Productions

Author Svetlana Alexievich
Finnish translation by The Director and Martti-Tapio Kuuskoski
Direction, adaptation, production by The Director
Set design, video art, lighting, poster by Pavel Semchenko
Costumes and make-up by Anis Kronidova
Sound designer Ville MJ Hyvönen
Cast Sami Lanki, Elli Närjä

On October 6th, 2026, the Finnish theatre collective Helsinki 98 will make its first international guest appearance at the Vaba Lava Theatre. In Tallinn, the collective will present its breakthrough production The Last of the Soviets (Punainimese lõpp), based on Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich’s book Second-Hand Time: The Last of the Soviets. The play is adapted from one chapter of the book, titled From Another Bible, and Other Believers.

The play tells the story of Vasily Petrovich N, an 87-year-old man. The Soviet Union has already collapsed and communism has become an object of ridicule, yet Vasily Petrovich still believes in the idea. Through Alexievich’s documentary prose, we gain insight into the collapse of the communist and totalitarian Soviet Union and the mindset from which today’s Russian regime has emerged.

The Last of the Soviets has been performed 75 times, 73 of which have sold out. It is the most frequently performed theatre production based on the works of Svetlana Alexievich anywhere in the world.

Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)

Recommended age: 16+

The production is part of the World on Stage project supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the City of Helsinki and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

The Tallinn guest performance is supported by the Nordic Cultural Point and the Finnish Institute in Estonia.