Theatre
Theatre Students’ Festivals 2026 at Kuusankoskitalo, 17–18 April 2026, and at Kouvolatalo, 22–25 April 2026.
Theatre students in Kuusankoski and Kouvola will present performances, scenes, and demos they have rehearsed during the school year. Supporters of the group members and all those interested in theatre are warmly welcome. All performances are in Finnish and have free entry and no advance booking is required.
Kuusankoskitalo, 17–18 April 2026
The performances will take place in the Voikkaa Hall at Kuusankoskitalo, except for the family-friendly improv set, which is in the gallery.
All performances have free entry and no advance booking is required. The audience will be let into the Voikkaa Hall from the upper lobby once the performers are ready. Please arrive on time. Latecomers may not be admitted safely once the performance has begun.
Friday 17 April
12:00 – Advanced group (ages 11–13): Ihmemaa Oz
(school performance)
Lotta lives on the farm of Uncle Heikki and Aunt Emma. One day, a major storm rises. A tornado sweeps Lotta away and takes her to the magical land of Oz. There she meets a living scarecrow, a rusty Tin Man and a timid Lion. Together they decide to go to the great Wizard of Oz for help: the Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Man a heart, the Lion courage, and Lotta simply wants to return home. On their journey, they encounter both the gentle Good Witch of the South and the evil Witch of the North, each having to face and overcome their own fears. Duration: approx. 60 min.
Directed by: Annukka Waara
Original story: Frank Baum
Stage adaptation: Kerttu Hämeranta
16:00 – Basic course (ages 7–8): Taikametsä
Puhelu Papparainen’s peaceful home life is disrupted when a noisy rapper moves in next door. As punishment, the rapper is sent to spend time in the forest and practise being quiet. The forest, however, turns out to be enchanted, and the rapper meets princess sisters, superhero mice, a bird called Witchwhistle, and a spirited donkey named Allu. But what happens when Puhelu Papparainen himself goes for a walk in the forest? And what do the local police and judge think about the volume level of the forest festivities? Duration: approx. 30 min.
Directed by: Annukka Waara
Text: The working group
Estimated duration: 30 min
16:40–17:25 – Advanced improvisation group: Family Improv Set (in the gallery)
The advanced improv group creates small stories, tales and scenes inspired by the audience’s ideas and wishes. The storytelling takes place in the first-floor gallery.
17:30 – Advanced group (ages 9–11): Kaunotar ja hirviö
When a merchant father leaves for a market journey, his eldest children ask for expensive jewellery and clothing as gifts. The youngest, Beauty, asks only for a single rose. On his way, the father becomes lost in a mysterious castle and picks a rose from its garden—this enrages the castle’s master, the terrifying Beast, who demands Beauty herself as payment. But is the Beast truly as fearsome as he appears?
This stage version of the classic tale reflects on difference—what it means, and why it may cause fear—and the power kindness can hold between people. Duration: approx. 60 min.
Directed by: Annukka Waara
Script: Simo Tamminen
Rhymes: Anu Tamminen
19:00 – Youth Theatre, advanced group: Tapaus romeo ja Julia
The theatre-loving youths are left alone at the theatre. They find the script of one of the world’s most famous plays and begin acting out scenes from it. What does the story look like through modern eyes? Duration: approx. 60 min.
Directed by: Susanna Tiitinen
Original text: William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
Finnish translation: Lauri Sipari
Scenes set in the present day: The working group
Kouvolatalo 22-25 April 2026
All performances are in Finnish and free of charge and no advance reservation is required. The audience will be allowed into Simeliussali from the lobby once the performers are ready. Please arrive on time. For safety reasons, latecomers may not be admitted once a performance has begun.
Wednesday 22 Aprill
14:00 – “Poems and Scenes” group: HOodi ilolle
The group performs in the main library auditorium.
Estimated duration: 50 minutes.
17:30 – Youth Theatre, advanced group: Awkward
Awkward is an English word meaning: embarrassing, awkward, clumsy, difficult.
This youth play tells the story of teenagers going through puberty and trying to find their place in the school community and in relation to one another. It explores what feels embarrassing and awkward, and how one might dare to be braver.
The performance speaks to both young people and adults, but it is not recommended for small children.
Playwright: Ilja Mäkelä
Director: Susanna Tiitinen
Thursday 23 April – No festival programme on this day
Friday 24 April
17:00 – Advanced group for ages 10–12: Lumikki ja 6/7 kääpiötä
In this version of the well‑known story, Snow White is a famous social media star, and her stepmother envies her popularity online. Also featured are a rap prince, an IT support person, and of course the seven dwarfs living in the forest.
Estimated duration: approx. 30 minutes.
Playwrights: Eveliina Vulkko and the working group
Director: Eveliina Vulkko
18:00 – Advanced group for ages 11–13: Mystinen kerrostalo
What can happen in a single day in an apartment building?
Estimated duration: approx. 30 minutes.
Playwrights: Working group, Susanna Tiitinen and Anna Lehmonen
Directors: Susanna Tiitinen and Anna Lehmonen
19:00 – Advanced group for ages 8–10: Robin Hood
Estimated duration: approx. 30 minutes.
Dramatisation and direction: Eveliina Vulkko
Saturday 25 April
12:00 – Russian‑language theatre group: Luokkatarinoita
Funny and touching stories based on Viktor Dragunsky’s tales.
School is a magical time – friendship, insights, and dreams… and moments when studying isn’t always appealing. The pupils of one class repeatedly find themselves in surprising, funny and educational situations.
Do you need to study to avoid such situations? Or do these very moments teach something important about friendship, honesty and growing up?
Classroom Stories is a warm, joyful and lively play about school life, where everyone can also recognise themselves.
The performance is in Russian.
Recommended age: 4+
Director: Margo Oll
13:30 – Advanced group for ages 8–10: Robin Hood
14:15 – “Poems and Scenes to the Stage” group: Oodi ilolle (in the lobby)
15:00–15:30 – Advanced group for ages 10–12: Lumikki ja 6/7 kääpiötä
16:00–17:10 – Youth Theatre, advanced group: Awkward
18:30–19:00 – Advanced group for ages 11–13: Mystinen kerrostalo
Updated 26.3.2026