Days of Estonian Culture to be held in Krasnoyarsk

«Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk» - a festival that takes place as part of a large project "ESTONIA 100", dedicated to the anniversary of the state self-determination of the Republic of Estonia. On February 24, 2018, one hundred years passed from the proclamation of Estonia as an independent, democratic republic. 

The program of this festival includes many events: exhibitions, film screenings, performances and a theater director's laboratory on Estonian drama.

In March 2018, the director of the Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater (TYUZ) Natalia Kochorashvili and the artistic director of the theater Roman Theodory were invited to Estonia by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, got acquainted with the theater landscape of this country and established contacts in Estonian theater world. As a result, Krasnoyarsk TYUZ became the main venue for the Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk.

The official opening of the festival will take place at the Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater on May 16 at 17.30. At the same time, two exhibitions will be opened in the foyer and book hall of the theater: an exhibition "Siberian Estonians", prepared by the Estonian National and Cultural Autonomy "EESTI", and an exhibition of literature about Estonia from the funds of the State Universal Scientific Library of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The theater will take the central place in the program of the festival. And this is not accidental. Estonia is one of the most theatrical countries in Europe in terms of the number of theaters, the number of spectators in the theaters, as well as in the creative level of theater productions.

There will be four different plays during the Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk. Two of them will be presented by R.A.A.A.M. - Free Theater of Estonia. It is a non-state theater from Tallinn directed by Märt Meos. In Krasnoyarsk TYUZ this theater will show the drama of August Kitzberg "The Werewolf" and a solo performance "Phenomenon" based on the play of Hristo Boychev.

Kitzberg's drama "The Werewolf" is one of the main texts in Estonian playwriting. The play was written over a hundred years ago, but it has not lost its applicability. It reveals the theme of the relationship between "one's own" and "the others", the crowd and an individual, ordinary and exceptional. This classic Estonian drama with Estonian artists was staged by a theater and cinema director from Yakutia Sergei Potapov, who in the world of cinema is called "Yakut Tarantino." His play "The Werewolf" is full of symbols, conflicts and energy of "people's power". The play will be in Estonian with simultaneous translation. Many spectators who saw the production at international theater festivals, note that the performance is captivating and practically does not require translation. "The Werewolf" will be on the Big Stage of the Youth Theater on 16 and 17 May.

Another R.A.A.A.M. project is the solo performance "Phenomenon" based on the play of the Bulgarian playwright Hristo Boychev. Its first production (the world premiere of the play) in the Free Theater of Estonia was directed by Madis Kalmet. He staged it with the famous Estonian actor of theater and cinema, Matt Malmsteen - leading actor of the Estonian Drama Theater. Krasnoyarsk citizens will be able to see the solo performance "Phenomenon" on the Small Stage of the Youth Theater on May 19. The performance is accompanied by simultaneous translation.

The theater program of the Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk also includes a play for children. Heino Seljamaa is a true "man-theater". He will present a fairy tale "The Sleeping Beauty", presenting a play with the puppets all by himself. This is a classic case of a "theater in a suitcase", which requires the artist to possess some special theatrical magic. The play "Sleeping Beauty" was successfully shown in many countries of Europe and was recognized at international festivals in Spain, Denmark and Russia. This play for children will be shown on the Small Stage of the Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater on 16 and 17 May.

Also, within the framework of the Days of Estonian Culture, one will have a chance to see the play "Shades" based on the story of the classic of Estonian literature Anton Tammsaare. It will be a premiere performance of the Minusinsk Drama Theater staged by its artistic director, Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Pesegov. The Tammsaare story is a real story about the love and creative self-determination of a young Estonian writer and a young Russian woman artist.

"Shades" is a very Estonian performance. This is due not only to the literary basis of the production. The depth and psychologism, minimalist design (only a podium representing the sea shore, light and sand) - many features of Alexei Pesegov's performance are close to and in tune with the modern theater of Estonia. That is the reason why it so harmoniously blended into the program of the Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk. The play "Shades" will be shown on the Big Stage of the Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater on May 19 and 20.

Arctors of the Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater will also take part in the festival, as the program of Days of Estonian Culture also includes a director's laboratory of Oleg Loyevsky. Before the opening of the festival, several theater directors will come to Krasnoyarsk to create together with our actors the sketches of plays based on the works of Estonian playwrights. Directors Kristo Viiding (Estonia), Nadia Kubaylat (Pskov) and Damir Salimzyanov (Udmurtia, Glazov) are invited to the laboratory. Displays and discussion of laboratory sketches will be held on May 18.

Besides theatrical activities there will be screening of Estonian films and a photo exhibition of Ervin Õunapuu in the cinema "Dom Kino". And the park of flora and fauna "Roev Ruchey" will host an exhibition of graphics in mixed technique "Exotic birds and animals" by Tauno Kangro. The exhibition will be open since May 15.

The works of the famous Estonian sculptor and artist Tauno Kangro first appeared in Siberia in February 2018, when his personal exhibition "Man in the window of his dreams" was presented in the Museum named after Boris Ryauzov.

Tauno Kangro was born on May 25, 1966 in Tallinn. He started to learn the art of sculpture at 10 in Kalju Reitel's workshop. In 1984 he graduated from the secondary school, and in 1993 – from the sculpture department of the Estonian Academy of Arts. Brutal sculptures of Kangro became the landmarks of many places in Estonia. As a rule, the sculptor prefers the "eternal" material for his work - dolomite, granite and bronze.

Tauno Kangro had many personal exhibitions not only at home in Estonia, but also abroad - from Finland to China. His sculptures can be found in the streets and squares of Tallinn, Helsinki, Hamburg, Randers and other European cities.

Tauno Kangro is not only sculptor, but also an artist and a photographer. He has travelled a lot, visited in different countries, including Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and many others. At the exhibition in "Roev Ruchey" will be shown 28 works in mixed technique.  

Organizers and partners of the Days of Estonian Culture in Krasnoyarsk:

Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Estonian Embassy in Russia, project "ESTONIA 100", R.A.A.A.M - Free Theater of Estonia, Ministry of Culture of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Krasnoyarsk Youth Theater, Krasnoyarsk Estonian National and Cultural Autonomy "EESTI" and the State Universal Scientific Library of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

For the reference:

About 3,000 Estonians live in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. On the map of the region you can find Estonian names of villages: Narva, Estonia, Novaya Pechora, Ryapino, Bulanka, Bulatnovka, Haidak, Upper Suetuk. Since 1991, the society of Estonian culture "EESTI" has been involved in the preservation of traditions, language and cultural ties, since 2010 - the Krasnoyarsk Estonian National Cultural Autonomy "EESTI".