Mirtel Pohla says theatre can open conversations about intimate partner violence

Actor Mirtel Pohla says theatre can help people discuss difficult subjects, including intimate partner violence. She spoke to Estonian Public Broadcasting’s ERR cultural programme “OP” ahead of the premiere of Eva Koldits and Mingo Rajandi’s production “Elajannad²” next week.

The production explores intimate partner violence and follows the earlier work “Elajannad: Passioon naisele,” which examined women’s lives, impossible choices imposed by society, taboos and silenced subjects passed from mothers to daughters across generations.

“There is a lot of silence, untold stories and tension. These are subjects that people do not know how to talk about, or do not talk about at all. They are taboo,” Pohla said, describing the themes addressed by the productions.

She said society had not learned how to discuss certain issues, adding that a recent newspaper article had presented discussion of violent and horrifying stories as reinforcing a victim position or victim mentality.

Pohla said the stories in “Elajannad²” were fictional rather than documentary. They were created with Estonian women writers, including Triin Soomets, whose poetry collection “Jäälind” was released in the spring.

She acknowledged that people who had experienced intimate partner violence could be among the audience. “If it becomes very difficult, you can leave the auditorium without hesitation. In such cases, that may even be necessary — to leave for a moment and return,” Pohla said.

She said sharing the experience with others might help victims realise that they were not alone and had done nothing wrong.

“The experience of going through it together and crying can have a liberating effect,” Pohla said.

Pohla also continues to perform in “Eneseabiõpik” at the Estonian Drama Theatre. She said art could help people cope with their lives or put into words things they were unable to express.

“Art can allow itself certain exaggerations and go beyond the limits. Sometimes you need to go beyond the limits to understand subjects,” she said.