Seinäjoki City Theatre

The theatre building is notable for having been designed by the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.[2] He sketched the initial designs already in 1968, although the building was only completed nearly two decades later in 1987.[3] Aalto himself had died in 1976, therefore the design was finalised and the construction supervised by his widow and fellow architect, Elissa Aalto.[4]

Situated alongside other prominent Aalto-designed buildings such as the City Hall and Lakeuden Risti Church, the theatre forms part of the city's Aalto Centre (Finnish: Aalto-keskus),[2] which has been recognised by the Finnish Heritage Agency as a nationally important built cultural environment (Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö).[5]

The theatre comprises four stages, with a total seating capacity of 689. Of these, the largest, 'Alvar', seats 409; 'Elissa', 100; 'Verstas', 60; and the restaurant theatre 120.[1]

The theatre company also operates an open air theatre in the summer, with a capacity for 890.[1]

The theatre attracts audiences in excess of 50,000 annually.[1]

In 2015, the Seinäjoki City Theatre was chosen as the 'Theatre of the Year' by the Association of Finnish Theatres.[6]

• Official website