Finnish National Theatre

It was founded in 1872 in Pori, the result of an emergent nationalist spirit against the Russian Empire and an effort to overcome Swedish-speaking culture which was prevailing at that time. The current building was built in 1902, on the north side of the square of Helsinki Central Station, in front of the statue of the writer Kivi which was built by Wäinö Aaltonen back in 1934. The National Theatre of Finland has, for over 130 years, had a very important role in the development of Finnish culture, since it was the first theatre to have a professional production in Finnish.