Productions

Because of the war we didn´t want, but were prepared for anyway

Author-director Jakub Skrzywanek (POL)
Author-dramaturg Emily Reilly (IRL)
Translator Raili Lass
Choreograph Agnieszka Kryst (POL)
Sound design Markus Robam
Light design Raimond Danilov
Video design Laura Romanova
Set design / Stage manager Berta Kelder
Producer Katarina Tomps
Clinical psychologist and consultant Maria Àydemır

Is it possible to imagine war? What is a special operation or peacekeeping mission? A conflict between two nations or a conflict between two people? Or is the war instead the exile of a million people?

Due to the active war in Ukraine, the fear of war has increased throughout Europe. Vaba Lava’s new play examines the consequences of war crimes and wants to find solutions to existing situations. World wars, as well as missions in foreign countries, have thrown many people with post-traumatic stress disorder into society. Will this scenario repeat itself with fighters returning from the Ukrainian front?

The play “War and Peace” is partly based on the troupe creation but mainly on interviews with Estonian war veterans – both those who have served in the Soviet army and on missions for reindependent Estonia.

Director Jakub Skrzywanek is interested in human relations during and after the war. He is not looking for heroes or victims, but real honest stories that would give us, the audience, an understanding of the thoughts and feelings of people who have been in a war situation. The desire is to understand those who have put away their weapons and returned to “normal life” when they returned. Is it possible to imagine this life?

The play “War and Peace”. The war we didn’t want but we were prepared for” is the sequel to Jakub Skrzywanek’s play ” Crime and Punishment”, which premiered in June 2023. Crimes of the Russians that we do not understand.”