The Estonian Drama Theatre ( et, Eesti Draamateater) is a theatre in
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...
, Estonia. It has the role of a national theatre for Estonia. The
Estonia Theatre
Estonia Theatre is an historic building in Tallinn, Estonia, which houses the Estonian National Opera and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
The original Jugendstil building was designed by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren
Armas Elie ...
is located next door.
History
The building that houses the Estonian Drama Theatre was originally built for the
German theatre of Tallinn and completed in 1910 to designs by
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
architects
Nikolai Vassilyev and
Alexey Bubyr. The style is
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
or, more specifically,
National Romantic
Romantic nationalism (also national romanticism, organic nationalism, identity nationalism) is the form of nationalism in which the state claims its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs. This includes ...
.
[В. В. Кириллов. Архитектура "северного модерна". М.: УРСС, 2001. С. 95.]
An Estonian-language drama school was set up in Tallinn in 1920 by , and from this the Estonian Drama Theatre was formed in 1924. It was originally called the Drama Studio Theatre and rented the stage of the German theatre. In 1939 the theatre however purchased the building and has been housed there ever since. The theatre was renamed the Estonian Drama Theatre in 1937. During the
Soviet occupation
During World War II, the Soviet Union occupied and annexed several countries effectively handed over by Nazi Germany in the secret Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. These included the eastern regions of Poland (incorporated into two different ...
the theatre was called the Viktor Kingissepp Tallinn National Drama Theatre but it reverted to its old name in 1989, prior to
Estonia's re-gained independence.
[
]
Theatre
The theatre today fulfills the role of an Estonian national theatre.[ It has three stages, with 436, 170 and 70 seats each.][ Both classical plays and new productions, including experimental plays, are staged at the theatre. Since it was founded, the Estonian Drama Theatre has cooperated with and staged plays by playwrights such as ]Hugo Raudsepp
Hugo Raudsepp (10 July 1883 – 15 September 1952) was an influential and prolific Estonian playwright and politician. Cody, Sprinchorn 2007, p. 428. In 1951 he was deported to the Irkutsk region by the Soviet authorities, where he died. Raun 2001 ...
, August Kitzberg
August Kitzberg ( in Laatre Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire – 10 October 1927 in Tartu) was an Estonian writer.
Life
Until 1863, August Kitzberg was known as August Kits. He grew up in Niitsaadu farmstead in Penuja village, Ab ...
, Eduard Vilde
Eduard Vilde ( – 26 December 1933) was an Estonian writer, a pioneer of critical realism in Estonian literature, and a diplomat. Author of classics such as ''The War in Mahtra'' and ''The Milkman from Mäeküla''. He was one of the most revere ...
, A. H. Tammsaare, Mats Traat
Mats Traat (23 November 1936 – 27 June 2022) was an Estonian poet, poetry translator, and author.
Career
Traat was born in Arula, Otepää Parish. He debuted in 1962 with a collection of poetry. He published over 20 anthologies of poetry. ...
, Jaan Kross
Jaan Kross (19 February 1920 – 27 December 2007) was an Estonian writer. He won the 1995 International Nonino Prize in Italy.
Early life
Born in Tallinn, Estonia, son of a skilled metal-worker, Jaan Kross studied at Jakob Westholm Gymnasium ...
and Oskar Luts
Oskar Luts ( – 23 March 1953) was an Estonian writer and playwright.
Biography
Oskar Luts was born into a middle-class family in Järvepera, central Estonia, at that time in the governorate of Livonia (Russian Empire). His younger brother was ...
. During the 1980s, the theatre took on a political role as it staged plays with themes critical to the Soviet occupation and in favour of Estonian independence by writers like Jaan Kruusvall
Jaan Kruusvall (full name Jaan-Vahur Kruusvall; 7 December 1940 Eru, Palmse Parish, Virumaa – 3 April 2012) was an Estonian writer and playwright.
From 1966 to 1971, he studied at Maxim Gorky Literature Institute
The Maxim Gorky Literature I ...
and Rein Saluri
Rein Saluri (born on 22 September 1939) is an Estonian writer and playwright.
Saluri was born in the Tammiku, Väike-Maarja Parish, Tammiku, Salla Parish (now part of Väike-Maarja Parish). In 1946, when he was seven, Saluri, along with his family ...
.[
]
See also
References
External links
*
Official website
{{Authority control
Theatres in Tallinn
Art Nouveau theatres
Theatres completed in 1910
Heritage listed buildings and structures in Estonia