Draamateater actors say team spirit drives theatre work

Draamateater actors Christopher Rajaveer, Karmo Nigula and Britta Soll told ERR’s programme Ringvaade that team spirit is the most important part of working in theatre.

Soll has worked at Draamateater for 20 years, while Rajaveer and Nigula are marking 10 years at the theatre.

“The anniversary came unexpectedly, but that is how it is,” Soll said.

Rajaveer said the theatre’s positive atmosphere plays a major role in allowing everyone’s creative talent to emerge.

“Team spirit is the most important thing,” he said. “There are many wonderful colleagues. A theatre does not consist only of actors and directors. The atmosphere is also important, so that everyone’s creative talent can emerge.”

Rajaveer said actors are invited to join a theatre after graduating from theatre school. He and Nigula began working at Draamateater after being invited to rehearsals for Väljaheitmine while they were still fourth-year students.

“It was such a good play, and we were able to start at the theatre with passion right away,” Rajaveer said.

Nigula said the rehearsals introduced them to the theatre’s main company and its other actors.

Soll recalled that envelopes with mysterious names were placed at the reception desk while she was studying at theatre school. Inside was an invitation to join Draamateater. Her course supervisor, Priit Pedajas, was the theatre’s artistic director at the time, making the transition smooth, she said.

“Four people from our course went to Draamateater. It is safer to go together,” Soll said.

Alongside her theatre work, Soll has become the mother of four children. She said she had stayed at home for more than a year with each child, but continued performing all shows that were possible until the eighth month of pregnancy. She added that she had missed many theatre celebrations.

Soll said positive colleagues who approach everything with joy help sustain her and are one reason why things succeed in theatre.

Rajaveer travels outside the theatre, while Nigula discovered basketball through his children. Soll said her busy home life provides balance and gives her another way to express herself.