Aino A. — A Play at Jyväskylä City Theatre

Jyväskylä City Theatre opens its autumn 2026 season on the main stage with Aino A., which premieres on 26 September. The work tells the story of a trained architect and a woman alongside a genius: a person with a strong voice and distinctive work of her own, which remained partly unseen in her time. The play about the quarter-century Aino and Alvar Aalto shared (1924–1949) features actor couple Elina Saarela and Miika Laakso as the Aaltos. Interest in the opening production has been heightened by discussion around it in advance, including some critical voices. The work honours the Aaltos’ legacy while making use of theatrical means and the freedoms of storytelling. Like any stage or film interpretation based on history, this play is not a documentary. In addition to the Aaltos, the play also tells of other notable figures of the era who contributed to the emergence of Finnish design. The story of Aino and Alvar had no shortage of passion, disagreements and money worries, but also light, joy and creative madness. The stage presents a visually elegant and beautiful whole that honours the spirit of Artek’s early years and the era. The play Aino A. is adapted from Jari Järvelä’s novel by Kati Kaartinen and directed by Marietta Kunnas, the theatre director who grew up surrounded by Aalto architecture. The composition of the play’s music was supported by the Central Finland Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Preview: 25 September. Premiere: 26 September at 15:00.

Script: Jari Järvelä – Kati Kaartinen
Direction: Marietta Kunnas
Set design: Annina Nevantaus
Costume design: Anna Sinkkonen (guest)
Lighting design: Japo Granlund
Video design: Jaakko Sirainen (guest)
Composition and sound design: Juuso Voltti (guest)
Make-up design: Niina Vattulainen

Cast: Paavo Honkimäki, Anneli Karppinen, Miika Laakso, Hannu Lintukoski, Piia Mannisenmäki, Saara Mänttäri, Jussi-Petteri Peräinen, Elina Saarela, Asko Vaarala, Annika Junno (guest, Teak)

The play’s rights are administered by Näytelmäkulma – Nordic Drama Corner Oy.