Temufi director says he could close the theatre if needed

Peep Maasik, who runs the Temufi theatre in Viljandi, says he remains hopeful despite recent financial difficulties but is not afraid to close its doors if necessary. He spoke to ERR’s culture interview series ID.

Temufi was established in 2016, when Maasik was in his first year at university. The company marked its anniversary season last year. Maasik described its journey as uneven and full of lessons, saying the past two or three years had taught him not to make assumptions but to verify things. Difficult times, he said, show who the right people are to have by your side.

Maasik said his theatre-management role, which he has held for nearly three years, had proved more challenging than he expected. His studies gave him strong analytical skills, he said, helping him work through problems and consider how to improve.

Temufi has been operating a permanent theatre in Viljandi for three years. Maasik called the decision to establish it a bold move, made possible in part by not fully knowing what lay ahead. He said the city needed both Temufi and Viljandi Puppet Theatre, and that audiences from across Estonia had also embraced Temufi.

The theatre aims to fill a gap in Viljandi with its distinctive venue and informal evenings. Its lounge-theatre format allows audiences to take a drink into the auditorium and stay after performances. Maasik said people do stay, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays, though the concept is still unfamiliar to some.

Maasik said establishing a theatre and maintaining a permanent venue did not mean the state should be expected to fund every theatre. He argued instead for greater equality in the funding system, while acknowledging that assessing creative work in a spreadsheet is difficult.