able to carry on with our valuable work, serve our 

audience and do our part to build trust in the future. All this 

work and trust brought the audience back to the theatre, created 

numerous artistic successes, and also helped us reached 

a positive financial result. I have every reason to be happy with 

and proud of Helsinki City Theatre, our work community of top 

experts, our artistically high-quality programme and the trust 

shown by our audience. 

Kari Arffman 

director general 

© Petri Mulari

6 

The mission of Helsinki 

City Theatre 

The Helsinki Theatre Foundation maintains Helsinki City Theatre, which aims to be 

a pioneer of the Finnish theatre scene, valued equally by the general public and 

performing arts professionals. The Theatre’s key principle is to uphold a parity of 

esteem for all genres of the art form. Our aim is to provide as diverse a repertoire 

as possible in order to serve as many types of audiences as possible. Our mission is to 

enable people to see one another and, thus, to enrich our lives. Helsinki City Theatre 

exists to serve the public.

Henry Lewis – Jonathan Sayer – Henry Shields 

NÄYTELMÄ JOKA MENEE PIELEEN 

(The Play That Goes Wrong) 

Alex Anton and Matti Rasila 

© Tapio Vanhatalo 

7

8 

Mika Ripatti 

MIKKO RÄSÄSEN TULEVAISUUS 


9 

THE CITY THEATRE 

IN 2022 

2022 was the third consecutive year with the Covid-19 

pandemic significantly affecting the City Theatre’s activities 

and finances. The year began with a closure of performances 

due to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern 

Finland’s decision to declare a lockdown on public events. 

The lockdown, originally imposed until 17 January, continued 

until 31 January, and the City Theatre decided to cancel all 

performances in February as well, with the aim of proactively 

securing the success of future premieres and the Theatre’s future 

operations. Despite the closure of performances, the rehearsals 

of productions, preparation of premieres and other activities 

continued as usual, in the same way as in the previous years 

affected by the pandemic. Premieres scheduled for January- 

February were postponed to March, and they went ahead 

as planned. Even though other activities were more or less 

restored to the pre-Covid-19 level, the uncertainty caused 

by the pandemic affected the remaining part of the year 

throughout, as, for example, several performances had to be 

cancelled due to illness. Towards the end of the year, however, 

confidence strengthened as the direct impacts of the pandemic, 

both on the theatre’s operations and finances, were gradually 

becoming a thing of the past.

10 

Repertoire 

In 2022, the City Theatre produced a total of 17 premieres. Five of these were first 

performances of Finnish plays and two were first performances of dance productions. 

A total of three first performances of foreign plays in Finnish and Swedish 

were produced. All in all, the City Theatre attracted 175,754 spectators in 2022. 

In addition, the City Theatre arranged various events for the general public and audience 

outreach events, that attracted a total of 21,328 participants. This brought the 

aggregate visitor number to 197,082. A total of 535 performances, including eleven 

touring performances staged outside the Theatre, were given during 2022. As many 

as 163 performances and audience outreach events had to be cancelled. 

17 

PREMIERES 

Enda Walsh – Glen Hansard – Markéta Irglová 

ONCE 

Robert Kock, Kalle Ruusukallio and 

Santeri Helinheimo Mäntylä 


11 

5 

PREMIERES OF 

FINNISH PLAYS 

3 

PREMIERES OF 

FOREIGN PLAYS IN 

FINNISH AND 

SWEDISH 

2 

DANCE 

PREMIERES 

Robert James Waller – Ari-Pekka Lahti – Liisa Mustonen 

HILJAISET SILLAT (The Bridges of Madison County) 

Merja Larivaara and Kari Heiskanen 

© Sami Mannerheimo

12 

New productions in 2022 

Big Stage 

Small Stage 

Mika Ripatti 


Premiere 11 March 2022 

First domestic performance 

Directed by Heikki Kujanpää 

Robert James Waller – Ari-Pekka Lahti 

– Liisa Mustonen 

HILJAISET SILLAT 

(The Bridges of Madison County) 


Translation into Finnish by Kaijamari 

Sivill 

Directed by Liisa Mustonen 

Valtteri Raekallio 

LOMONOSOVIN MOOTTORI 

Premiere 1 November 2022 

Dance, first performance 

Choreographed by Valtteri Raekallio 

and working group 

Small Stage foyer 


PRISCILLA, AAVIKON 

KUNINGATAR 


Premiere 25 August 2022 


Translation into Finnish by Kari 

Arffman and Sanna Niemeläinen 

Directed by Samuel Harjanne 

Laura Lehtola – Milja Sarkola 

MINÄ VALITSIN SINUT 

Premiere 22 September 2022 


Directed by Milja Sarkola 

Sanna Niemeläinen – Jenny Jumppanen 

MUKAVAA MATKAA! 

Premiere 24 August 2022 


Directed by Jenny Jumppanen 

Ingmar Bergman – Paavo Westerberg 

FANNY JA ALEXANDER 

(Fanny och Alexander) 

Premiere 17 November 2022 

Translation into Finnish by Elina Hytönen 

Directed by Paavo Westerberg 

Leena Krohn – Paula Salminen 

YSTÄVÄNI PELIKAANI 

Premiere 12 October 2022 


Directed by Irene Aho

13 

Arena-stage 

Henry Lewis – Jonathan Sayer – 

Henry Shields 

NÄYTELMÄ JOKA MENEE 

PIELEEN 



Translation into Finnish by Mikko 

Koivusalo 

Directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi 

Paavo Rintala – Kristian Smeds 

JUMALA ON KAUNEUS 

Premiere 23 April 2022 

Directed by Kristian Smeds 

Co-production with Uniarts Helsinki’s 

Theatre Academy 

Edith Södergran – Hagar Olsson 

RASANDE STILLESTÅND 

Premiere 10 May 2022 

Directed by Rasmus Slätis 

Co-production with Uniarts Helsinki’s 

Theatre Academy 

Ernest Thomson 

KULTALAMPI 

(On Golden Pond) 


Translation into Finnish by Arto af 

Hällström 

Directed by Tuomo Aitta 

Christopher Hampton – Leea Klemola 

– Rosa-Maria Perä 

VAARALLISIA SUHTEITA 

(Les liaisons dangereuses) 

Klemola – Rosa-Maria Perä) 


Directed by Anna-Elina Lyytikäinen 

Lilla Teatern 

April De Angelis – Elena Ferrante 

MIN FANTASTISKA VÄNINNA 

(My brilliant friend) 



Translation into Swedish by Johanna 

Hedenberg 

Directed by Riikka Oksanen 

Studio Pasila 

Mirva Mäkinen – Sari Palmgren – 

Saku Mäkelä – Riia Kivimäki 

KOLME TEOSTA KONTAKTISTA 


Dance, first performance 

Enda Walsh – Glen Hansard – 

Markéta Irglová 

ONCE (in Finnish) 


First performance in Finnish 

Translation into Finnish by Hanna 

Kaila and Reita Lounatvuori 

Directed by Jakob Höglund 

Tove Jansson 

KRIS OCH KATASTROF I 

MUMINDALEN 

Premiere 1 October 2022 


Directed by Jakob Höglund

14 

Number of Performances and Audiences 1 january – 

2022 PERFORMANCES AUDIENCE CANCELLED CAPACITY 

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL UTILISATION 

BIG STAGE 

Niin kuin taivaassa 7 3,759 23 60 % 

Mikko Räsäsen tulevaisuus 18 10,205 9 63 % 

Tatu ja Patu Helsingissä 15 10,655 4 79 % 

Priscilla, aavikon kuningatar 59 53,261 0 100 % 

Fanny ja Alexander 12 9,442 2 87 % 

Seniorisoppa joulukonsertti 1 513 0 100 % 

Big Stage total 112 87,835 38 81 % 

BIG STAGE FOYER 

Seniorisoppa 11 1,525 1 92 % 

Big Stage Foyer total 11 1,525 1 92 % 

SMALL STAGE 

Bolla 12 2,695 8 83 % 

Hiljaiset sillat 23 5,477 18 88 % 

Gravity 0 0 3 

Minä valitsin sinut 26 4,174 0 59 % 

Ystäväni pelikaani 14 2,408 2 64 % 

Lomonosovin moottori 17 3,045 0 66 % 

Small Stage total 92 17,799 31 72 % 

SMALL STAGE FOYER 

Kaksitoista lahjaa joulupukille 13 713 3 69 % 

Mukavaa matkaa! 13 87 5 45 % 

Small Stage Foyer total 26 800 8 57 % 

STUDIO PASILA 

Club act!one 11 2,691 10 76 % 

Kiviä taskussa 2 638 0 98 % 

Kolme teosta kontaktista 7 1,114 4 50 % 

Jumala on kauneus 13 1,722 1 41 % 

Vaarallisia suhteita 27 4,674 4 58 % 

Saiturin joulu (Shed) 13 3,552 0 84 % 

Studio Pasila total 73 14,391 19 68 % 

STUDIO PASILAN LÄMPIÖ 

Club act!one 14 1,346 0 96 % 

Studio Pasila Foyer total 14 1,346 0 96 % 

LILLA TEATERN 

Once (suomeksi) 14 3,317 13 97 % 

Rasande Stillestånd 6 380 0 26 % 

Min fantastiska väninna 27 4,197 3 63 % 

Kris och katastrof i Mumindalen 28 4,938 9 72 % 

Lilla Teatern total 75 12,832 25 64 %

15 

31 december 2022 

2022 PERFORMANCES AUDIENCE CANCELLED CAPACITY 

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL UTILISATION 

ARENA-STAGE 

Näytelmä joka menee pieleen 35 14,325 21 82 % 

Kultalampi 42 8,159 14 39 % 

Kiviä taskussa 20 8,718 0 87 % 

Ismo in English 3 1,464 0 98 % 

Arena-stage total 100 32,666 35 76 % 

STAGE FOR CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE 

Hopeasija / Kauppakeskus Tripla yksityisasunto 3 146 0 97 % 

The Longest Journey & olO / studio Pasila 2 126 0 32 % 

Harriharrin seikkailut – Episodi 3 / studio Pasila 3 262 0 44 % 

The Artist Is at Home 6 351 0 29 % 

Yhteisilta Helsingin feministinen salaseura / Last Hurrah 

7 443 0 32 % 

Stage for Contemporary Performance total 21 1,328 0 47 % 

VISITS 

Kiviä taskussa 

Pori 2 606 

Turku 1 641 

Rovaniemi 2 771 

Seinäjoki 1 408 

Karanteeniteatteri tallenne 1 486 

Kuopio 1 463 

Jyväskylä 1 1,194 

Bolla Tampereen teatterikesä 2 663 

Visits total 11 5,232 

Plays total 535 175,754 157 

AUDIENCE OUTREACH EVENTS PARTICIPANTS CANCELLED 

Pääroolissa Malmi community theatre project 80 1,776 0 

Art for the elderly at home 75 7,160 0 

Culture Kids 30 1,126 0 

Workshops and Art Testers’ pre- and after-show events 

39 3,567 0 

Behind-the-scenes tours 74 1,354 6 

Events and activities 26 2,283 0 

Cooperation with companies, Theatre agents, Dinner & Show and VIP evenings 

36 2,365 0 

Other audience outreach work 98 1,697 0 

Audience Outreach total 458 21,328 6 

Aggregate total 993 197,082 163 

Performances began in March 2022. Towards the end of the year, performances had to be cancelled due to illness.

16 

Stage for 

Contemporary 

Performance project 

Helsinki City Theatre’s Stage for Contemporary Performance 

project, launched in 2021, continued in 2022 

with staging of the project’s first performances. The 

project’s objective is to introduce different forms 

of contemporary performance to Helsinki City Theatre’s overall 

programming concept and to offer more opportunities for 

freelance artists. The project’s three-person curatorial team, 

composed of Tuomas Laitinen, Riikka Thitz and Suvi Tuominen, 

had selected the performances for 2022 towards the 

end of the previous year. The activities of the Stage for Contemporary 

Performance are divided into two parts: the stage 

for visiting performances and premieres, and stage residency 

periods for preparing these. Visiting performances were staged 

at the City Theatre’s Studio Pasila from 19 to 28 May, and first 

performances prepared over the summer premiered in August. 

At the City Theatre, the Stage for Contemporary Performance 

project is coordinated by Antti Lahti, Director of Helsinki 

Dance Company. The Theatre provides the project with financial 

and production-related resources and premises, and the Kone 

Foundation has awarded a grant of €180,000 to the project. 

Harold Hejazi 

ADVENTURES OF HARRIHARRI – EPISODE III 

© Harold Hejazi 

Eeva Juutinen oLO 

© Katri Naukkarinen 

Biitsi 

HOPEASIJA 

© Biitsi

17 

Helsingin Feministinen Salaseura: 

KOHTAAMISIA 

Laura Eklund Nhaga and Sophia Wekesa 

© Katri Naukkarinen 

Sara Grotenfelt 

THE LAST HURRAH 

© Helen Korpak 

Kati Korosuo 

THE ARTIST IS AT HOME 

© Venla Helenius

18 

Audience outreach activities 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, audience outreach activities were developed 

and a number of successful remote events were arranged for the 

elderly, for example. As soon as the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, the 

general public clearly wanted to return to on-site activities, and in 2022, 

415 audience outreach events were arranged as contact events and 43 remotely. A 

total of 565 people took part in the remote events, and the other events or audience 

events attracted 20,763 participants, which was more than ever before. 

Some of the City Theatre’s audience outreach events were public-access events 

that were open for all, while others were targeted at specific groups, such as day 

care groups and schoolchildren, work communities, the elderly or residents of specific 

areas. The largest projects were implemented in cooperation with partners and various 

networks. The City Theatre’s audience outreach works in close cooperation with 

the City of Helsinki, among others, and at the national level, audience outreach is 

involved in various projects, including Art Testers and Nuori Näyttämö (Young Stage 

Finland). 

458 

AUDIENCE 

OUTREACH 

EVENTS 

21,328 

PARTICIPANTS IN 

AUDIENCE 

OUTREACH 

EVENTS 

VALO PIIRTÄÄ KASVOJESI UURTEET (The light traces the lines on your face) -photo exhibition

19 

Open events 

Over the year, open rehearsals were arranged in conjunction 

with performances nearing their first nights. A carnival event 

was arranged on 16 August to mark the opening of the Theatre’s 

performance season. In this public-access event, both 

the autumn’s premieres and the various departments of the 

Theatre were showcased in the foyers and on the Big and 

Small Stage to more than 300 interested visitors. Open events 

continued on the Night of the Arts on 18 August, both in the 

main building and Lilla Teatern. The events attracted a total of 

566 visitors. 

In the spring, Lilla Teatern hosted the Replik debate event 

and in November, 100 people participated in the Tove theme 

day at Lillan. Over the year, five Coffee with the Author events 

were organised, with actors Heidi Herala, Aino Seppo and 

Eija Vilpas hosting authors Kristiina Rikman, Jari Järvelä, 

Selja Ahava and Kirsti Manninen. Heidi Herala’s biography 

was also presented. 

Behind-the-scenes tours and corporate 

cooperation 

Behind-the-scenes tours for the general public resumed in 

March after the Covid-19 lockdown. The 74 tours arranged 

over the year attracted a total of 1,354 participants. Account 

managers organised activities targeted at companies, work 

communities and the Theatre’s loyal patrons. In addition to 

tours, events including theatre workshops, artist meetings and 

presentations were arranged for these groups in the autumn. 

After selected performances of the musical Priscilla, aavikon 

kuningatar, open disco evenings were organised for the audience 

in the Big Stage foyer. 

Heidi Herala ja Kari Mattila 

© Kati Mykkänen 

Kahvilla kirjailijan kanssa (Coffee with the Author), guest Jari Järvelä 

© Kati Mykkänen 

Guest Kirsti Manninen 

© Kati Mykkänen

20 

Children and young 

people 

Educational materials about theatre 

were prepared for schools and made 

freely available for downloading on the 

Theatre website. School visits to the theatre 

and visits by the theatre to schools 

resumed gradually during the autumn. 

Art Testers 

The City Theatre participated in the 

large nationwide Art Testers project, 

with more than 3,200 8-graders visiting 

Helsinki City Theatre. In spring, Art Testers 

attended performances of the play 

Näytelmä joka menee pieleen at the 

Arena Stage and met the artists and interviewed 

them during the theatre visit. 

In autumn, Art Testers visited Lilla Teatern 

to see Kris och katastrof i Mumindalen 

and were introduced to the world of 

Moomins through a video series. At the 

Small Stage, Art Testers saw the dance 

performance Lomonosovin moottori and 

participated in an artist meeting afterwards. 

Moreover, written material was 

produced for teachers to augment the 

visit to the theatre. 

Opening of 

the performance year 

2022–23 

Photos Petri Mulari 

Shed music theatre 

The City Theatre collaborated with the 

ShedHelsinki Foundation to produce 

Saiturin joulu (A Christmas Carol) music 

theatre performance with a group of 80 

enthusiastic children and young people 

aged between 8 and 19. The performance 

was prepared at weekly Shed 

rehearsal sessions from March onwards.

Charles Dickens – Heikki Sankari – Tuomas Kesälä 

SAITURIN JOULU (A Christmas Carol) 

© Robert Seger 

21

22 

Culture Kids 

Sanna Niemeläinen – Jenny Jumppanen 

MUKAVAA MATKAA! 

Leena Rapola, Annika Venäläinen and Marjut Toivanen 

© Miika Storm 

Helsinki City Theatre is one of the theatres 

involved in the Culture Kids programme 

for children born in 2021 and 

living in Helsinki. The Mukavaa matkaa! 

baby theatre performance was staged 

for Culture Kids and their families 24 

times in the spring at children’s playgrounds 

in Helsinki and in the Small 

Stage Foyer. These participatory performances 

that support early interaction 

received an enthusiastic welcome. 

In autumn 2022, the Theatre offered 

the Open House for Toddlers event for 

Culture Kids and their adult carers from 

12 to 13 September. The day and night 

themed event transformed the Theatre’s 

foyer into a night-time fairytale forest, 

with musical performance sessions in 

the mornings and an info point presenting 

the various departments of the Theatre. 

All in all, the events attracted more 

than 1,100 participants. 

Art for the elderly at 

home 

Cultural activities for the elderly, both 

as contact events and remotely, have 

been developed in cooperation with the 

City of Helsinki within the Age-friendly 

cultural services network and particularly 

in the Art for the elderly at home 

project, for which the Theatre’s audience 

outreach work received a major subsidy 

from the City. The project introduces 

participatory art activities to the everyday 

lives of Helsinki-based senior citizens 

living at home and in care homes, 

and customers of home care services. 

In 2022, the project produced a pho- 

TAAPEROIDEN AVOIMET OVET (Open House for Toddlers)

23 

VALO PIIRTÄÄ KASVOJESI UURTEET 

(The light traces the lines on your face) 

-photo exhibition 

tographic exhibition called Valo piirtää 

kasvojesi uurteet (The light traces the 

lines on your face), featuring nine senior 

citizens and their stories. The exhibition 

was displayed at shopping centre Redi 

and at the Cable Factory in connection 

with the Armas Festival, and toured 

Cultural Centre Malmitalo, Maunula 

House and service centres in Helsinki. 

The exhibition has already been seen 

by some 6,000 people and the tour will 

continue in 2023. Moreover, the project 

produced Taidekortti (Art Card) performances 

in the homes of the elderly and 

collected stories, and arranged remote 

experiences and training for students 

and volunteers.

24 

Pääroolissa Malmi community 

theatre project 

Music workshop © Aleksi Kinnunen 

Pääroolissa Malmi is a three-year regional 

community theatre project. Its 

2022 main event, the WHO DIS? performance 

prepared with local juveniles 

between the age 14 to 19, was seen 

four times at Cultural Centre Malmitalo. 

A total of 213 spectators attended. In 

the Pääroolissa Malmi project, co-funded 

by the City of Helsinki, regional and 

community-based theatre activities are 

planned and implemented in the Malmi 

district together with local residents and 

groups. So far, the project has organised 

various workshops, for example, at regional 

events and arranged open city 

walks guided by locals. 

Story collection point © Laura Ikonen 

Poetry kiosk © Laura Ikonen 

Laura Ikonen and Reetta Kankare showcase 

the Art for the Elderly project at Enter ry’s 

digital marketplace 

© Jenna Mäkipelto

On Malmi’s trails © Mirja Neuvonen 

25 

WHO DIS? © Satbir Singh

26 


Mirva Mäkinen LUODOS 

Misa Lommi, Jyrki Kasper and Heidi Naakka 

© Kai Kuusisto 


Sari Palmgren SOIDINMENOT 

Inka Tiitinen © Kai Kuusisto

27 

Helsinki Dance 

Company 


Riia Kivimäki and Saku Mäkelä 

GLG 


2022 was the 49th year of operation of Helsinki Dance Company, 

the City Theatre’s dance group. Dancer-choreographer 

Antti Lahti was the director of HDC and the group consisted 

of eight dancers during the year. At the beginning of 2022, 

two new dancers joined the company. 

The joint performance Kolme teosta kontaktista premiered in 

March at Studio Pasila, comprisingperformances by Mirva 

Mäkinen (Luodos) and Sari Palmgren (Soidinmenot) as 

well as a duet (GLG) by Riia Kivimäki and Saku Mäkelä, 

produced in collaboration with Cirko – Center for New Circus. 

The performance was positively received by the media and 

audiences, but due to illness caused by Covid-19, some of the 

performances had to be cancelled. 

Choreographer Valtteri Raekallio’s dance performance 

Lomonosovin moottori premiered in November. All eight 

dancers of HDC performed and every single one of the 14 

scheduled performances were staged. All in all, the performance 

attracted an audience of 3,045. Lomonosovin moottori 

was also included in the Art Testers project for eightgraders. 

During the year, HDC dancers also contributed to other 

productions of Helsinki City Theatre, including Minä valitsin 

sinut, Ystäväni pelikaani, Niin kuin taivaassa, Tatu ja Patu 

Helsingissä and Mikko Räsäsen tulevaisuus. 

Partners also participated in marketing and communication 

in their own channels, associated with both of HDC’s premieres 

over the year. This helped to reach new potential audiences. 

In 2022, cooperation began with RecoveryRoom and 

physiotherapist Mikko Auvinen, including the preparation 

of individual training plans for each dancer, taking everyone’s 

personal needs and development targets into consideration. 

The results have been positive: no absences due to accidents 

occurred in the autumn season 2022.

28 

Valtteri Raekallio 


Misa Lommi 

© Kai Kuusisto

29 


Inka Tiitinen and Sofia Hilli 


The HDC 50 photo exhibition opened in the lobby of a large stage in early November. 

The exhibition presents the history of the dance group. 

© Kim Sinisalo

30 

Mika Ripatti 


Martti Suosalo, Lumi Aunio and Raili Raitala 


31 

Audiences and communications 

In 2022, the City Theatre sold a total of 175,754 tickets to 535 performances 

(2021: 104,117 tickets to 440 performances). In early 2022, as Covid-19 restrictions 

still affected performance activities, the City Theatre postponed the beginning 

of the season from January to March. Autumn 2022 was the first season after 

autumn 2019 without any restrictions caused by the pandemic. The audience numbers 

at the Big Stage totalled 87,835; at the Small Stage, 17,799; at the Arena Stage, 

32,666; at Studio Pasila, 15,573; at Lilla Teatern, 12,832; at Foyer performances, 

3,671 and at productions visiting various venues, 5,378. 

The magazine Teatteriin (To the Theatre) was published four times during the year, 

with a print run of 163,000 copies for each issue. The magazine was distributed at the 

Theatre’s own premises and also in libraries, hotels and Lippupiste ticket sales outlets. 

Most of the magazines were distributed as a supplement to the daily newspaper 

Helsingin Sanomat and extra copies were distributed to inner city households that do 

not subscribe to HS. An electronic version was also available. Advertisements aimed 

at various target groups were placed in newspapers, magazines and special titles, if 

tickets were still available. Adverts about Lilla Teatern’s programme were placed in 

the daily Hufvudstadsbladet on a regular basis, and Lilla Teatern’s Revy magazine was 

issued in the autumn. Copies of the Teatteriin magazine were mailed to target groups 

included the Theatre’s customer register. 

Lighted outdoor advertisement panels, ads on public transport and billboards at metro 

and train stations as well as wall posters have also been used to inform the general 

public. The Theatre’s media partner is Clear Channel Finland, a nationwide outdoor 

advertising company. Several customer events have been arranged for various customer 

groups, including theatre agents. Radio advertising campaigns and audio ads at 

shopping centres were produced for the autumn’s musical, as well as SMS advertising 

of the next year’s musical. 

Pages on the Theatre’s website hkt.fi were downloaded a total of 1,726,206 times 

over the year 2022 and the number of individual users totalled 624,970. Pages on 

the Lilla Teatern’s own website lillateatern.fi were downloaded a total of 65,530 times 

and the number of individual users totalled 26,335. 

As a result of search engine optimisation, the Theatre’s website was displayed in 

Google’s organic search results more than 5.73 million times in 2022. Google Ads 

text ads promoting various productions were displayed 868,542 times on Google 

platforms. 

Digital marketing efforts were strengthened and expanded further, with targeted 

and comprehensive digital advertising carried out with the digital outlet of the Theatre’s 

partner Lippu.fi, as display ads, social media ads and direct mail. The Theatre’s own 

Facebook and Instagram ad production was also strengthened. 

535 

PERFORMANCES 

174,754 

TICKETS SOLD 

HKT.FI WEBSITE 

LOADED OVER 

1.7 

MILLION TIMES 

LILLATEATERN.FI 

WEBISTE LOADED 

65,530 

TIMES

32 

Purely sales-related letters, campaigns and posts were produced in cooperation with 

Lippu.fi digital office and in equipment and media administered by Lippu.fi. In 2022, a 

total of 23 separate digital marketing campaigns (banners in the online store, display 

ads, Facebook and Instagram ads and event organiser’s newsletters) were produced 

in cooperation with the Lippu.fi digital office. Digital marketing was also produced in 

cooperation with Alma Media. 

Social media presence increased in 2022, with more than 44,600 followers on Facebook, 

more than 12,550 on Instagram and more than 3,300 on Twitter. 

Lilla Teatern has 4,600 followers on Facebook and 1,748 on Instagram. The coverage 

of our Facebook posts was 1,081,986 people, and that of Instagram, 239,940 

people. On the YouTube channel, the Theatre’s videos were watched 159,153 times in 

2022, and the total time spent watching the YouTube videos was 3,000 hours. Today, 

videos are mostly watched on social media platforms: for example, on Facebook alone, 

the Theatre’s videos were watched for a total of 1,160 hours in 2022. Moreover, the 

City Theatre opened a LinkedIn account in autumn 2022. 

In 2022, 13 newsletters were sent to all subscribers in the newsletter register, to 

a total of around 15,500 (verified) subscribers. The average direct mail opening rate 

was 53.9%. 

The renting out of City Theatre premises, service package and productisation activities, 

corporate sales and expo and trade fair engagement activities were also affected by 

restrictions during the spring season, but these activities began to run as usual in the 

autumn. 

Development of communications 

During the year under review, the Theatre’s communications were developed with 

a strategic approach. The development of corporate responsibility communications, 

recruitment communications and the employer image began and, as the communications 

team’s human resources strengthened, focus on active media communications 

was possible. During the autumn, media coverage, particularly on television, increased 

markedly, and was reflected as visitor peaks on the Theatre’s website. Communication 

between marketing and productions was also enhanced. An intranet reform project to 

improve internal communications is scheduled for 2023. 

In 2022, the Theatre sent a total of 44 media releases through Cision media 

service. The average opening rate of the releases was 27. On average, 24 journalists 

attended premieres at the Theatre. According to the media intelligence firm Retriever, 

the City Theatre was mentioned 1,602 times in total in journalistic media and 342 

times in various blogs during the year. 

The LinkedIn page opened for the Theatre in November focuses on communicating 

about the City Theatre as a workplace. The number of followers in LinkedIn is 216. 

12,550 

FOLLOWERS ON 

HKT'S INSTAGRAM 

44,600 

FOLLOWERS ON 

HKT'S FACEBOOK 

4,600 

FOLLOWERS ON 

LILLA TEATERN'S 

FACEBOOK 

1,748 

FOLLOWERS ON 

LILLA TEATERN'S 

INSTAGRAM 

@ Johanna Welander

33 

A spectator survey was carried out in cooperation with Innolink in autumn 

2022. The target group consisted of Helsinki City Theatre’s customers and theatre 

visitors in the autumn of 2022. The questionnaire was sent by email to all 

customers who had bought a ticket for the time period between 22 August and 

25 November 2022 after they had visited the Theatre. 

Ernest Thompson 

KULTALAMPI (On Golden Pond) 

Heidi Herala and Juhani Laitala 


The survey is based on 4,708 responses. Spectators gave the Theatre an overall 

grade of 6.1/7, and the Theatre’s various services received the grade of 5.82/7. 

The Net promoter score was 68, and 94% of visitors felt it was easy to find 

information about the Theatre and its programme. 

.

34 


NUMBER OF SPECTATOR 2018–2022 

350,000 

NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES 2018–2022 

1200 

300,000 

250,000 

265,784 

305,568 

900 

856 

885 

200,000 

175,754 

150,000 

106,906 104,117 

100,000 

500,00 

0 

265,784 

305,568 

106,906 

104,117 

175,754 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

600 

300 

0 

451 440 

856 

885 

451 

440 

535 

535 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

35 

TICKET REVENUE (€) 2018–2022 

12,000,000 

10,740,000 



(My Brilliant Friend) 

Alexander Wendelin, Pia Runnakko, 

Joachim Wigelius, Peter Kanerva, Lumi Aunio, 

Rasmus Slätis and Sanna Majuri 

© Ilkka Saastamoinen 

10,000,000 

8,000,000 

6,000,000 

4,000,000 

2,000,000 

0 

7,809,000 

6,801,000 

3,353,000 

2,982,000 

7,809,000 

10,740,000 

3,353,000 

2,982,000 

6,801,000 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

36

37 

ADMINISTRATION 

AND PERSONNEL 

Board of Directors 

The by-laws of the Helsinki Theatre Foundation stipulate that a seven-strong Board 

of Directors, elected by the City of Helsinki, is responsible for the Foundation’s administration. 

Composition of the Board of Directors in 2022 

Chair 

Deputy Chair 

Members 

Rapporteurs and experts 

Personnel representatives 

MIKE POHJOLA 

TINO SINGH 

MATTI NIIRANEN 

SARA PAAVOLAINEN 

MARCUS RANTALA 

SARI SARKOMAA 

KATRI VÄNTTINEN 

Director General KARI ARFFMAN 

Finance and Administration Director HELENA REILIN 

Technical Director ANTTI REHTIJÄRVI 

Dramaturge HENNA PIIRTO 

Actor ANTTI TIMONEN 

Actor URSULA SALO 

Dancer HEIDI NAAKKA 

Stage Manager SASU TUOMINEN 

Finance and Administration Director Helena Reilin serves as the secretary to the Board 

of Directors. In the year under review, the Board convened 11 times at a regular meeting 

and at one extraordinary meeting. Early in the year, the meetings were held as virtual 

meetings and from 1 April, physical meetings. 

Helsinki Theatre Foundation Board of Directors 

and Helsinki City Theatre management: 

Mike Pohjola, Tino Singh, Katri Vänttinen, 

Marcus Rantala, Antti Rehtijärvi, Helena Reilin, 

Kari Arffman and Matti Niiranen. 

The picture is missing Sara Paavolainen and 

Sari Sarkomaa 

© Miika Storm

38 

Co-determination at the City Theatre 

In 2022, members of the City Theatre Advisory Board were 

Director General Kari Arffman (Chair), Finance and 

Administration Director Helena Reilin (Secretary), Technical 

Director Antti Rehtijärvi, representative of the Actors’ 

association, employee representative Antti Timonen, 

representative of the Dancers’ association, employee representative 

Heidi Naakka and representative of the technical 

staff, employee representative Sasu Tuominen. The Advisory 

Board convened twelve times during the year. 

Henry Lewis – Jonathan Sayer – Henry Shields 

NÄYTELMÄ JOKA MENEE PIELEEN 


Santeri Kinnunen, Linda Wiklund, Alex Anton, 

Risto Kaskilahti, Eija Vilpas and Eppu Salminen 

© Tapio Vanhatalo 

The Theatre’s artistic committee convenes, as a rule, once 

every month during the performance season, by invitation of 

Director General Kari Arffman. In 2022, the committee had 

nine meetings. In addition to the Theatre management, representatives 

of the actors, dancers, dramaturges, artistic designers 

and the production team participated in the committee 

meetings. 

Seven personnel meetings for all staff members of the 

Theatre were held during the year to deal with topical issues. 

During the spring season, the meetings were virtual, but in the 

autumn, it was possible to once again hold these meetings on 

the Small Stage of the Theatre.

39 

Paavo Rintala – Kristian Smeds 

JUMALA ON KAUNEUS 

Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy 


Edith Södergran – Hagar Olsson 

RASANDE STILLESTÅND 

Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy 

© Cata Portin

40 

SUNDAY FOR UKRAINE charity concert 24.4.2022 

Photos Miika Storm

© Sari Aarnio 

41

42 

Co-determination 

negotiations 




Tiina Peltonen, Lauri Mikkola and Aleksi Johansson 


Co-determination negotiations due to the Covid-19 pandemic 

were conducted at the City Theatre during the spring 2022. Theatre 

management issued a negotiation proposal and an invitation 

to the co-determination procedure on 28 December2021 and the 

negotiations began on 3 January 2022. The reason for the negotiations was 

the severe situation of Theatre finances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic 

and lockdowns of performance activities. The agenda included the transfer 

of days off due to the interruption of performances in the early part of 

the year, and possible lay-offs. The co-determination negotiations took four 

months and were terminated on 4 May 2022. The additional subsidy of 

€2.8 million, granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, enabled the 

Theatre to avoid lay-offs of personnel.

Filming of the trailer for Priscilla, aavikon kuningatar (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) 

© Kim Bezzina 

43

44

45 



Raili Raitala © Robert Seger 

Occupational safety 

and information 

security in 2022 

The development of occupational and audience safety 

and information security at the Theatre is steered by the 

security steering group, combined with the occupational 

health and safety committee. The security steering group 

convenes approximately four times per year and the meetings focus 

on observations and deviations relating to occupational and 

audience safety and information security. The Group also decides 

on safety-related development projects and trainings. In addition, 

the security steering group works in close cooperation with the 

occupational health care service with respect to workplace surveys, 

for example. The annual planning cycle of safety and security 

management reminds of duties associated with security. 

The City Theatre uses a HSEQ-Online safety monitoring system 

that promotes safety observations and provides vital support to 

measures taken to prevent occupational accidents among personnel. 

In addition to safety observations, statutory and productionspecific 

risk assessments are compiled in the system. The system 

is also used for fault reports and maintenance calls relating to the 

premises. 

In 2022, two workshops focusing on well-being at work and 

maintaining work capacity were organised at the Theatre within 

the framework of the Rehabilitation Foundation’s project ‘Ability to 

work and functional capacity at theatres’. Moreover, a lecture was 

arranged for all staff members on the topic of psychological safety. 

In autumn 2022, an election of occupational safety and health 

representatives was held at the City Theatre. Actor Sari Haapamäki 

and dancer Justus Pienmunne were elected as occupational 

safety and health representatives for the period 1 January 

2023–31 December 2024. Deputy representatives elected were 

stage carpenter Tomi Kuusiniemi, assistant lighting manager 

Markus Schaffter, dresser Riku Tiedemann and stage manager 

Arto Jormakka.

46 

Development of 

operations 



(My brilliant friend) 

Pia Andersson and Cecilia Paul 


Helsinki City Theatre has been focusing on the development 

of operations and processes in the long 

term, moving on from the Hukkajahti (Waste hunt) 

process development project, ongoing since 2014 

and based on the international Lean and TQM processes, towards 

a continuous development model in which development 

is an integral part of the day-to-day work. Development and 

developing together is one of the City Theatre’s strategic focus 

areas. In 2022, Helsinki City Theatre launched a project with 

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), whereby Heli 

Rautio, student of Lean practitioner training, will complete a 

project assignment and on-the-job learning period by developing 

the production process of Helsinki City Theatre. Moreover, 

in 2022, members of the University of Helsinki’s quality network, 

and the management team of Kilden teater og konserthus 

in Norway visited Helsinki City Theatre to familiarise 

themselves with the production model and Lean development 

of Helsinki City Theatre. In addition to the production process, 

the Theatre invested in developing the HR administration processes 

in 2022 by launching a project to introduce the Sympa 

HR management system. 


Alexander Wendelin © Ilkka Saastamoinen

47

48 

Laura Lehtola – Milja Sarkola 


Wenla Reimaluoto and Misa Lommi 

© Ilkka Saastamoinen

49 

Environmental responsibility 

Towards the end of 2022, the City Theatre was accepted 

into the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division’s 

energy survey project that will be implemented at the 

Theatre’s premises early in 2023. The project’s aim is 

to identify measures to improve energy efficiency. Moreover, 

negotiations about a feasibility study of a solar power plant 

were carried out with the City of Helsinki, to investigate the 

possibility of building a power plant at the Theatre that would 

produce its own solar energy. 


Misa Lommi, Hanna Raiskinmäki, Kaisa Torkkel, 

Wenla Reimaluoto and Unto Nuora 


During 2022, in cooperation with the Finnish National Opera 

and Ballet and the Association of Finnish Theatres, Helsinki 

City Theatre translated Book One of the Theatre Green Book 

into Finnish. Book One presents standards for improving the 

ecological sustainability of theatre productions. The Theatre 

Green Book, developed by experts and theatre sector operators 

in Britain, sets standards in three volumes to enable the 

sustainable making of productions and to improve the sustainability 

of various theatre operations and buildings. 

In 2021, the City Theatre was awarded the EcoCompass certificate 

that remains valid three years. The City Theatre has made 

a commitment to follow the ten criteria of the EcoCompass 

environmental management system. Trained environmental 

managers at various departments have defined concrete development 

targets, measures and objectives. Realisation of 

these measures is monitored on an annual basis.

50 

Christopher Hampton – Leea Klemola – Rosa-Maria Perä 

VAARALLISIA SUHTEITA (Les liaisons dangereuses) 

Merja Larivaara, Riitta Havukainen, Eija Vilpas and Pertti Koivula 

© Harri Hinkka

51 

Training and occupational 

wellbeing 

Personnel training and the development of occupational wellbeing 

were invested in also in 2022. Employees from various occupational 

groups participated in training in their respective fields to maintain 

and develop their competences. During the year, training was 

provided also for supervisors, and vocational guidance and development 

of the work communities of various departments continued in cooperation 

with Kasvupolku Perita Sipiläinen Oy and Sampo Kettunen Consulting 

Coaching & Counselling. Work Culture Chamber sessions for processing the 

Theatre’s strategy with performers also continued from the previous year. 

All in all, €138,000 was spent on supervisor training, vocational guidance 

and staff training, and an additional €12,000 was allocated to song and 

dance instruction for performing artists. Pension Insurance Company Elo has 

contributed 50%, a total of €17,000, to the training of supervisors and the 

work community development of various departments. 

Development of person-years 

Realised 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Permanent 223 230 241 214 244 

Part-time 83 103 84 64 86 

Total 306 333 325 278 330 

ARTISTS 42 % 

TECHNICAL STAFF 44 % 

The Theatre’s 

annual 

labour unit 

count 2021 

ADMINIS- 

TRATION 14 %

52 

Tove Jansson 

KRIS OCH KATASTROF I MUMINDALEN 

Elena Rekola, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Alexander Wendelin, 

Lumi Aunio, Pia Runnakko and Riina Tikkanen 

© Moomin Characters

53 

FINANCES 

In terms of Theatre’s internal revenues, 2022 turned 

out to be a moderate year, despite the restrictions 

in force during the first months of the year, and the 

higher-than-usual number of cancellations throughout 

the year. Visitor numbers are increasing and internal 

revenues reached a healthy level in the autumn season.

54 

Revenues 

In 2022, the Theatre’s operating revenue, excluding targeted 

grants, totalled €7,395,000, €3,946,000 more than in the 

previous year. Ticket revenues, €6,471,000 in total, were 

€3,489,000 higher that in the previous year, and other income, 

€924,000, was €457,000 higher than in the previous year. 

Other income consists, for example, of income earned from visiting 

performances, rental income from the restaurant and service 

charges and other such income. 

In 2022, the Theatre Foundation received State subsidies 

based on 294 person-years, of which two person-years were 

granted as raised, and the total sum was €6,801,000. Nine less 

person-years were accepted as a basis for the State subsidies than 

in the previous year. The unit price of a person-year, €62,254, was 

higher year-on-year (€60,016). As consequence, the total State 

subsidies received by the Helsinki Theatre Foundation increased 

by €72,000 (increase in the previous year, €220,000). Moreover, 

an additional subsidy of €2,800,000 was granted to the Theatre 

to cover the losses of income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Theatre received a total of €179,000 in various targeted 

grants from the City of Helsinki (€80,000 for the Pääroolissa Malmi 

community theatre project, €14,000 for the Mukavaa matkaa! Culture 

Kids performance and €85,000 for the Art for the elderly at home 

project). Moreover, the Theatre received a targeted grant of €35,000 

for the Shed activity and €120,000 of the grant targeted at Lilla Teatern’s 

development project was used. The Kone Foundation awarded 

a grant of €320,000 to the Stage for Contemporary Performance for 

two performance seasons, of which €165,000 was allocated to 2022. 

A grant of €10,000 from Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland was 

received for the Kris och katastrof i Mumindalen performance. 

The City of Helsinki granted the theatre operating grants and 

rent subsidies for the total sum of €8,103,000, €12,000 less than 

in the previous year. The rent paid for Lilla Teatern’s premises and 

the Arena Stage was covered with the Theatre’s internal revenues. 

The subsidy for annual repairs and renovations totalled €420,000, 

and the expenditure totalled €423,000. During the year, the Theatre 

received a subsidy of €5,110,000 from the City of Helsinki for 

loan and interest payments. The subsidy was allocated to cover the 

interests and payments on loans granted by Municipality Finance 

Plc for the renovation and modernisation of theatre technology. 

Revenues from the Theatre’s own activities accounted for 

30% of all income. When subsidies for renovation, rent and loans 

are deducted from all income, this figure comes to 33%. 

OTHER 2 % 

CITY 24 % 

OWN REVENUES 32 % 

Helsinki 

City Theatre 

funding in 

2022 

STATE 42 %

Marie Jones 

KIVIÄ TASKUSSA 

(Stones in His Pocket) 

20th anniversary performance 

24.10.2022 

Mika Nuojua and Martti Suosalo 


55

56 

Leena Krohn – Paula Salminen 

YSTÄVÄNI PELIKAANI 

Elias Salonen and Ylermi Rajamaa 


57 

Expenses 

Personnel expenses totalled €15,669,000, which was €2,695,000, or some 

21% higher than in the previous year. The rise in personnel expenses was 

primarily attributable to the operations returning to normal. 

During the financial year, a slight increase, €900, was recorded in the 

pension liability to the Pension Security Foundation of Stage and Screen Workers. 

In other variable expenses, personnel expenses totalled €3,262,000, which was 

€1,167,000 more than in the previous year. The amount of compensation for work 

and use increased by €569,000 year-on-year, attributable to higher copyright fees. 

Other fixed expenses (excl. personnel expenses) were all in all €255,000 higher 

than in the previous year, and the operating expenses of the premises increased by 

€300,000 in comparison to 2021. An increase in the general level of prices has been 

the most significant cause of higher expenses, particularly the exceptionally high 

increase in energy prices. 

Aino Havukainen – Sami Toivonen – Sami Rannila 

TATU JA PATU HELSINGISSÄ 

Paavo Kääriäinen, Leenamari Unho and Antti Timonen 

© Robert Seger

58 

Ingmar Bergman– Paavo Westerberg 

FANNY JA ALEXANDER (Fanny och Alexander) 

Eero Aho and Anna-Maija Tuokko 


59 

Investments 

The Theatre Foundation has received €420,000 in financial 

assistance from the City of Helsinki for annual 

repairs and renovations. The total sum for acquisitions 

of stage-technical equipment essential for operations, 

and renovations, came to €423,000 during the year, with 

€166,000 allocated to lighting equipment, €82,000 to general 

technology and €60,000 to stage technology. Investments in 

the stage property room totalled €58,000, those in wardrobe, 

€45,000 and in property, €12,000. 

Investment expenses totalling €68,681,000 related to the 

renovation project have been recorded as balance sheet assets 

on 31 December 2022. After adjustments for depreciation, the 

share of investment expenses totals €46,464,000. Of this total, 

the theatre building accounts for €41,494,000 and theatre 

technology, €4,970,000. 

Financing of the 

renovation and 

theatre technology 

The extensive renovation of the theatre building was 

carried out based on the loan guarantee granted by 

the City of Helsinki, the annual loan subsidy of the 

City, and a State grant. The Ministry of Education and 

Culture granted a total of €3,450,000 to the project. Moreover, 

the City of Helsinki granted €2 million in credit facilities to 

cover liquidity needs during the renovation. 

On 31 December 2022, the Theatre Foundation had longterm 

loans guaranteed by the City of Helsinki, from Municipality 

Finance Plc, totalling €41,650,000. Repayment of these 

loans continued according to plan in 2022.

60 

Leena Rapola 

Antti Mattila 

Sanna-June Hyde, Rauno Ahonen, Paavo Westerberg 

Olavi Uusivirta, Raili Raitala, Jari Pehkonen 

Santeri Kinnunen, Jouko Klemettilä 

Fanny 

and Alexander 

rehearsals 

© Heidi Piiroinen

61 

Significant events after the close 

of the year under review 

No substantial changes that would have a significant impact on the City Theatre’s 

operational preconditions have occurred after the close of the year under review. 

Outlook for probable future development 

The outlook for development in 2023 is unstable in economic 

terms, because fairly high wage increases are predicted on the 

basis of general collective bargaining. Due to the reform of the 

State subsidies system, the Theatre Foundation was entitled 

to less person-years than before. The financial impacts of this 

reform will be targeted at the coming years after the number 

of realised person-years has returned to normal in 2022, and 

the difference to the fixed number of person-years (294) in the 

six-year period will increase further. 

Evaluation of the most significant 

operational risks and uncertainty factors 

In relation to the scope and structure of its operations, the 

City Theatre has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 

most significant risks and uncertainty factors and other issues 

influencing the development of operations. 

As typical for the basic nature of theatre operations, the 

City Theatre’s most significant risks relate to the uncertainty 

factors related to performances, the labour-intensive nature of 

the industry, the artistic and economic success of productions 

and the audience’s reaction to opening performances. The City 

Theatre’s broad-based programme and many stages have contributed 

substantially to its risk management. 

The Ministry of Education and Culture’s project reforming 

State funding for culture, together with the changes made 

to the grounds for granting of State subsidies, and legislative 

amendments, add uncertainty to the level of the Theatre’s 

current, established share of State subsidies on the basis of 

person-years. 

Traditionally, the Theatre’s internal revenues have covered 

a substantial portion of operating expenses. Maintaining the 

high level of ticket revenue and developing other income generation 

are key goals as public funding decreases. Maintaining a 

strong balance sheet to offset economic fluctuations and safeguarding 

operations will be increasingly important in days to 

come. The Theatre Foundation’s Board of Directors has specified 

€3.2 million as the target level for equity capital to safeguard 

the Theatre’s operational preconditions and a sufficient riskcarrying 

capacity. 

The Theatre’s aim is to control overall economic risks by 

cutting fixed and variable expenses and by producing interesting 

programme for the audience, taking into account a sufficient 

number of performances. 

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed a new kind of risks for 

theatre operations and, consequently, extensive security guidelines 

have been prepared to guarantee the safety of the audience 

and employees alike. The risk of further pandemics will 

increase in days to come and measures to control these risks 

must be developed. 

Assessment of and key indicators for 

financial standing and result, and other 

factors affecting the development of 

business operations 

Result for the financial year 

The financial statements indicate a surplus of €500,000, and 

the balance sheet shows equity capital at €2,820,000.

62 

General grants 

In 2022, the Theatre received €9,601,000 in government grants, of which €2,800,000 

was compensation for loss of income caused by the pandemic, and operating grants 

from the City of Helsinki for the principal activities, €5,198,000 in total. 

Breakdown of the Theatre’s income: 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Own revenues, % 38.2 46.0 18.3 18.9 30.3 

Grants and subsidies, % 61.8 54.0 81.7 81.1 69.7 

The impact of loan subsidies has been eliminated from the figures. 

Audience outreach’s Jenny Jumppanen and 

Hanna Nuorala organised a Helsinki-themed 

workshop at the Book Fair. 

© Mikko Peltoniemi 

Development of the Theatre’s income, excluding renovation, rent and 

loan subsidies: 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 

Income, €1,000 20,550 23,255 19,010 16,963 22,750 

Own revenues, % 44.1 52.4 20.2 20.1 33 

Grants and subsidies, % 55.9 47.6 79.8 79.9 67 

SENIORISOPPA CHRISTMAS CONCERT © Ilkka Kokkonen

63 

Surplus/deficit, general grants in relation to turnover (€1,000) and the share of equity capital of balance sheet 

total 

2018 % 2019 % 2020 % 2021 % 2022 % 

Turnover 9 061 12 195 3 844 3 416 7 395 

Deficit 10 741 -118.5 -10 509 -86.2 -15 436 -401.6 -14 055 -411.5 -14 299 -193.4 

General grants 11 298 125.8 11 398 93.5 15 044 391.4 13 124 384.2 14 795 200.1 

Equity capital 3 198 4.4 3 648 5.4 3 255 5.3 2 324 4.0 2 820 5.1 

Balance sheet total 72 222 67 541 61 833 57 588 55 736 

The children got to see their parents’ workplace. © Kati Mykkänen

64 

Kay Pollak – Carin Pollak – Fredrik Kempe 

NIIN KUIN TAIVAASSA (Så som i himmelen) 

Tuukka Leppänen 

© Otto-Ville Väätäinen 

Pajtim Statovci – Tuomas Timonen 

BOLLA 

Otto Rokka and Mikko Kauppila 

© Ilkka Saastamoinen

65 

Income statement 31 December 2022 

ACTUAL OPERATIONS 2022 2021 

Revenues 7 395 244,32 3 415 515,16 

Expenses 

Personnel -15 669 396,19 -12 971 956,62 

Rent -3 278 392,06 -3 239 885,38 

City of Helsinki rent subsidy 2 893 000,00 2 905 000,00 

Depreciation -4 061 291,72 -4 061 291,72 

Other expenses -6 224 423,95 -4 623 018,19 

Targeted grants 509 082,65 -25 831 421,27 420 547,80 -21 570 604,11 

Deficit -18 436 176,95 -18 155 088,95 

FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSES 

Interest earned 47 260,18 436,14 

Interest paid -1 020 456,85 -1 099 883,74 

City of Helsinki loan subsidy 5 110 000,00 4 136 803,33 5 200 000,00 4 100 552,40 

Deficit -14 299 373,62 -14 054 536,55 

EXTRAORDINARY INCOME 

GENERAL GRANTS 

State operating grant 9 600 627,00 7 928 394,00 

City of Helsinki operating grant 5 198 000,00 5 198 000,00 

City of Helsinki renovation grant 420 000,00 420 000,00 

Renovations -423 335,99 14 795 291,01 -422 855,81 13 123 538,19 

RESULT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 495 917,39 -930 998,36 

RESERVE TRANSFERS 

Transfers to reserves 0,00 0,00 

RESERVES 

Voluntary provisions 

Withdrawal from reserves for production 0,00 0,00 

Deficit/Surplus 495 917,39 -930 998,36

66 

Balance Sheet 

BALANCE SHEET 

BALANCE SHEET 

ASSETS 2022 2021 

FIXED ASSETS 

Tangible assets 59 056,85 59 056,85 

Machinery and equipment 10 485,96 16 777,68 

Renovation project 68 680 732,04 68 671 204,49 

Depreciation, theatre technology -6 050 000,00 -4 950 000,00 

Depreciation, theatre building -16 166 250,00 46 534 024,85 -13 211 250,00 50 585 789,02 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Receivables 

Short-term 

Accounts receivable 67 387,39 56 860,54 

Accrued income 769 136,67 1 536 524,06 1 041 958,44 1 098 818,98 

Cash and bank 7 665 660,77 5 903 460,97 

LIABILITIES 

55 736 209,68 57 588 068,97 

EQUITY CAPITAL 

Original own funds 3 363,76 3 363,76 

Contingency reserve 460 470,49 460 470,49 

Operational fund 846 145,53 846 145,53 

Surplus/deficit for previous 

financial years 1 014 279,21 1 945 277,57 

Surplus/deficit for financial year 495 917,39 2 820 176,38 -930 998,36 2 324 258,99 

PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES 

AND CHARGES 

Pension provisions 155 181,00 154 244,00 

LIABILITIES 

Long-term 

Loans from Municipality Finance Plc 41 650 000,00 45 550 000,00 

Loan from the City of Helsinki 0,00 41 650 000,00 0,00 45 550 000,00 

Short-term 

Loan from Municipality Finance Plc 3 900 000,00 3 900 000,00 

Advances received 2 648 432,81 1 326 570,57 

Accounts payable 591 471,23 345 880,47 

Other short-term liabilities 1 829 535,64 1 973 073,11 

Prepayments 2 141 412,62 11 110 852,30 2 014 041,83 9 559 565,98 

55 736 209,68 57 588 068,97

67 

During the City’s Best Christmas 

Porridge event, the creators of the 

Minä valitsin sinut podcast, Daniar 

Latif and Onni Mäkelä, were 

chosen as the customer of the year 

2022. 


Young people of the Saiturin joulu 

(A Christmas Carol) performance 

Mikko Peltoniemi as presenter.

68 

Programme 2022 

Kati Korosuo 

THE ARTIST IS AT HOME 

Sara Grotenfelt 

THE LAST HURRAH 

Helsingin 

Feministinen Salaseura: 

KOHTAAMISIA

69

70 

Fanny ja Alexander

Annual Report 2022

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