Teatteriryhmä Vautsi (“The Theatre Group Vautsi”) has been operating at the Autism Foundation Finland (Autismisäätiö) in Helsinki’s Vallila district since 2008. The ensemble has seen many changes over time, but the current group has worked together since autumn 2024. This small but deeply reflective group values acceptance, kindness, and understanding. Teatteriryhmä Vautsi’s motto is: “A person on the autism spectrum sees things that a neurotypical person cannot.”
At the Outsider Art Festival, Vautsi will present its first audio drama, Saunamajurin muistelmat (“The Sauna Major’s Memoirs”). With this work, the group aims to promote the right of people on the autism spectrum to live and express themselves. “We believe bullying is wrong, and through this audio drama, we want to share an anti-bullying message. Our goal is to move and help people,” say Vautsi’s actors Olli Huusko, Juuso Juntunen, and Elias Mikkonen. The story of Lauri Kultaranta, heard in the audio drama, is fictional but partly based on the actors’ own childhood experiences. The story and characters were developed collaboratively through improvisation in the autumn of 2024 under the guidance of theater instructor Mirjami Iho.
Curators’ comments: “The audio play brings forth an important and timely anti-bullying message. It breaks stereotypes associated with autism and showcases the diverse abilities and potential of individuals on the autism spectrum, challenging common prejudices.”
