Hämeenlinnan verkatehtaalla esitetään Nato-musikaalia.

Tom of Finland is a musical about Touko Laaksonen, his art, his worldview, joy and pride, written by Tuomas Parkkinen and composed by Jussi Vahvaselkä and Jori Roosberg.

The musical will premiere on September 3, 2026, in the Vanaja-sali at Verkatehdas, and is produced in collaboration between Hämeenlinna Theatre and Verkatehdas.

The musical tells the story of Touko Laaksonen’s journey to becoming Tom of Finland. It follows the path of a gifted, unique boy from a family of teachers in Kaarina, as he becomes the world’s most famous Finnish artist. A man who drew his fantasies so real and relatable that millions of men found themselves, their sexuality, and more: through Tom’s drawings, they found a reason to open their eyes in the morning. For the majority, Laaksonen’s work parted the curtain to a world that had until then been unknown, in the shadows, and even forbidden and punishable.

At the heart of the musical are not only Touko Laaksonen’s life, art, and fantasies, his life partner Veli Mäkinen, and his sister Kaija Laaksonen, but it also depicts 80 years of Finnish life from a lesser-seen, fresh perspective. The protagonist’s personality, exceptional talent, and same-sex love life shed light on the wartime era, the postwar reconstruction years, the opening up of society, the growth of pluralism, and the birth of tolerance in a way rarely depicted in dramatic literature—and hardly ever in a musical.

The musical dares to challenge its audience to entertain the idea that Touko Laaksonen and his art have been among the most powerful forces in promoting tolerance, equality, and equal rights worldwide.