International dance and theatre stages in Helsinki

Alexander theatre

The opening ceremonies of the Dance House Helsinki will be held on February 2, 2022. For the time being, it's still waiting for the audience.

View to the National Opera from Töölönlahti

Riding by Kiasma art gallery

The Aleksanterin teatteri (Alexander theatre), named after Russian tsar Alexander II, is a beautiful building completed on the Bulevardi in 1879. Former Finnish National Opera. Since 1993 visiting music and theatre performances, concerts and dance performances.

1. Aleksanterin teatteri

Cirko, based in Suvilahti, is the only organisation of its kind in Finland. Cirko is closely involved in a variety of international networks, promotes the interests of the new circus sector in Finland and makes an active contribution towards the creation of a new and vibrant urban culture at its Suvilahti base. Cirko offers the public high quality and interesting contemporary circus and generates new productions.

2. Cirko - Center for New Circus

Tanssin talo is a performance and event venue especially designed for dance, uniting dance with its audience.

3. Tanssin talo – Dance House Helsinki

Espoo Cultural Centre is the main scene for performing arts and cultural life in Espoo.

4. Espoo Cultural Centre

The Finnish National Opera and Ballet is the only professional opera company in Finland. It traces its history back to 1911 and the Ballet was founded in 1922. 

There are generally four new opera productions and three new ballet productions staged each year. Added to these are revivals of old productions. The Finnish National Opera and Ballet performs both established classics and contemporary opera and dance works, especially new Finnish works.

Following international practice, operas are generally performed in their original languages. There is a surtitling screen above the proscenium arch, usually with the text in Finnish, Swedish and English.

5. Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Founded in 1872 The Finnish National Theatre is the oldest Finnish-language professional theatre in Finland. The building was designed by architect Onni Törnqvist-Tarjanne in 1902.

6. Finnish National Theatre

Hurjaruuth is a dynamic dance theatre company founded in 1981. 

7. Hurjaruuth Dance Theatre

Kiasma Theatre is a guest venue located in Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma.

8. Kiasma-teatteri

Stoa is a lively and varied culture centre in East Helsinki situated by the metro station in Itäkeskus, next door to the Itis Shopping Centre. The high quality events at Stoa attract visitors of all ages. Stoa's programme includes Finnish and international contemporary dance and circus, theatre, music, children's performances and exhibitions. Stoa's auditorium is one of the best venues for contemporary dance in Helsinki. in the building also Itäkeskus library and Café Stoa.

9. Stoa

Svenska Teatern is the National Theatre for plays in Swedish. All the shows are in Swedish, but on the main stage some plays have Finnish subtitles and on occasion also in English. 

Svenska Teatern celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2017 and is well worth a visit, if not for the performances, for the stunning architecture. The building was designed by Russian architect Nikolaj Benois and in 1935-36 a modernisation of the building was conducted by Eero Saarinen and Jarl Eklund.

10. Svenska Teatern

Teater Viirus is a Swedish-speaking theatre, founded in 1987, located in Jätkäsaari. Apart from its own production the theatre also hosts visiting performances, events and festivals.

11. Teater Viirus

WHS Teatteri Union is an arthouse cinema and performing arts venue in Helsinki. The non-verbal performances and films presented in their original language with English subtitles provide unique experiences. The cozy theatre cafe serves before and after the events.

12. WHS Teatteri Union

Zodiak is an experimental, pioneering centre of contemporary dance that focuses especially on artists, the community, and audience work. Zodiak's facilities are located at the Cable Factory in Helsinki.

13. Zodiak

Classical music venues in and around Helsinki

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Where in Helsinki can you see the most brilliant non-verbal performing arts? What venue is so exquisite that it’s worth visiting even at the risk that you don’t understand a word?...