The Finnish National Youth Theatre is the Finnish National Theatre’s (FNT) young theatre practitioners’ group that was founded in 2019.
The National Youth Theatre is a group of young theatre makers who challenge our understanding of who is allowed to make theatre and who it is for. The group includes performers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Finland, Kurdistan, Somalia and Syria, who work together with experienced artists. Currently, the group is working on a performance that will premiere in the autumn of 2026 called if you ask us. The group is presently full.
NYT OPEN invites young people to explore theatre-making through performances, workshops, discussions and encounters with artists. The programme takes place approximately once a month at the Finnish National Theatre and is open to anyone aged 14–23. No previous experience of theatre is needed – just curiosity and a willingness to take part. Come along, meet other young people and discover different ways of engaging with theatre. All events are free of charge. If you'd like to join us, just send a message to Roosa Vaverka, roosa.vaverka@kansallisteatteri.fi.
In 2019 - 21, the group was led by director Satu Linnapuomi who also directed the performances created during her tenure. In 2022, the FNT’s Youth Theatre production was directed by Joel Teixeira Neves. In the spring of 2023, the Finnish National Youth Theatre operated at Helsingin Uusi yhteiskoulu, and was led by Ann-Mari Ohtamaa who also directed that year’s production. In the autumn of 2023, the group performed in Break!, directed by Antti Haikkala, which went on tour across schools in spring 2024. In 2024, the group featured in a production called UbuVersum, also directed by Antti Haikkala.
