The Festival starts today – Finland’s theatre capital is full of action all week long!
4.8.2025
Tampere Theatre Festival, the largest and longest-running theatre event in the Nordic countries, takes place this year from 4–10 August. This is the 56th year of the festival.
The Main programme of the festival includes 22 productions this year, six of which come from abroad. Foreign performers are visiting from France, Lithuania, Holland, Ireland and Britain, along with a street performance from Italy. The goal in constructing the Main programme was to ensure that there is something to enjoy for theatre lovers of all ages. Some performances also take the audience outside the walls of a theatre.
As per tradition, Tampere will welcome numerous Finnish performers and artists, as well. To mention a few, The Main programme includes Lessons for the Living, a play by Finnish National Theatre, & Espoo theatre’s Minna Craucher, Crime and Punishment by Q-teatteri, and Risen from the Dead, a comedy by Kuopion kaupunginteatteri. Some independent groups are also included in the programme, like Vauriomania and Helsinki 98.
The audience is led outside theatre halls, when Tin Plate Angels by Tampere Theatre takes its audience on a performative walking tour of the city, while Väki choir performs under the Ratina bridge. There is also several street performances that offer free entertainment for the whole family.
The Main programme has been constructed by the artistic team Taija Helminen, Hilkka-Liisa Iivanainen ja Tanjalotta Räikkä, together with the Executive Director Hanna Rosendahl.
In addition to the Main programme, the Tampere Theatre Festival includes the T Lab programme in the G Livelab venue, the official fringe programme OFF Tampere, and the Nocturnal Happening on Thursday 7 August. There are also several panels, networking events and gatherings for professionals happening throughout the week. The Opening ceremonies are celebrated on the Library Stage next to Culture House Laikku on 5 August from 12–13.
