Kuva: Markku Hyvönen

About Teatteri ILMI Ö.

Theatre ILMI Ö. has been a touring professional theatre since 2002. At the core of its artistic activities is the production of original Finnish premieres, especially for children and young people, and extensive audience engagement work. Our mission is to develop new forms of performance for children’s, youth, and senior theatre, and to implement community theatre for these age groups. We create new forms of participatory and community theatre, for example, by researching and reflecting on our own work. Our goals include promoting the mobility of performances, strengthening networks, creating new partnerships, and reaching diverse and multicultural audiences.

Our Artistic Approach

We are a ”theater hybrid” that combines various forms of performance—physical, visual, and non-text-based—to create new and engaging experiences. Our work is driven by a commitment to dialogue, artistic courage, and ecological sustainability. We believe that theater is a powerful tool for community engagement and a way to foster dialogue between diverse people.

Our Work in Numbers

Over 50 premieres, primarily for children and young people.

More than 20 long-term art projects and four theater festivals.

Thematic focus on nature, the environment, and sustainable development from 2020 to 2027.

Collaborations and Recognition

We are proud to have been selected for prestigious programs like the City of Helsinki’s Kulttuurin kummilapset (2021-2027), the nationwide Taidetestaajat (2022-2023), and the Uudet Klassikot project (2022-2025). We have also partnered with the cities of Espoo, and currently run community theater projects for seniors in Helsinki. In 2025, Theatre ILMI Ö. launched a four-year artistic initiative, Forest Phenomena and Philosophy, created for young audiences. The project is supported by the Kone Foundation through its On the Side of the Forest program.

Teatteri ILMI Ö. is also a member of the international Small Size theater network and Assitej Finland.