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 play tells the story of a trained architect and a woman alongside a genius: a person with a strong voice and distinctive work whose contribution was partly overlooked in her own time. The play recounts the quarter-century Aino and Alvar Aalto shared (1924–1949), with the Aaltos portrayed by actor couple Elina Saarela and Miika Laakso. Interest in the opening production has been heightened by discussion around it in advance, including some critical voices. The production honours the Aaltos’ legacy while making use of theatrical devices 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 features other notable figures of the era who influenced the emergence of Finnish design. Passion, conflict and money worries, but also light, joy and creative madness, were all part of Aino and Alvar’s story. The stage presents a visually elegant and beautiful whole that honours the spirit of Artek’s early years and the era. The play is adapted from Jari Järvelä’s novel by Kati Kaartinen and directed by theatre director Marietta Kunnas, 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, Theatre Academy)

The play’s copyright is represented by Näytelmäkulma – Nordic Drama Corner Oy.