Lavaklubi, the Finnish National Theatre, August 20, 2026, 19:00–22:00
This year, the OAF literature program takes over the National Theatre’s Lavaklubi.
The event opens at 19:00 with DuvTeatern’s Ragnar Bengström’s poetry performance Ut genom väggen! In the performance, words and music weave together seamlessly as Bengström performs his texts alongside reciter and poetry editor Sanna Huldén, accompanied by the cello melodies of Elina Mattila. The performance is directed by Mikaela Hasán.
The evening continues at 20:00 with the OAF Poetry Stage, which sets out to ask what literature outside the established literary scene could mean. Taking the stage are the poets of the OAF literature program alongside a guest poet from WSOY. The evening will feature a diverse array of unprecedented textual worlds and precise observations on being an outsider.
Performing their own texts on the OAF Poetry Stage are OAF poets Tuulia Nuutinen, Riina Noro, Nykypost, Matson Välkkilä, EJH, Satu Kankaanpää, and Ansa Kurola, along with WSOY’s guest poet Atte Koskinen. The program is curated by critic and literature teacher Aleksis Salusjärvi and poet Sanni Purhonen.
The Outsider Art Festival’s literature program is produced in collaboration with WSOY.
Time: 19:00–22:00.
Location: The National Theatre’s Lavaklubi, Itäinen Teatterikuja 2 A, Helsinki. The entrance at the Itäinen Teatterikuja is accessible. Free admission to the event.
Read more: OAF Literature Mentoring Program
