If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own personal theatre, the Finnish government has one up for sale right now.
The Alexander Theatre is one of Helsinki’s best-known landmarks. It sits 500 people - the number of officers of the local Russian garrison under Tsar Alexander II in 1879 (the year of its construction), after whom the theatre is named.
Ever since 2005, the theatre is managed by Senate Properties, who look after the sale of government-owned buildings, and they're now looking for a buyer. The ideal new owner should be someone who truly appreciates the historic value of the Alexander Theatre, as well as its place within the Finnish capital. “We are looking for a buyer who values culture and the building's history,” says the sales manager Jenna Kiukkonen. “[Someone who is] capable and responsible.”
The overall area of the theatre - all of its three stories - and its attached offices and training halls is of around 8000 square-metres. It’s at numbers 23 to 27 on Boulevardi, a neighbourhood of the Finnish capital where most buildings are dedicated to cultural and artistic activities.
While owning a theatre sounds extremely cool, it won’t be an easy task - Senate Properties has estimated that the renovations needed by the Alexander Theatre will amount to around €40 million. “The building's technical systems and stage equipment, for example, must be renewed to meet today's expectations,” it reads on the official sale advertisement.
If you’re absolutely positive you need to own a theatre and are prepared to give it the attention it needs and deserves, then all you have to do is submit your proposal to Senate Properties by 23 October, including both the price and your plans for the future of the building. You can find all the information necessary here.