This video game performance chronicles the life and times of Harriharri living in virtual Helsinki. Harriharri is a newcomer who arrives with high hopes of being welcomed into the culture. Despite his sincere efforts, he faces continuous obstacles in pursuit of integrating into Finnish society.
The game is performed in a live gaming video format and narrated through rap and song. In this multiplayer experience, the audience’s decisions influence the narrative—making each performance unique. At select moments, an audience member is invited on stage to take control of the game live. Join Harriharri on a hyperpop fantasy adventure as you battle bureaucracies and systemic forces of social exclusion!
Watch the previous episodes here:
Episode I
Episode II
Content warnings:
This performance explores issues of race and immigration and uses strong or coarse language that may be considered offensive to some viewers. The on-screen visuals include flashing lights and colours that may trigger seizures.
Creator and Performer: Harold Hejazi
Game Developers: magu & Rolands Tīss
Composer and Sound Designer: Eliel Tammiharju
This performance was originally produced by Stage for Contemporary Performance and supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Originally from Canada, Harold Hejazi has been making games and participatory performances since 2015. His practice involves being a performer, game designer, and educator—often all at once.
Using museums, public spaces, and digital environments as theatrical stages, Harold invites audiences into dynamic, improvisational encounters that challenge institutional and social norms. He approaches gaming as a speculative space where participants enter imaginative worlds that allow them to collaboratively explore ideas that might be difficult to face in everyday life. Whether designing for a museum or a theatre, Harold’s work is shaped by the desire to explore how play can deepen how we learn, connect, and tell stories.