Estonia at the Gothenburg Book Fair

at 11:00
Drama Stage

Comfy with tech, looking for work-life balance, and flexible work environments – these Millennial playwrights share their best practices.

Participants: Otto Sandqvist (Finland/Sweden), Arni Rajamäki (Finland), Andra Teede (Estonia). Moderator: Rakel Similä
Organised by Theatre Info Finland TINFO.

at 12:00
Seminar Hall

The starting point of the seminar is the hypothesis that while in Western Europe, there is increasing talk of the decline of art into the mire of political correctness and fears, in Estonia, the performing arts are still the opposite. There is boldness, poignancy, and poetic imagination. The aim is to talk about the burning issues of the European cultural space from the unique perspective of Estonians (without forgetting a bit of self-irony), asking “Quo vadis, European theatre?”. The speakers are going to wonder if we are going ahead of any trends, point out the possible double standards, and focus on the problematic issues that plague the European theatre and cultural space in general.

Participants: Tiit Ojasoo (Estonia), Maria Metssalu (Estonia), Paavo Piik (Estonia).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

at 12:30
Drama Stage

Should we need a specifically female perspective in dramaturgy? How can we move towards a more equal society? The discussion is initiated by prominent Estonian playwright Piret Jaaks. It stems from the fact that in Estonia, the male perspective in playwriting is very dominant – out of 12 dramaturgy awards, only 1 has been handed to a woman, even though females hold the most academic degrees in dramaturgy. How is the situation in other countries? Jaaks has invited three other playwrights from neighboring countries – Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania – to explore the root cause and find solutions together while sharing different experiences and points of view.

Participants: E. L. Karhu (Finland), Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce (Latvia), Birutė Kapustinskaitė (Lithuania). Moderator: Piret Jaaks (Estonia).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

at 13:30
Black Box

The women are taking over – whether it comes to redefining history or shaping the current thought patterns. The Baltic countries are glad to present their freshest female voices on our respective theatre fields at the Gothenburg Book Fair to prove that there are more topics female playwrights can bring onto the scene than just the problems of being a woman. The three playwrights – Andra Teede, Ance Muižniece and Birutė Kapustinskaitė – fiercely tackle the current world from different perspectives, while having a clear view for the future and a great ability to deeply understand the past. There will be a reading of excerpts of three plays, followed by a moderated discussion between the authors.

Participants: Andra Teede (Estonia), Ance Muižniece (Latvia) and Birutė Kapustinskaitė (Lithuania).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency, Latvian Theatre Workers’ Union and Lithuanian Theatre Information Centre.

at 16:00
Drama Stage

Estonians are a bit like Finns who have had some coffee. Something similar might be said about new Estonian Drama. It feels like a bunch of vibrant introverts, having suddenly become curious about the world around them. Soviet heritage, socially conscious, fully digitized, gene pool yearning back to the original home in Yakutia. Where the forests are. Not to bring up the border with Russia. Estonian playwriting is in the eye of the storm to offer some truly unique perspectives on the modern world. But then the coffee wears off. Thank god it’s only 20 minutes.

Participants: Paavo Piik (Estonia), Siret Campbell (Estonia), Mehis Pihla (Estonia).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

at 9:30
Drama Stage

The discussion between documentary theatre makers Mari-Liis Lill and Priit Põldma focuses on addressing tender social issues in documentary dramaturgy. The recurring question in the mind of every documentary theatre maker is how to approach complex and very personal topics gently? And how to convey these stories to the audience with the great care they deserve? Can playwriting make us better people, and can theatre change the world?

Participants: Mari-Liis Lill (Estonia), Priit Põldma (Estonia).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

at 12:30
Black Box

In his darkly humorous play Business as Usual, Estonian playwright Mehis Pihla delves into a money laundering scandal at the Estonian branch of a major Scandinavian bank. Making use of documentary materials and interviews with bank employees, he examines the rationale and motives of those involved.

A showing of Business as Usual will be followed by a discussion about money laundering and banking morals featuring Mehis Pihla, Karin Svedberg Helgesson, Associate Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics, and journalist Axel Gordh Humlesjö, who is the author of Honungsfällan — Historien om Swedbank, Ryssland och världens största penningtvättskandal [The Honey Trap: Swedbank, Russia and the World’s Biggest Money Laundering Scheme].

Participants: Mehis Pihla (Estonia), Karin Svedberg Helgesson (Sweden) ja Axel Gordh Humlesjö (Sweden). Moderator: Marcus Bornlid Lesseur (Sweden).
Organised by Gothenburg Book Fair, Estonian Theatre Agency, and Estonian Drama Theatre.

at 15:00
Seminar Hall

Theatres want to address the major issues of the day through contemporary drama that brings world politics to the stage. How successful are they? This conversation with theatre critics will explore how critical questions of our time are portrayed on stage.

Participants: Jenny Aschenbrenner (Sweden), Karin Allik (Estonia), Maria Säkö (Finland) ja Mariken Lauvstad (Norway). Moderator: Sandra Grehn (Sweden).
Organised by Colombine Teaterförlag and Svenska teaterkritikers förening.

at 16:00
Seminar Hall

Folkteatern’s Artistic Director Frida Röhl invites you to a conversation with some of the most exciting directors from our region: Farnaz Arbabi (SE), Johan Elm (EST), Leea Klemola (FI), and Nina Wester (NO). Together, they’ll discuss how they work with text as directors. How do you approach a script you didn’t write yourself? Or when does directing begin if you’re staging your own text? How do you bring the written word to the stage — can you, should you, do whatever you want with it in a new medium, or is the text sacred? A conversation about the meeting between different artistic roles, about varying perspectives on text, and about diverse traditions.

Participants: Farnaz Arbabi (Sweden), Johan Elm (Estonia), Leea Klemola (Finland) ja Nina Wester (Norway). Moderator: Frida Röhl (Sweden).
Organised by Colombine Teaterförlag and Folkteatern.

at 16:30
Drama Stage

A discussion between Staffan Julen, Head of Communications at the Institute for Futures Studies and a documentary film director, and Laur Kaunissaare, the Head Dramaturge of the Südalinna Theatre (formerly known as the Estonian Russian Drama Theatre). Their conversation explores politics and resistance in documentary theatre throughout history – both during the Soviet era and in today’s context, when war once again erupts in Europe. What is the role and influence of documentary theater? Can theatre serve as a bastion of resistance, or is it merely an illusion?

Participants: Laur Kaunissaare (Estonia), Staffan Julén (Sweden).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

all day
by the Estonian fair stand

On September 27th and 28th, the Estonian artists Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen will present a version of their performance “Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain” adapted for the Gothenburg Book Fair at the Estonian fair stand.

“Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain” is a mixed reality performance, a collective thought space where linguistic thinking meets the instinctive physique. It is a physical reading experience, choreography of thoughts that you can experience within your own body using mixed reality glasses. Plug in — let your body and thoughts carry you.

Authors Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen, mixed reality solution by Norbert Pape, sound designer Mihkel Tomberg, graphic designer Jaan Evart, room designer Mari Möldre, producers Anu Almik and elekrton.art.

at 11:30
Drama Stage

Despite a rich landscape of contemporary theatre, Nordic and Baltic drama rarely travels beyond national borders within the region. Why is that — and how can we change it? This discussion looks at what could be done to change that. Translator Paul Russell Garrett moderates a talk with Estonian playwright and translator Siret Campbell, Hedda Krausz Sjögren from Colombine Theatre Agency, and Finnish playwright Laura Ruohonen. Together, they’ll share thoughts on what’s missing, what’s working, and how we might get more people across the region interested in each other’s work.

Participants: Siret Campbell (Estonia), Hedda Krausz Sjögren (Sweden), Laura Ruohonen (Finland). Moderator: Paul Russell Garrett (UK).
Organised by TINFO.

at 13:30
Drama Stage

A talk between Reeli Reinaus, a folklorist, playwright, and writer best known for her children’s and young adult fiction, and Erik Uddenberg, a playwright and the Dramaturg of Unga Klara. Their discussion focuses on how to reach young people, help them feel seen, and enable them to notice and care through drama. What is the role and responsibility of theater? How can drama techniques be used to address complex matters of one’s mind?

Participants: Reeli Reinaus (Estonia) and Erik Uddenberg (Sweden).
Organised by Estonian Theatre Agency.

all day
by the Estonian fair stand

On September 27th and 28th, the Estonian artists Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen will present a version of their performance “Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain” adapted for the Gothenburg Book Fair at the Estonian fair stand.

“Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain” is a mixed reality performance, a collective thought space where linguistic thinking meets the instinctive physique. It is a physical reading experience, choreography of thoughts that you can experience within your own body using mixed reality glasses. Plug in — let your body and thoughts carry you.

Authors Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen, mixed reality solution by Norbert Pape, sound designer Mihkel Tomberg, graphic designer Jaan Evart, room designer Mari Möldre, producers Anu Almik and elektron.art.