Jaanus Rohumaa – head of programme team of Tallinn 2011 foundation says the theatre programme of European Capital of Culture aims to transform Estonian theatre scene to become more international and to offer the local theatre people an opportunity to work with internationally renowned stars. In addition to new venues the stages will be filled with new plays, music productions and topics.

The theatre programme of 2011 starts with the premiere of one of the four winning plays of the drama competition arranged by two European Capitals of Culture Tallinn and Turku „New Baltic Drama 2011“. Johanna Emanuelsson’s play „Watch, I’m falling“ (competition title „Älfborg’s Bridge“) that premieres on 9 April in Tallinn City Theatre deals with young people who grew up in a media society and want to create a different world. The play is being directed by Diana Leesalu, a student of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Only a week later another joint project of Tallinn and Turku will premiere in Turku – the Dancing Tower by Aurinkobaletti AB Dance Company that connects dance, physical theatre and music offering the audience magic and striking stunts, tamed monsters, ventriloquists, fire and water. A joint production of Estonian, Finnish and Russian artists led by the well-known Russian director Sasha Pepelyaew will premiere on 14 April in Logomo Turku. The production will arrive in Estonia for performances in Katel from 8 to 11 June.

From 20 April to 6 Mai the Capital of Culture will be the host of local and international theatre scene during the performing arts festival POT, first of its kind to happen in Tallinn. It is a cosmopolitan urban festival full of theatre, music, dance, film and all possible combinations of all of them. To present to the public new names in world performing arts Baltoscandal festival, Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Von Krahl Theatre and TEMPS D’ÍMAGES have joined their forces. Also a theatre outside of Tallinn will be in focus – this year it is Rakvere Theatre that will perform in Tallinn’s different cultural centres, KUMU auditorium and Russian Theatre.

On the last April night the long awaited NO99 Straw Theatre will open its doors on Skoone Bastion that combines the highlights of European and Estonian theatre with pleasant ecological space experience created by the best Estonian architects from SALTO AB OÜ. „This is the craziest and most fun project we have done. To invite artists, who have inspired us and to create an environment around the Straw Theatre where we want to spend every day – this summer is pure luxury for us,“ says the dramatist of NO99 Eero Epner. The theatre with an impressive programme from Estonian and international artists will remain open until the end of September.

Please see the complete theatre programme of the European Capital of Culture at www.tallinn2011.ee/eng

Additional information:

„Watch, I’m Falling“ in Tallinn City Theatre 9.04–27.05.2011.
Phone:+372  6650 0805, +372 5346 8495; www.linnateater.ee.

Turku Aurinkoballeti and Sasha Pepelyaew’s „Dancing Tower“
14.–30.04 in Turku Logomo, 08.–11.06.2011 in Tallinn Katel
Additional information: Aurinkobaletti managing director Katja Lehmussaari, e-mail katja.lehmussaari@aurinkobaletti.com
Phone; +358 (0)50 524 7921, +358 2 284 0100; www.aurinkobaletti.com

„Pot festival. Tallinn performing arts festival“
20.04–06.05 in Von Krahl Theatre, Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Russian Theatre, Tallinn cultural centres, KUMU
Additional information: Elo-Liis Parmas (Von Krahl Theatre), e-mail: eloliis@vonkrahl.ee, Phone: +372 516 6610; www.pot.ee

NO99 Straw Theatre 30.04–30.09.2011 on Skoone bastion
Additional information: Producer Paul Aguraiuja, e-mail paul@no99.ee, Phone: +372 527 8196; pohuteater.no99.ee.