Mirjam Aavakivi returns to Tartu after drama school

Mirjam Aavakivi, who graduated this year from the 32nd class of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre’s School of Dramatic Art, is returning to her hometown of Tartu, ERR’s Culture Portal reports.

Aavakivi, who completed the acting programme, is featured in ERR’s interview series introducing the new actors, directors and dramaturges entering the profession.

“I’m Mirjam. I came from Tartu to Tallinn for theatre school, and now I’m going back to my hometown,” she said.

Her first major theatre experience came during her teenage years, when she volunteered at Tartu New Theatre and saw many productions. She particularly remembers two performances, each of which she saw more than five times.

One was Ivar Põllu’s “Baskin ehk nalja põhivormid” (“Baskin, or the Basic Forms of Humour”), which she recalls for its colourful and witty characters, wigs and joy in performance. A preference for that kind of theatre has stayed with her.

The other was Mart Koldits’s diploma production “12 vihast” (“12 Angry Men”), which she saw nearly 10 times. She was fascinated by the young actors on stage, watching each of them separately and trying to understand all of them fully.

If she had not been admitted to drama school, Aavakivi says she would probably have worked behind the scenes in theatre, most likely as a stage manager.

She says she has never really had favourite actors, although some appeal to her more than others. Johnny Depp, she adds, has always belonged to both categories: actors who perform very well and those who are simply beautiful to watch.

What she misses in Estonian theatre is the combination of a very good director, a good designer, dedicated actors and a good story.

“At the moment, I dream of everything,” Aavakivi said when asked about a dream role. She would like to work in both film and theatre, and play roles that are small or large, similar to herself or completely different.

She declined to define theatre in one sentence. “I don’t know. Maybe if I knew, I wouldn’t do theatre either,” she said.

Asked what she seeks most in theatre, she replied: “I’m still looking for what I’m looking for.” She believes life without theatre is certainly possible. “If there were no theatre, there would be something else.”

Her recommendations are the film “Sick of Myself” by Kristoffer Borgli, the book “People in the Trees” by Hanya Yanagihara and a production at Vanemuine Theatre. She noted that several good productions can be seen at Vanemuine, with some also coming to Tallinn in the new season.

In a final round of short questions, Aavakivi chose both film and theatre, the first row in the theatre auditorium, contemporary spoken theatre, a large hall and Shakespeare over Beckett.