Ugala sets 107th season with four premieres and new actor

Ugala Theatre in Viljandi will open its 107th season with four new productions and welcome actor Karel Käos to its company, ERR reported.

The season begins on August 18 with the summer production Shorter Than Life at the old hospital in Viljandi. The production was written by Priit Põldma, Joel Väli, Maarja Moor and Aare Pilv.

Shorter Than Life takes audiences through rooms connected to the personal memories of people who have lived in Viljandi, including spaces previously accessible only to hospital staff. The production is described as a poetic and documentary farewell to a building, an era and a summer.

The official season opening will take place on September 19 with the premiere of A Man Called Ove, directed by Liis Aedmaa and based on Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel.

The play follows Ove, who drives a Saab and values order, firm principles and an unchanging daily routine. When a talkative young family moves into the neighbouring house and accidentally damages Ove’s mailbox, a comic and heartwarming story begins, featuring an irritating cat, an unexpected friendship and the ancient art of reversing with a trailer.

The premiere will be followed by an opening party featuring Smilers, DJ duo Breleri and Ugala’s newest house band lineup. The theatre will also present its Golden Apple awards to audience favourites from the previous season.

On November 7, Ugala’s small hall will host the premiere of David Ireland’s contemporary drama The Fifth Step, directed by Andres Noormets.

The play enters the world of the Alcoholics Anonymous programme. Mart, who has completed the programme, becomes a sponsor for Lukas, who is just starting out. Their tense journey passes through both the joyful highs and unexpected, shocking depths of human existence. Ireland’s recent play has attracted international attention and has been staged in Scotland, London’s West End and at the Finnish National Theatre.

On November 21, Ugala’s main stage will present Henrik Ibsen’s classic psychological drama The Wild Duck, directed by Madis Kalmet.

The story, which intertwines the fates of two families, asks whether the truth must always be brought to light and what price that may carry. The psychological drama examines moral choices, ideals and human weaknesses while also serving as an engaging thriller and a timeless reflection on human responsibility.

Ugala director Heigo Teder said the 107th season clearly reflected the kind of theatre the institution wanted to create.

“Our aim is not only to offer a strong and diverse repertoire, but also to be at the heart of Viljandi’s cultural life and an important meeting place on Estonia’s theatre map,” Teder said. “We want Ugala to be an open and accessible theatre that people visit from both near and far, a place where meaningful stories, shared experiences and a sense of community are created.”

He said the new season had been assembled boldly and with great trust in the audience. The repertoire combines contemporary international drama, new Estonian original works, beloved classics and unexpected performance spaces.

Käos, who has previously worked as a freelance actor, will join Ugala’s company from the 107th season. He graduated from the 30th class of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts and in 2024 completed a microdegree in the ERR and Tallinn University programme “Television and Radio Editor-Host.”