Estonian theatre in numbers 2014

Today there are in average 50 professional theatre companies or troupes all over Estonia producing new performances every year. Besides these there are around 500 amateur theatre groups (incl. Russian, school and student theatres and handicap theatre groups). Most of the professional theatres are located in Tallinn (30). There are 8 theatre towns in Estonia (Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Rakvere, Narva, Kuressaare, Jõhvi).

Current statistics shows information about 37 theatres, including 26 private theatres, and 11 theatres supported by the government. Estonian National Opera functions as a legal person in public law. Around 12 private theatres also receive support by the Ministry of Culture. All performing artists can apply for additional funding from the Estonian Cultural Endowment.

All numbers and information in this brochure are based on the Estonian Theatre Statistics 2014.

Performances

In 2014 there were 511 productions in the repertory, 196 (38%) of them were new productions. The most preferred genre of theatre are drama productions (320), followed by dance productions (55), cross-type productions (39) and music productions (35).

There were 68 summer productions (performed from the end of May until the end of August, mostly outside of the theatre buildings, in nature, parks, manor or farm houses, castles etc) in the year 2014, out of which 44 new productions. Summer theatre has become more and more popular every summer. All in all 6020 performances were in the repertoire in 2014. Largest number of performances were given to adult (3651) and children (1455) audiences. The average cost of the theatre ticket was 10,2 euros (without VAT).

Estonian authors wrote 34% (66 out of 196 new productions) of the plays in the repertory of the year 2014. 136 directors directed in Estonia, 24 of them were guest directors from abroad. Mostly the guest directors came from Finland (6), Russia (4), and USA (3). 2 guest directors were from Spain, Sweden and Latvia and represented countries include in addition Lithuania, Georgia, Italy, Austria, Germany and Great Britain.

Performances of 44 productions were given abroad in 25 different countries. Estonian theatres visited festivals and gave guest performances in theatres in Finland, Germany, Belgium, Russia, France, Serbia, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Thailand etc. Festivals visited include for example Baltic Circle, Tampere Teatterikesä, Solo International, Stage, Baltic House, Theaterformen.

Financing

The state support forms 65% of all incomes, the profit that theatres get from selling tickets is on average 21% and local governments give 2%.