Popular Play Bitchy Girls Captures Life in a Declining Finnish Town

A community theatre production based on Riina Tanskasen’s comics has struck a chord in Imatra, exploring themes of growing up in a fading rural town, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The play Bitchy Girls – Class Struggles, a collaboration between amateur theatre group Vaientamaton and Teatteri Imatra, has sold out performances and sparked discussions about life in southeastern Finland. After its September premiere, word-of-mouth demand led to multiple additional shows, with over 30 performances seen by nearly 1,800 audience members.

Actress Saimi Laine, 20, who plans to leave Imatra if accepted to university, says the story resonates deeply with locals. “You see things withering and dying around you—it hits hard when you’ve lived here your whole life,” she explains. The production, though not set in Imatra, mirrors the experiences of young women in shrinking border towns.

For co-star Joanna Riikonen, staying in Imatra is a conscious choice. “The more I’ve accepted this as home, the more the place gives back,” she says. Both actresses highlight the town’s resilience, with Riikonen noting that behind crumbling facades lies a community determined to revitalise their hometown.

Producer Emmi Korhonen reveals the theatre group tackles issues young performers want to address. Audience feedback shows the play’s portrayal of rural life—class divides, shame, and perseverance—has particularly moved viewers. “People say they can tell we know what we’re talking about,” Laine adds.

The production’s success has led to a planned Finnish tour, with confirmed stops at Helsinki’s Student Theatre in late May and Kajaani’s Poetry Week in July. Two final Imatra performances are scheduled for mid-May before the troupe hits the road.

Theatre director Timo Rissanen credits Bitchy Girls with diversifying Imatra’s programme and attracting younger audiences, many new to theatre. The play’s raw, local perspective has made it a cultural talking point far beyond its small-town origins.