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Estonia

With its 150-year history, the Vanemuine Theater is Estonia's first native-language theater, whose establishment in 1870 also marks the birth of the national theater. Named after the Nordic traditional culture, the teller of stories born from a cosmic egg, the god of spells and poetry with a magical voice, the Vanemuine Theater has been the heart of Estonian culture from time to time, the keeper and bearer of its traditions, but also the initiator of theater innovations. Several legendary actors have left their mark on theater history from here: Lydia Koidula, Karl Menning, Eduard Tubin, Kaarel Ird, Ida Urbel, Ülo Vilimaa, Mati Unt, Jaan Tooming, Evald Hermaküla and many others.

Vanemuine is the only three-genre theater in Estonia, whose repertoire combines speech, music and dance performances. Every year, up to fifteen new productions are staged, among which are Estonian own plays, world classics, classical and modern dance productions, the best of modern drama, concert productions, educational programs, summer projects and children's productions.

The creative directors of Vanemuine Theater are ballet director Mare Tommingas , music director Risto Joost , drama director Tiit Palu . From August 1, 2019, the theater manager is Kristiina Alliksaar .

In our four permanent venues - the big house built half a century ago, the small house in art nouveau style , the black box in the Harbor Theater and the Teatri Kodu located in the Toy Museum - there are approximately 50 productions in the current repertoire, and the number of people visiting them reaches almost 200,000. In addition, we also perform summer productions in exciting so-called found places, organize annual end-of-year balls in cooperation with the Vanemuine Concert Hall, and give summer concerts of the symphony orchestra in the Kassitoome valley.

With its colorful and dignified history and unique repertoire, the Vanemuine theater, which today employs nearly 400 people, has always been an important cultural landmark, a transmitter of thought and a direction indicator, as well as - without exaggeration - the center of good Estonian theatre. Vanemuine is a theater of great stories, feelings and people.

Theatre Vanemuine / Upcoming performances

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