Draama festival adds debates on Estonian theatre’s future

The additional programme of this year’s Tartu Drama Festival will feature panel discussions, meetings with theatre professionals, the Estonian Theatre Conference and public recordings of two podcasts, ERR reported.

“The additional programme gives Estonian and international theatre professionals an opportunity to use the festival days meaningfully to consider and define the future directions of theatre together,” said Mari Nurk, the festival’s new executive director.

The two-day Estonian Theatre Conference will mark the 35th anniversary of the Union of Estonian Performing Arts Institutions. The first day will examine different operating models used by theatres and the links between them. The second will focus on the next generation of Estonian theatre professionals and specialist training.

The Estonian Theatre Union and the Estonian Theatre Agency will also present the annual publication “Theatre Life 2025”. The presentation will include speeches by the book’s creators and a critic, as well as an overview of 2025 theatre statistics by Tiia Sippol, a theatre statistics specialist at the Estonian Theatre Agency. The event will conclude with a discussion titled “Why do we need ‘Theatre Life’?”

The festival will also host a new theatre laboratory, “New North”, dedicated to contemporary Nordic dramaturgy and emerging Estonian directors. Four less experienced directors will have the opportunity to present their creative thinking. Over one week and with only a few rehearsals, each will create a 30-minute performance excerpt. All four excerpts will be performed publicly on September 12.

An Estonian contemporary performing arts showcase festival will take place during the same week as Draama. It will present invited international guests, curators, producers, and festival and theatre directors with an overview of the latest trends in Estonian performing arts.

A discussion on September 10 will examine the international theatre festival landscape and identify directors whose new work is currently eagerly awaited. The discussion will be led by Liisi Aibel, the showcase festival’s curator-coordinator and head of the Estonian Theatre Agency.

Post-performance discussions will give audiences the chance to ask questions directly to authors, directors and performers. This year’s discussions will be led by Meelike Saarna, Kaia Kastepõld-Tõrs, Madli Pesti, Raili Marling, Johanna Rannik, Saara Liis Jõerand, Karin Allik, Anneli Saro and Valner Valme. They will begin about 15 minutes after the applause and will be free to attend.

Two podcast recordings will take place during the festival. The Tartu University Theatre Studies Students’ Lodge will examine the next generation of theatre critics, while Theatre Nuutrum will discuss the expanding boundaries and possibilities of contemporary theatre with its guests. Members of the public can attend the recordings at the small hall of Tartu New Theatre.

The ensemble Rubundi will perform on the evening of September 11. Its members have close links to the theatre world.

Almost all events in the additional programme are free of charge.