Performances suited for non-Finnish speaking audiences
30.7.2025
The festival week is almost here, so we've gathered a few performances and other suggestions in this article that are suitable for non-Finnish speaking audiences, as well. This year the main programme includes 5 international performances both for children and adult audiences, as well as free admission street performances that the whole family will enjoy.
The Main Programme
Elements of Freestyle
Breakdancing, inline skating, skateboarding, freestyle basketball, BMX riding and freerunning! Elements of Freestyle is a spectacular mashup of urban sports and art. ISH Dance Collective is one of the Netherlands’ frontline dance companies of the past two decades. The team helmed by choreographer-director Marco Gerris guarantees their first visit to Finland will be both unbelievable and unforgettable.
Sat 2 Aug at 18.00 | Tampere Hall, Main Auditorium | Duration 1h
Read more about Elements of Freestyle.
The Secret Lives of Old People
This show introduces us to a group of 76- to 90-year-olds who share their experiences of love and sex – from their first teenage romances to late-life affairs. Author-director Mohamed El Khatib’s documentary theatre projects give a voice to those who often go unheard. Based on interviews with more than a hundred senior citizens, this heartwarming piece tells it straight: you can hide us in a care home, but there's still fire left in us.
Fri 8 Aug at 19.00, Sat 9 Aug at 16.00 | TTT Eino Salmelainen | Duration 1h 10min | Performed in French, subtitled in Finnish and English | Age recommendation 15+
Read more about The Secret Lives of Old People.
Get Off
A queer performance legend gives us an intelligent and raw solo piece that melts the heart and disturbs the peace. Scottish-born Katy Baird is obsessed with how people, like herself, spend their time. Get Off lures us to these existential and silly questions.
Mon 4 Aug at 19.00, Tue 5 Aug at 16.30 | TT Frenckell | Duration 1h | Performed in English, subtitled in Finnish and English | Age recommendation 18+
Read more about Get Off.
Birdboy
Burrowing inside the inner world of a misfit kid and using the metaphor of a bird as the symbol of freedom, Birdboy takes you on a wild and beautiful journey through fear, isolation, fantasy and letting go. Join the ride as dancer-performer Kévin Coquelard shares the stage with a rusty old Volkswagen and a bunch of ghostly balloons and otherworldly creatures.
Sat 9 Aug at 19.00, Sun 10 Aug at 14.30 | Teatterimonttu | Duration 45min | Performed in English | Age recommendation 8+
Read more about Birdboy.
World Without Eyes
Dansema Dance Theatre from Lithuania specializes in dance theatre for children. The performance provides a safe space for its young audience to voluntarily join in and experience dance, without words, by feeling and sensing the dancers’ movements and touching the sets and costumes. The Saturday show is specifically for 1–6-year-old children with disabilities, and the Sunday show is for babies aged 6–18 months (with or without disabilities).
Sat 9 Aug at 17.30, Sun 10 Aug at 14.30 | Hällä Stage | Duration 40min
Read more about World Without Eyes.
Haavemaa – A Savonian Mayhem
A banger of a show that blows open the doors of a Savonian bar. This is Haavemaa by Vauriomania, a theatre outfit known for their cross-pollinations of grisly comedy and dark matter. The extraordinary talents Paavo Kääriäinen and Jonnakaisa Risto share the stage with fascinatingly grotesque puppets.
Thu 7 Aug at 18.30, Fri 8 Aug at 13.00 | Tampereen Komediateatteri | Duration 2h, intermission | Performed in Finnish, subtitled in English via mobile app | Age recommendation 12+
Read more about Haavemaa – A Savonian Mayhem.
The Free Admission Street Performances
Man in Bubble
Man in Bubble is a unique show that combines the magic of soap bubbles with the art of the clown, creating a poetic journey that will enchant spectators of all ages.
Tue 5 Aug at 17.00, 18.00 & 19.00, Wed 6 Aug at 11.00, 12.00 & 13.00 | Duration 35min | Väinö Linna Square
Read more about Man in Bubble.
Kate & Pasi
Award-winning duo Kate & Pasi create a high quality, fast-paced and humorous circus show. The duo will bring their two street circus shows, Rafla and Suhde, to Tampere.
Wed 6 Aug Rafla at 18.00 & Suhde at 19.30, Thu 7 Aug Rafla at 18.00 & Suhde at 19.30 | Duration 30min | In front of Culture House Laikku
Read more about Kate & Pasi.
Sorin Sirkus
The young circus artists of Sorin Sirkus entertain the audience with an energetic and captivating street performance in the square in front of Culture House Laikku.
Tue 5 Aug at 15.00 & 16.00, Wed 6 Aug at 15.00 & 16.00, Thu 7 Aug at 17.00 & 18.45 | Duration 20min | In front of Culture House Laikku
Read more about Sorin Sirkus.
T LAB Programme
The T Lab programme speaks in the universal language of music. Taking place at G Livelab from Tuesday to Saturday August 5-9, T Lab provides performances ranging from ambient concerts to more energetic gigs all through the festival week. Check out Werner Bros., Finland's biggest and baddest skiffle band, or Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä raha, who serve up some Balkan rhytms mixed with Finnish classics. If more ambient evenings are your style, join Jorma Uotinen, as he guides the audience into the world of tango with his velvety voice.
Check out the T Lab programme.
OFF Tampere Programme
OFF Tampere, the open-access fringe festival of Tampere Theatre Festival, gives professional and non-professional performers the chance to join the festival lineup. OFF Tampere programme includes a number of performances that can be enjoyed regardless of language, including dance, circus and theatre. Cricus Ruska Festival serves several different circus performances for the audience to check out: Actric Ensemble: Ensembled, Arctic Ruska Iltamat, Armour Circus Works: Stygian, and Cirque Salmenaho: Hillasium. If you prefer theatre with less communicating, check out the wordless Tea for Two by Teatteri Qo. Or you can enjoy the world of classical music in the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra's annual Park Concert.
Check out the OFF Tampere programme.
The Great Nocturnal Happening
The Great Nocturnal Happening is a full day and night of activities around the city of Tampere, taking place on Thursday 7 August this year. The programme features a mixture of performances, workshops, walking tours, exhibitions and much more – there's something for everyone!
Check out the Nocturnal Happening programme.