PETER LIVED IN A HOUSE – a dolphin from dot to dot

Pipsa Lonka | WAUHAUS | & Espoon teatteri

Can an animal be taught a human language? A performance about power, our love of animals, and the limits of language.

On July 15, 1965, one of the most bizarre experiments in scientific history begins on the U.S. Virgin Islands: a dolphin named Peter starts receiving English lessons. In order to learn a human language, the dolphin and a young woman move into a house filled with water. When the experiment ends, Peter is moved to another lab, where he is placed in a small, solitary tub. Soon, he commits suicide.

Pipsa Lonka’s play PETER LIVED IN A HOUSE – a dolphin from dot to dot ruminates on this absurd, true story.
At the heart of the work lies the paradox of love: a human’s love for an animal can destroy the very being it cherishes. The ultimate protagonist here is not the dolphin but language, and the power entangled in the fables of our culture. Amidst the waves of words that roll onto the stage, actors Ria Kataja, Iida Kuningas, and  Anna Airola try to retell Peter’s story. They hem and haw, refuse to say, force themselves to utter, and say too much.

The performance shakes up the viewer’s senses and continues the award-winning collaboration between Lonka and WAUHAUS. In addition to WAUHAUS, the visual world of the work is created by designers Ville Seppänen, Riku Suvitie and Ville Tolvanen.

Working group

Written by: Pipsa Lonka
Staging Concept: Juni Klein (WAUHAUS), Jussi Matikainen (WAUHAUS), Ville Seppänen, Heidi Soidinsalo (WAUHAUS), Riku Suvitie
Performance dramaturgy:
Working group
Actors: Anna Airola, Ria Kataja, Iida Kuningas
Director: Juni Klein
Set design: Ville Seppänen
Video and lighting design: Ville Seppänen, Ville Tolvanen
Sound design: Jussi Matikainen, Heidi Soidinsalo
Costume and props design: Riku Suvitie
Choreography: Aksinja Lommi
Makeup and hair: Kaisa Pätilä
Scenic artist: Mira Lankinen
Original choir music score: Marianna Liik
Choir: Lempikuoro
Text dramaturge: E.L. Karhu
Trailer and program photos: Jonatan Sundström
Press photos: Katri Naukkarinen
Promo pictures: Johan Huimerind
English translation: Heidi Soidinsalo
Surtitles: Essi Brunberg
Producer: Minttu-Maria Jäävuori (WAUHAUS)
Technical producer: Lauri Lundahl
Photos: Johan Huimerind
Videos: Ville Seppäinen
Managing director: Julia Hovi (WAUHAUS)
Production: & Espoon teatteri, WAUHAUS
Co-producers: Viirus, Bergen Internasjonale Teater (BIT)
Residency: Tero Saarinen Company residency support
Supported by: Finnish Cultural Foundation, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Arts Promotion Center Finland, Kone Foundation, Jenny ja Antti Wihurin rahasto, Uudet klassikot - Nya klassiker

Performance rights are administered by Agency North.

The playscript PETER ASUI TALOSSA – delfiini pisteestä pisteeseen was published by Teatterin Uusi Alkukirjasto (TUA) in 2024.

General info

Venue: & Espoo Theatre, &Revontuli: Revontulentie 8 A, Espoo
Duration: Approx 1,5 h
Language: Finnish
English subtitles are provided

world premiere 10.2.2026

Tickets

Lippu.fi

Performances

WED 10.2.2026 - 18:30 Premiere
THU 12.2.2026 - 18:30
SAT 14.2.2026 - 14:00
TUE 17.2.2026 - 18:30
WED 18.2.2026 - 18:30
SAT 21.2.2026 - 14:00
TUE 24.2.2026 - 18:30
THU 26.2.2026 - 18:30
FRI 27.2.2026 - 18:30
TUE 3.3.2026 - 18:30
WED 4.3.2026 - 18:30
SAT 7.3.2026 - 14:00
THU 16.4.2026 - 18:30
SAT 18.4.2026 - 14:00
TUE 21.4.2026 - 18.30
THU 23.4.2026 - 18:30
SAT 25.4.2026 - 14:00
TUE 28.4.2026 - 18:30
WED 29.4.2026 - 18:30
TUE 5.5.2026 - 18:30
WED 6.5.2026 - 18:30
Thu 7.5.2026 - 18:30