Estonian Drama Theatre ends Oliver Reimann’s contract

Estonian Drama Theatre has ended actor Oliver Reimann’s contract after he admitted putting the drug MDMA into colleagues’ drinks, ERR reported.

The theatre’s artistic director, Hendrik Toompere Jr, said the decision followed an assessment of the impact of Reimann’s actions on the team.

“It became clear to the theatre management what the real impact of his actions had been on the team, and in the situation that has developed, Oliver can no longer continue at the Drama Theatre,” Toompere said.

“As theatre managers, our first and most important duty is to protect our actors and our team. When trust and working peace break down inside the theatre, further cooperation is unfortunately simply not possible. Theatre is created through the deep trust between an actor and a director. That trust was broken,” he said.

Toompere said the theatre had not known about the incidents when it first reached agreements with Reimann. The rumours reached management later, he said, and Reimann did not come forward to discuss them himself.

“When we asked, we received only a partial and minimising explanation,” Toompere said. He added that, during discussions with young people and applicants to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the theatre had gained the impression that the incidents were in the past and that the matter had been resolved.

“In reality, that is not the case,” he said.

Toompere said the theatre had assessed the situation incorrectly and had not understood what it was getting involved in.

“Hiring him was a mistake. By now, we have corrected that mistake. I am sorry. Oliver has done bad things for which there is no possible justification, although perhaps, over time, forgiveness may be possible,” he said.

On the morning of August 25, Reimann posted on social media that he had admitted putting prohibited substances into his companions’ drinks on two occasions. A criminal investigation was launched against him several hours later, based on a report published by Eesti Ekspress.

In the same post, Reimann claimed, among other things, that he had told the theatre’s managers about the incidents before joining the Drama Theatre.

The theatre announced in May that Reimann, who had recently graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, would join its staff.