Estonian dramaturgy on the main stage of the Gothenburg Bookfair 2025

In 2025, the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden will focus on Scandinavian and Baltic playwriting and will involve the Estonian Theatre Agency in the preparation of the programme, so that Estonian dramaturgy will be on the main stage of one of the largest cultural events in Scandinavia. The next Gothenburg Bookfair takes place on September 25-28th 2025.

The playwriting programme is initiated and curated by the Colombine Teaterförlag (Sweden), the Estonian Theatre Agency, the Finnish Theatre Information Centre TINFO, and Dramatikkens hus (Norway).

Drama is the original literature and has a natural place at the Book Fair. We will highlight drama as a distinct literary genre, showcasing the art of the playwright and the power of the word on stage and introducing it to a broader audience. With the Theme Drama, we bring performing arts to the Book Fair and connect it with our large audience.

This theme explores what happens off and on the theatre stage; how the actors take on a dramatic text and how skilled playwrights delve into the big questions of our time through the art of playwriting. We will probe the relationship between plays and novels, in meetings between renowned novelists, playwrights and actors. Workshops will offer possibilities to test your own writing or performing skills, and the best of new drama will take over the fairgrounds and seminar rooms probing our biggest questions about life, love and our common future.

The heart of the theme will be a large public area with a stage featuring short performances, readings, and panel discussions, as well as rooms for longer performances, workshops and seminars. We also create opportunities for professional meetings, collaboration, and networking between industries.

Whether you are a passionate reader, an avid theatregoer and lover of children’s plays,  a writer seeking to deepen your craft, or simply curious about the role of drama in literature, this theme offers performances, discussions, and new perspectives.

Welcome to a place where stories come to life and drama takes centre stage!

From the left on the photo: Oskar Ekström (Gothenburg Bookfair), Liisi Aibel (Estonian Theatre Agency), Linnea Stara (TINFO), Christina Friis (Dramatikkens hus), Hedda Krausz Sjögren (Colombine) and Frida Edman (Gothenburg Bookfair). Photo: Niklas Maupoix