JAES project

The diversity of the main stage productions

In January 2025, Oulu Theatre launched a three-year project The diversity of the Main stage productions and international expertise as future factors in Oulu Theatre in 2025–2027 aimed at diversifying the activities of its main stage. The project is funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.

The project’s goals are to:

• Develop contents for the general public in the North.
• Expand the theatre’s audience base.
• Strengthen the theatre’s international expertise.

The project will run from 2025 to 2027. During this time, six major main stage productions will be created, alongside internal development work. The productions will emphasize diversity in content, creators, and art forms. At the same time, international production, collaboration, sales, and marketing skills will be developed.

The productions will reflect the hiring of creators from diverse backgrounds and serve audiences from various backgrounds, as well as incorporate different performing arts genres. In 2025, the project will include the performance Perillä – Destination –  الوصول إلى , featuring actors with immigrant backgrounds and using Finnish, English, and Arabic. In 2026, the project will include the opera Ovllá, which is made in collaboration with the Oulu Symphony and Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter (the Sámi National Theatre), as well as Oikeusjuttu, a production aimed at young audiences. Young people are a challenging target group to reach, and debuts written from their perspective are rare. This production will also include a broad audience engagement component, working directly with youth.

In 2026, Oulu will serve as the European Capital of Culture, and Oulu Theatre will actively contribute to the year’s programming as the region’s largest arts organization.

Diversity in Content and Creators

The tightening financial situation in theatres often encourages the selection of familiar and safe productions for the main stage, as the main stage typically generates the theatre’s most significant revenue.

However, Oulu Theatre wants to challenge this mindset. We want to use our largest stage to present new works and highlight minority themes. Our goal is to broaden the understanding of what main stage programming can be.

It is important to consider whose perspectives are being represented in theatre stories especially on the main stage. When aiming to reach a broad audience, assumptions are made about what interests the “general public,” which topics are “important,” and who the performances are intended for. This can result in minority perspectives being sidelined—both in terms of subject matter and creators.

Art does not merely reflect reality; it also shapes it. It influences what Finnish identity looks like and whose stories are considered important. Therefore, it is essential to ask: who is left out of art? Who is not given the opportunity to be seen or to feel included?

If we do not offer the chance for people to feel included, we create separation. This can reinforce societal division, echo chambers, and marginalization. In such cases, theatre drifts away from its core mission—bringing people together.

Diversity in Performing Arts

In the Helsinki metropolitan area, different performing arts genres have their own large stages. In Oulu and Northern Finland, the situation is different. If Oulu Theatre does not produce or include opera, dance, or circus in its programming, such large-scale professional performances will not be seen in the region at all.

Different forms of performing arts offer audiences versatile ways to experience art and reach different types of viewers. For example, music can evoke emotions that words cannot, and dance offers a physical experience that does not require language skills. As a theatre, we want to take responsibility for showcasing these art forms.

In addition to its own productions, Oulu Theatre has an extensive visiting program. However, main stage guest performances are expensive. Still, we want to offer audiences in Oulu and Northern Finland the opportunity to experience major domestic and international works from various art forms in their own region.

Diversity in internationalization

Traditionally, Oulu Theatre’s audience has consisted mainly of residents from Oulu and nearby areas. Since 2021, we have systematically developed our sales, marketing, communications, and audience engagement.

We want to be a boldly evolving theatre for everyone. Our goal is to develop our international expertise so that we can better serve a diverse audience – regardless of language or cultural background.