Trefi Teataja

DAILY TREFF Friday 25 May 2012

TALLINN TREFF FESTIVAL 24.–27.05. 2012 Different cultures, one language

The buns announced Treff open FEATURE REVIEW Jim Barnard’s emotional Petrushka interacted pilgrimages with the audience

NEWS Dragon of the North destroy Town Hall?

www.nuku.ee/festival

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News

25/05/2012

The gigantic Dragon could not hide itself from Edzi

Will Pepeljaev’s Dragon of the North destroy Tallinn Town Hall?!

This year’s Treff Festival offers the audience a unique opportunity to see three fragments of the imaginative world of the ingenious choreographer Alexander Pepelyaev.

PIAMARIA UUETOA The first day of the festival provided nervous excitement with his “Gizzelle“. On Thursday both the young and the old are welcome on the Town Hall Square to take part in a grandiose mystery “Balthasar and the Dragon of the North“ that also opens the Tallinn Old Town Days.

“I am a little worried that the children might panic when the Dragon of the North passes by them. After all, it is enormous,“ says Pepelyaev during a rehearsal.

When the 16-metre (the length of its body without the tail) plastic

marionette is moved, the viewer might feel as a child again.

Around 170 people will take part in the performance – acrobats, tightrope walkers, dancers and Estonian folk metal band Metsatöll – and everyone tries to obstruct the Dragon of the North during its 60-metre journey.

No panic Hopefully there will be no panic on the Town Hall Square, although when the voice of Anti Kobin and around ten actors of the Puppet Theatre move the Dragon of the North in rehearsal, even they themselves are in awe of this mystical creature. “It is so powerful,“ says actress Kadri Kalda. “Sasha has organised and thoroughly thought through every detail.“ For the storyline Pepelyaev drew inspiration from medieval Estonian and Russian legends about the Dragon of the North, an ogre who voraciously devoured whole villages in these stories. In “Balthasar

and the Dragon of the North“ the monster tries to destroy the most famous architectural landmark of Tallinn and both art and culture are used to impede him.

However, the central character of the performance is not the giant Dragon but Balthasar Russow, the famous sixteenth-century chronicler. By the culmination of the spectacle the chronicler is able to defeat the ogre and save the Town Hall despite his headache.

Consumer culture “The Dragon of the North also made me think about consumer culture. It is entirely made up of plastic, but what happens to this plastic when it is not the Dragon of the North any more? Think how many plastic bag every person uses in a single year! Probably more than what goes into the Dragon of the North,“ Pepelyaev ponders.

On the other hand, he argues that he does not intend to send a political message or threaten the

Tallinn City Council with a cultural coup-d’etat. “My aim is to create a dramatic illusion that would be fascinating for both children and adults.“ In tomorrow’s masterpiece, the audience can enjoy a collaboration between the actors of the Russian Theatre, actors and the youth studio of Estonian Puppet Theatre, Ellerhein girls’ choir, Musamari choir, circus performers and cabaret dancers of Free Flow studio.

The musical arrangement for the performance was made by the brilliant Kaire Vilgats and the costumes have been designed by Inga Vares and Kristel Maamägi.

For those who need an additional dose of Pepelyaev after the Dragon of the North, the Oval Hall of the Puppet Theatre opens its doors at 21.30 on Saturday for a performance of dancing Shakespeare. In “Departure“ Pepelyaev creates the puppets he uses right in front of the audience.

News

25/05/2012

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Theatre schools and studios experiment in the melting-pot of Treff Since the first Tallinn Treff festival in 2007 there has also been a program for Estonian theatre schools and studios. This year’s twenty groups contain traditional school-theatres, drama clubs and dance studios, but also Estonian Arts Academy, Tallinn University and the students from Viljandi Culture Academy, who are on their way of becoming professionals.

TRIINU SIKK „Treff is like a big melting-pot, not an end but a beginning, not a result, but a process, which aims in giving birth to new ideas and surprising meetings,“ sais Treff ’s creative director Vahur Keller about the importance and impact on the young participants. „The students of arts meet with each other and the top professionals of the world to get new inspiration from the works of others, from the workshops, arguing in the festival club, and dancing.“ The youth program, which mostly takes place amidst the city life and in the courtyards, offers the public freshness, energy and youthful eagerness to be engaged.

The viewers get a chance to see

There is power in the young traditional interpretations (Animal Farm, The Collected Works of Shakespeare), musicals (The Magical World of Ella), self-creations (BIO I, Egomania), modern dance (Girl romper, Exitus) and of course the symbiosis of different styles and arts.

The leader of the student program Anti Kobin says that the most original and distinct groups of Estionian school theaters have

FOTO: MARIE KLIIMAN

been invited to perform in the festival. Kobin considers the most important to be young peoples’ eagerness to be engaged and fearlessness of making mistakes.

He also emphasizes that all performers, except theatre schools, are amateurs in the best possible sense. „The main value of the students and studios is the joy of discovery with which they perform, and not

perfection, but passionate imperfection and charming mistakes, which the experienced professionals often don’t dare to do,“ adds Vahur Keller.

It is a great joy to find so many initiative young people who all share a common interest – THEATRE! Mutual joy of discovery is exactly what the festival program offers.

Turtle Tató teaches theatre language to toddlers ScarlattineTeatro from Italy performs tomorrow on the Heaven Stage of Tallinn City Theatre the Grimm brothers’ fairytale Sisale.

ANNIKA ANDRESEN The story shows a journey through the eyes of a tiny turtle Tatò.

Playing joyfully with childlike gestures, facial expressions, silence and songs, a cozy atmosphere for toddlers is created, to wander to the place where Tatò lays eggs.

At that they learn the language of theatre, and in the second half of the performance they can subconsciously mimic what they learned on the stage.

The show uses very few props, however there is 30 kilograms of

Gestures and mimics are part of the performance salt on the stage for the turtle and children to play with and draw patterns on, the patterns also appear on the screen which is on the stage.

Fascendini, who is coming to Estonia for the first time is very excited: „I hope to see many Estonian children, as I am certain, I will see in their eyes the same

curiosity I have seen each time I have performed Sisale.“ She thinks that the most interesting about the staging is the end of the show when it becomes apparent how toddlers make connections between what they saw and their own behavior.

Sisale won the Scenario infanzia award for its childlike scenario and it has been on the stage of ScarlattineTeatro for six years already.

Toddlers can go on a journey tomorrow with Tatò on three times, at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.

The performance lasts for about 40 minutes.

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Feature

25/05/2012

Stan is not afraid of telling what he actually thinks

Jim Barnard wants to take the audience on an Jim Barnard from Great Britain stays at Tref festival the longest instructing young actors and giving acting glasses.

LIISI AIBEL Englishman Jim Barnard graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School in 1993. As a dancer he has participated in more than 30 professional projects, with many of Holland’s leading choreographers and companies. One of the choreographers he worked with on several projects was a dancer in the legendary Pina Bausch’s company for eight years. As such I have been very influenced by her, and have taken one of her basic principles with me through all my own work - she said “Don’t show me the body moving, show me what moves the body.”

He started working with puppets eight years ago and was

immediately impressed by the theatrical possibilities this opened up for him. His main aim in theatre is to create work which engages the public, encourages them to reflect on their own lives and takes them on an emotional journey. If an audience leaves the theatre in the same state as when they entered, then the performance was pointless.

Barnard is currently the heart and soul of Scallywag Theatre and travels the world with his solo performances “Stan”, which can be seen at this year’s Treff Festival, and “Mr. Magic”. He makes all his puppets himself and collaborates fruitfully with Dutch-Brazilian director Duda Paiva. Estonian audience can see his puppets in Paiva’s performance “Detox the Dummy”, which is in the repertoire of Estonian Puppet Theatre.

Before Jim Barnard arrived in Tallinn, we asked him a few questions via email.

In Estonia most of people think that puppet theatre is something only for children.

Why should people overcome their prejudices and make an effort to discover a puppet theatre magic for adults?

I wouldn’t presume to say people “should” do anything. I would however encourage people to appreciate that puppets make it possible to address some very adult themes and content, which would be much more difficult for an actor to approach. Once a puppeteer has given life to a puppet, and the audience suspends their disbelief and invests emotionally in that character, it is possible to visit very extreme and dark corners of the human psyche without leaving the public behind.

At Tallinn Treff Festival the audience can see your oneman performance “Stan“, a puppet show for adults that

portrays an Anti-New Man – a little bit rough and rustic on the out outside, but still a little boy inside. Does his character offer a point of recognition for everyone?

I believe that everyone has a mask, an act, or armour that we use to protect ourselves from the horrors of the world and the people in it. The more fearful we are, the more extreme or tough this act tends to be. I used “Stan” to push this idea as far as I could. I hope that everyone can recognise a bit of themselves in Stan.

You are making your puppets by yourself. They are very expressive and their apparence carries strong emotions. Where do you draw inspiration for creating such puppets?

Many of the puppets I have made do carry strong emotions.

However, this is not the case with

Feature

25/05/2012

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Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight cinema programme in the Old Town towers in cooperation with festival Animated Dreams:

Today and tomorrow 24.00

PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH ANIMATION I

Polish School of Animation

PL

animated films

youth/adults

1h 10’

Tower behind Grusbecke

24.00

FILMS OF SCOTTISH ANIMATION STUDENTS

Edinburgh College of Art

GBR

animated films

youth/adults

55’

Köismäe Tower

25.05.

TIME

P E R F O R MA N C E

T H E AT R E / T R O U P E

CO U N T RY

GENRE

TA R G E T G R O U P

D U R AT I O N

S TAG E

11.00

POTPOTPOT

Theatre Mud Pants Giraffe

FIN

object theatre

children 1–4

30’

Hall of the Children’s Literature Centre

12.00

Puppet Theatre El Retablo

ESP

object theatre

children 3–6

HOMS FUMS

ANIMALS

Compagnie Ecart

FRA

street theatre

whole family

45’

NUKU’s staff entrance

MASKS

Białystok Puppetry Faculty of A. Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy

PL

mask theatre

whole family

20’

NUKU’s Main Hall gate

TIGER ON LOOSE!

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

puppetry

whole family

15’

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

THE CLOWNERY

Yaroslavl State Theatre Institute

RUS

clownery

whole family

40’

Courtyard of the Great Guild

13.00

COSETTE

NUKU’s Children Theatre

EST

drama/puppetry

children 7+

45’

Köismäe Tower

THE BUBBLES

The Kharkov State Kotlyarevsky University of Arts

UKR

object theatre

whole family

30’

Seaplane Harbour

14.00

14.30

15.00

16.00

CIRCUS

Free Flow Studio

EST

dance

whole family

15’

Goat Stage

UGLY DUCKLING IS NOT DEAD

Joint troupe of the sorority Indla and fraternity Fraternitas Estica of the University of Tartu

EST

drama

youth/adults

10’

Corner of Hobusepea and Lai St.

PUPI PIPA PUPI

Company Degam of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

LIT

pantomime

whole family

1h

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

TIGER ON LOOSE!

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

puppetry

whole family

15’

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

EUSTACH AND THE INSECT

Helena Skovierova

SVK

puppetry

whole family

30’

Courtyard of the Great Guild

UGLY DUCKLING IS NOT DEAD

Joint troupe of the sorority Indla and fraternity Fraternitas Estica of the University of Tartu

EST

drama

youth/adults

10’

Börsi Passage

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE

Rakvere Youth Acting Troupe

EST

drama

youth, adults

1h

Courtyard of the Children’s Literature Centre

FEST-SHOP: A WINDOW TO THE WORLD

Meeting hour with the world theatre festivals’ organisers

conversation

adults

1h

NUKU’s Oval Hall

MASKS

Białystok Puppetry Faculty of A. Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy

PL

mask theatre

whole family

20’

NUKU’s Main Hall gate

UGLY DUCKLING IS NOT DEAD

Joint troupe of the sorority Indla and fraternity Fraternitas Estica of the University of Tartu

EST

drama

youth/adults

10’

NUKU’s staff entrance

THE CLOWNERY

Yaroslavl State Theatre Institute

RUS

clownery

whole family

40’

Courtyard of the Great Guild

UEcommunity

Uebanda Balimba

EST

street music concert

whole family

30’

Goat Stage

…AND THE SUN GOES OUT

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

45 min

Courtyard of Estonian Theatre and Music Museum*

PETRUSHKA AT THE FAIR

Theatre Vagrant Booth

RUS

puppetry

whole family

1 h 30’

Goat Stage

KOMMANDOPIECE AKA SPACE INVADERS

Dance Department of Theatre Academy Helsinki

FIN

dance

youth/adults

1h

Festival Club

PUPI PIPA PUPI

Company Degam of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

LIT

pantomime

whole family

1h

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design Seaplane Harbour

THE BUBBLES

The Kharkov State Kotlyarevsky University of Arts

UKR

object theatre

whole family

30’

EUSTACH AND THE INSECT

Helena Skovierova

SVK

puppetry

whole family

30’

Courtyard of the Great Guild

DIE-CUT SCRAP

Theatre Dirty Duckling

FIN

puppetry

adults

50’

NUKU’s Small Hall Heaven Stage of Tallinn City Theatre

LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

puppetry

youth/adults

45’

BACHINI

Ensembles Camerata Vocale and Gambare

EST

concert

adults

1h

Ukrainian Church Von Krahl Theatre Estonian Museum of Music and Theatre*

17.00

HOPE

SAVE MAGDALEN

Dance Department of Tallinn University Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

dance

youth/adults

25’

EST

drama

youth/adults

1h

Tallinn Treff Festival 2012 | 4

17.30

VOICE IMPROVISERS

ImproChoir

EST

concert

adults

15’

18.00

TRACES

School of Visual Theatre

ISR

visual theatre

adults

20’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

19.00

TRACES

School of Visual Theatre

ISR

visual theatre

adults

20’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

164881

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

45’

Kiek in de Kök*

19.30

VOICE IMPROVISERS

ImproChoir

EST

concert

adults

15’

NUKU’s foyer

20.00

DIE-CUT SCRAP

Theatre Dirty Duckling

FIN

puppetry

adults

50’

NUKU’s Small Hall

GOING, GOING… GONE!

Theatre Taptoe

BEL

puppetry

adults

1 h 10’

Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre

THE SHADOW

Dance Department of Tallinn University and Russian Theatre School

EST

dance

youth/adults

1h

Von Krahl Theatre

20.30

PUNG

Dreek Studio

EST

physical theatre

youth

30’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

22.00

LIFE IS GOOD WHERE THERE IS NO US

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

1h

St John the Baptist’s Hospital*

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

object theatre

24.00

WILD GROWLING HAPPINESS

NUKU Theatre

EST

TIME

P E R F O R MA N C E

T H E AT R E / T R O U P E

CO U N T RY

11.00

POTPOTPOT

Theatre Mud Pants Giraffe

FIN

FOTO: ANNIKA PUNG

n emotional journey

NUKU’s Main Hall

12.30

13.30

Jim giving instructions to ypung actors

45’

NUKU’s foyer

adults

25’

Goat Stage

youth 10+

1 h 20’

NUKU’s Small Hall

GENRE

TA R G E T G R O U P

D U R AT I O N

S TAG E

object theatre

children 1–4

30’

Hall of the Children’s Literature Centre

40’

Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre

Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight theatre programme: visual theatre

26.05.

Stan. I created Stan as an “everyman” character, one which could easily be made to express a wide range of emotions, and one which I hoped the audience would be able to project themselves into.

You are also going to give a masterclass during Tallinn Treff Festival. What can participants expect?

My workshop will deal with performance skills. Throughout my career, both as a dancer and as

a puppeteer, I have developed some basic principles of how to improve the quality of my work as a performer. In my workshop I intend to give exercises to help participants first identify and then practise these skills. I am confident that in a relatively short time, regardless of experience or discipline - actor, puppeteer, dancer, singer, mime, storyteller etc. - I can help to show performers how to improve the quality of their work.

“Stan” (tomorrow at 17.00, 21.00 Von Krahl Theatre) Stan is a small man with a big mouth. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind, or on your mind. He is the Anti-New Man. Loud. Aggressive. Unapologetic. But his abrasive exterior also hides something more fragile – the small boy inside, lost, alone, confused and frightened.Stan is in some way a reaction to modern “civilised” man. The man who has suppressed his basic urges, who censors his primal animal instincts. The man who is emasculated by modern, powerful Independent Woman, who at the same time as demanding his dicklessness, despises him for it.The cracks in Stan’s Psyche are sometimes revealed through moments of self reflection – “Do you ever feel like you’re being manipulated?” He asks the audience. “It’s fucking weird!” Stan chooses to live in denial about the fact that he’s a puppet, unwilling to deal with the horror of this reality.

Author, Performer, Puppet Designer: Jim Barnard

12.00

12.30

13.00

14.00

14.30

15.00

15.30

16.00

16.30

SISALE

ScarlattineTeatro

ITA

visual theatre

children 1,5–5

LET’S PLAY PANTOMIME

Gábor Dvorák’s Pantomime Theatre

HUN

pantomime

children 4–10

50’

Goat Stage

THE ENCHANTED LIFE OF ELLA

Uru Youth Theatre

EST

musical

children/youth

40’

Courtyard of the Children’s Literature Centre Corner of Hobusepea and Lai St.

UEcommunity

Uebanda Balimba

EST

street music concert

whole family

20’

ON THE HEAD OF THE ROAD

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

clownery/puppetry

whole family

10’

Corner of Hobusepea and Lai St.

THE TOMBOY

Dance School of the Estonian Dance Agency

EST

dance

youth

25’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

BALTHASAR AND THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH

ScarlattineTeatro

ITA

Town Hall Square

children 1,5–5

40’

Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre Estonian Museum of Music and Theatre*

SAVE MAGDALEN

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

1h

Theatre Dirty Duckling

FIN

puppetry

children 3+

50’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

SLOW MOTION NINJA FIGHT

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

puppetry

whole family

10’

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

ERROR

Dance School of the Estonian Dance Agency

EST

dance

youth

25’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design NUKU’s Main Hall gate

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON

La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre

BEL

object theatre

whole family

1 h 10’

ON THE HEAD OF THE ROAD

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

clownery/puppetry

whole family

10’

Corner of Hobusepea and Lai St.

THE TOMBOY

Dance School of the Estonian Dance Agency

EST

dance

youth

25’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

DETOX THE DUMMY

NUKU’s Art Theatre

EST

puppetry/dance/drama

adults

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Small Hall

SISALE

ScarlattineTeatro

ITA

visual theatre

children 1,5–5

40’

Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre

LET’S PLAY PANTOMIME

Gábor Dvorák’s Pantomime Theatre

HUN

pantomime

children 4–10

50’

Town Hall Square

STORIES FROM INSIDE THE PICTURE

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

40’

drama

children 5–10

Courtyard of the Children’s Literature Centre

EGOMANIA

Middle age class of the TeatriPolygon Theatre School

EST

performance art

youth/adults

15’

UEcommunity

Uebanda Balimba

EST

street music concert

whole family

40’

NUKU’s windows Tallinn Treff Festival 2012 | 5

Corner of Hobusepea and Lai St.

METAMORPHOSIS

NUKU’s Youth Theatre

EST

drama/puppetry

youth/adults

1h

Köismäe Tower

EGOMANIA

Middle age class of the TeatriPolygon Theatre School

EST

performance art

youth/adults

15’

NUKU’s windows

A SHORT-SIGHTED PRINCESS

Theatre Dirty Duckling

FIN

puppetry

children 3+

50’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

SLOW MOTION NINJA FIGHT

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

puppetry

whole family

10’

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

VAMPIRE MOM

Estonian Academy of Arts

EST

dance

adults

35’

Sports Hall of the Gustav Adolf Gymnasium

LIFE IS A TRIP

Drama Class of Kunda Upper Secondary School

EST

drama

youth

30’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

CIRCUS

Free Flow Studio

EST

dance

whole family

15’

Goat Stage

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON

La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre

BEL

object theatre

whole family

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Main Hall gate

Scallywag Theatre

HOLGBR

puppetry

adults

50’

Von Krahl Theatre

HOMS FUMS

Compagnie Ecart

FRA

street theatre

whole family

45’

Town Hall Square

…AND THE SUN GOES OUT

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

45 min

Courtyard of Estonian Theatre and Music Museum*

etc etc...

STAN

18.00

20.00

45’

visual theatre

A SHORT-SIGHTED PRINCESS

17.00

18.30

Grand open air performance of the Tallinn Treff Festival and Tallinn Old Town Days

SISALE

METAMORPHOSIS

NUKU’s Youth Theatre

EST

drama/puppetry

youth/adults

1h

Köismäe Tower

DETOX THE DUMMY

NUKU’s Art Theatre

EST

puppetry/dance/drama

adults

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Small Hall

LOVE DOLLS

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre

SLO

puppetry/dance/opera

adults

1h

NUKU’s Main Hall

6

Review

25/05/2012

A fair show for kids which makes the grown-ups forget themselves Aleksander Greif’s vagrant theatre’s joyful actors enliven the Russian puppet theatre’s symbol Petrushka, who during the forty-five minute show gets into a lot of trouble and makes the audience peal with laughter.

LIISI AIBEL Have you ever heard before, that you are strenuously asked not to turn off your phones before the show? This is exactly how the Russian fair theatre’s traditional show begins, where silence is not a value and the murmur amongst the audience, which is peculiar to the market place, adds to the atmosphere. Also, all shout-outs and bravos are welcome. The audience of Treff took advantage of this opportunity and the mainly grown-up viewers enjoyed it with merriment.

Stubborn Petrushka Glove-puppet Petrushka’s (Jelena Slonimskaja) peculiarity is his squeaky voice, a technique which takes years to study. His continuous laughter reaches the audience before he actually appears, and goes on almost unceasingly until the end of the show. The hypnotizing

Actors perform the 17th-century Petrushka effect of the laughter takes hold of the audience. Petrushka with his red-topped hat is silly, vulgar and eager to boast. His companions are his girlfriend, a doctor, a vain boyar, a horse, a big black dog and even sausages which have suddenly come to life. The irreparably stubborn Petrushka gets into a conflict with all of them, the misunderstandings re resolved through a chase or a traditional Russian dance. Petrusha always wins. Even

when it seems for a moment that a big black dog has eaten him. The public, as mentioned, follows his success with cheeris and applauds.

Active communication with the audience A musician (Aleksander Gref) helps to keep the spirits up, playing hand organ and acting as the manipulator of the show. He chats with Petrushka, asks him questions, repeats his replies if necessary and

FOTO: LIIS REIMAN

talks with the viewers. A rather unexpected and probably unplanned detail affects the viewers visually – on the back wall of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, right behind the puppet stage, is a big bright painting with characters who a large extent resemble Petrushka. „Petrushka at the fair“ is today at 15.00 in the hall of Estonian Children’s Literature Centre

One day of old age In the Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre the one-woman show „Go!“ is performed. It’s a tragicomic story about a small elderly woman, played

by Polina Borisova, who in her old-age starts reanimating the brightest moments of her past.

LIISA OJAKÕIV She tells her story simply, but convincingly, using tuck tape to create images, which are understandable to the viewer even without words.

One after another an oven, human silhouettes, a cat, a door, a window, a telephone are created on different surfaces. These are symbols which tell stories.

Vanadaam ei vaata aknast välja Melancholic mood is neutralized by the old lady’s tragicomically-seeming incapability in everyday affairs. In her everyday routine she repeats the same actions over and over again, not distinguishing

FOTO: GIORGIO PUPELLA

present from the past. So she keeps shaking the cat food’s box or gets startled by the brightness of the lamp.

Browsing through old cards and letters the old lady suddenly shakes

her shoulders in horror and throws the papers to the wood-oven.

Imaginary, of course.

Then, old sweethearts come to life in the woman’s memories, while one of them clearly stands out. In the imagination of the old lady her long lost lover’s silhouette seems to become a real person for a moment, gently touching her arm.

The realization that this was just another flashback makes it even sadder.

For a while the woman does burst into bloom and starts dancing around to music. Her old bones seem light as feather and it seems she could be about to fly! As expected, she calms down before the decisive moment and seems to be satisfied with her past life.

Review

25/05/2012

7

Encounter with Pushkin himself Ruslan Kudashov’s performance is an in-depth examination of the fragile and moving Russian poetry.

Put together from two stories by Aleksandr Pushkin, “The Snow Storm“ and “The Stationmaster“, the performance is an immediate on-stage interaction with “the lightest poet” himself.

DEIVI TUPPITS The first noteworthy feature of the two-hour performance is the dimensionality of the stage: in addition to the main stage – a detailed space that is continuously constructed and reconstructed during the performance – the actors make use of the sides of the stage as well as the stairs, where they temporarily yet effortlessly become characters in their own right. This emphasis on dimensionality and the masterfully created atmosphere are complemented by lighting design, which denotes every subtle emotional shift and highlights the psychological pressure of the play.

Sadness. Light blue sadness, faded like an old sofa. Already the first scene is veiled in this shade and a similarly fragile melancholy colours the whole performance.

The filigranity of both the puppets and stage decorations is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy aspects in creating an overall impression. It is not so much the unbelievable accuracy of material details that attracts attention but rather a masterful play with the puppets to make them experience and express every single emotion – the moving Russian lyricism is chiselled into every character, if it is even appropriate to talk about chiselling in the same sentence with such beautifully crafted puppets. Every change that occurs within the characters and all more or less subtle emotional floods – everything is expressed through such meticulous gestures that sometimes we forget these are being controlled through thin cords. Sometimes we also forget that an actor is an

Pushkin heading toward the audience actor and a puppet is just a puppet.

In this performance it seems that the puppet is equal to the puppet master. Both are on stage, both talk and live, and not for a single moment does it appear that one is better or more important than the other. Comprehending this is a little uncanny.

Even when the stage is swept by the waves of fantastic phantasmagoria, the audience is not forgotten. To be precise, the narrator does not deny the existence of the audience and invites the viewers to observe the lives and fates of the aristocratic puppet heroes.

Fascinated by the melancholic vio-

lin and piano, the chalky crystal atmosphere in which the action takes place, the voices echoing in the Small Hall of Estonian Puppet Theatre, the viewer is exhilarated by the tragic and the comic alike. The narratives that take place during the early decades of the nineteenth century include both sad and humorous ideas; for Pushkin these two seem to go hand in hand. From time to time a hand appears from above, holding scissors and threatening to cut through the cords (or threads of life) holding the puppets – the scissors of fate. Additionally, the puppet and the actor play guitar

and sing together, which adds a beautiful musical dimension to the play.

This puppet story is stylish and elegant until the very last moment and without doubt succeeds in fascinating the audience even when spoken words remain incomprehensible. Changes in lighting, fine-tuned decorations and the tactful as well as soulful performance by the actors create a rhythm that likens the play to a poem. Subsequently it feels as if the audience has been taken on a nostalgic journey into the depths of history to meet Pushkin himself.

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8

Practise some Estonian!

25/05/2012

Festivalikülastajate astroloogiline abimees Jäär Skorpion The Kharkov State Kotlyarevsky BUBBLES UKR object theatre whole family 30’ NUKU’s festivalikülastastaff entrance Kuu THE soodne asend Marsis soosib jääral ummistusi naljasoolikas.

Seega Skorpionid on äärmiselt rõõmsameelsed ja heatujulised University of Arts vältige komöödiaid ning vaadake ainult jube tõsiseid täiskasvanutele jad. Nad on ikka rahul ja soovivad isegi natuke nässuläinud etenduses Corner of Pikk and mõeldud tükke. Isegi juhul, kui te Theatre juhtuteDirty olema alles 4-aastane. FIN street mänginud näitlejatele whole ainult family head. Ei kiru, GORILLAPOLICE Duckling theatre/puppetry 40’ei virise. Millegipärast ei suhtu Nunne St. Sõnn aga teised festivalitajad skorpionitesse sugugi võrdselt kenasti. Tantsijad Viljandi Academy ofRahutus sõnni hüppavad kolmemeetristele karkudele ja akrobaadid ronivad suurest Ma HARLEQUINADE tahan ka endale võlukeppi, mis siis,Culture et ma naine olen!

EST dance youth/adults 15’ Festival Club Tartu University hinges tõmbab ta sisse meistriklasside ustest ning paneb jala nii tatsuma, hirmust köit mööda Kalamajast Oleviste kiriku torni tippu. Väiksed kõva THE GLASSES Experimental troupe V a.m.

EST dance youth/adults 20’ jäävad nukralt Goat Stage et sekkub aktiivselt tänavaetendustesse.

Liiga erutunud sõnne taltsutavad kooriku ja teravatipulise astlaga skorpionid vaatama ja festivaliemandad ja talutavad meeletu isendi teatridirektori kabinetti ootama aega, millal sisemine ilu saab välimisest tähtsamaks.

Courtyard of the Secondary school age class of the rahunema.

Ambur BIO I EST drama youth 30’ Museum of Applied Art TeatriPolygon Theatre School Design Kaksikud Horoskoobid soovitavad amburitel tungivalt hoidudaand õnnemängudest, kevadeti kalduvus armuseiklustele.

See soodumus on isegi julgustükkidest, ja 3+ muudest35’ ühiskonnaNUKU’s pooltSmall taunitavatest ALLKaksikutel DIFFERENT,on ALL STRANGE Ljubljana Puppet Theatre SLO drama/pupptery koerustest children Hall nõnda tugev, et ühel salapärasel nukuetendusel armub kaksiknatuur eriti tegevustest. Umbusklikud amburid aga keelduvad horoskoope uskumast LET’S PLAY PANTOMIME Lootusetult Gábor Dvorák’s Pantomime TheatreronibHUN pantomime children 4–10 50’ Goat palad Stage (oi-oi). sulnisse nukuneidisesse. võlutud merkuurlane salaja (ai-ai) ja valivad isiklikku festivalikavva kõige kreisimad nukukompanii veoautosse ja sõidab trupiga Venemaale ja astub rändt- Raputa, saputa, keeruta, siputa!

Courtyard of the STORIES FROM INSIDE Viljandi Culture Academy of EST drama children 4–10 40’ Children’s Literature sirkuse Kaljukits THEliikmeks.

PICTURE Õnneks olete hea kohaneja.

Tartu University Centre Vähk Näe! Kükitab seal, kardina taga. Ja kükitabki! Kaljukitsed püüavad hiiCornerpäädib of Hobusepea Vähid liiguvad vähikäigul tagasi oma teismeaega ja urisevad õnne peale. lida festivali tagatubadesse.

Nende piiritu uudishimu sellega, et UEcommunity Uebanda Balimba EST street music concert whole family 40’ and Lai kükitavaid St. Või vastupidi. Õnn uriseb teie peale. Igal juhul tasub olla ettevaatlik – õnne tehnikud leiavad pidevalt heli- ja valgustubadest pimeduses hambad on nagu hail. Teravad ja kaherealised. kaljukitsekesi, tolmuga koos1–hainult silmad põlevad TREBLE CLEF THEATRE Tartu Student Theatre EST drama/concertkes on üleni youth/adults Festival Clubpeas – , Lõvi sest nii suur on nende vaimustus teatriagregaatide osas. Oo, kui saaks vaid ANIMAL FARM NUKU’s Youth Studio EST drama youth/adults 1 h 10’ NUKU’s Oval Hall Vigurivänt viskab vempu nii et vähe ei ole. Lõvi neide ja noormehi võib isegi ühe korra prožektorit keerata või helipulti näppida. kohata festivaliklubis.

Nende des krutskeid peades sünnib Veevalaja PROF. OLAF STEVENSON Kogu Laaeg.

Compagnie Cheminstäis de Terre BEL object theatre whole family 1 h 10’ NUKU’s Main Hall gate pidevalt uusi ideid – kord on nad peitu pugenud puldi alla, kord ehma- Veevalaja festivalile ei tule, sest käimas on ometi Eurovisiooni-nädaThe Kharkov StateDJKotlyarevsky BUBBLES UKR object theatre whole family 30’ äkki Väike-Ott? NUKU’s staff entrance tavadTHE ukse tagant välja hüpates festivaliklubi juhi Taavi Tõnissoni närvid lavahetus.

Kas Suur-Ott saab finaali? Või Või hoopis University of Arts püsti. Õnneks on olemas gorillapolitseid, kes võtavad ulakad lõvid Taavi mõlemad! Oh, küll oleks see Eestile uhkuseks!

ALL DIFFERENT, ALL STRANGE Ljubljana Puppet Theatre SLO drama/pupptery children 3+ 35’ NUKU’s Small Hall rõõmuks käekõrvale ja õpetavad, kuidas käituda erudeeritud teeõhtul ja Kalad Heaven Stage of Tallinn kuidasPOTUDAN näeb välja keskendunud sõit kolmerattalisel.

Seda drama ei maksa süüa, seeyouth/adults on tuores veel! Veidi Russian Theatre School EST 1 h 30’tuored täiskasvanud lähevad Theatre Neitsi meelsasti vaatama tudengiteatrit, kust loodavad leidaCity juhiseid edasiseks Neitsid on tuntud oma eriliselt klassikalise teatrimaitse poolest.

Neil tasub eluks.

Aga leiavad hoopis lapsemeelsuse ning jäävad alatiseks lapseks.

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre BEL object theatre whole family 1 h 10’ Von Krahl Theatre seada sammud Puškini-ainelise etenduse „Kahetsus ja andestus“ pileti- Kalade elu näitemäng läheb edasi.

PUNG Dreek Studio EST physical theatre youth 30’ NUKU’s Oval Hall sabasse. Kui saba on liiga pikk, siis läheb neitsi küll sisemiselt põlema ja särtsuma, aga väliselt säilitab ta oma TALLINN stoilise rahu, juues samalAWARD ajal teed, Kohvipaksu imesid Liisi ja Marie Pauksonid TREFF FESTIVAL CEREMONY NUKU’s Main Hall väike näpp püsti ja selg ebaloomulikult sirge.

Kaalud Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight cinema programme in the Old Town towers in cooperation with festival Animated Dreams: Kaalud kaaluvad alguses, kas üldse festivalile tulla. Siis kaaluvad nad, mis PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY Tower behind School of Animation animated films youth/adults 1h 10’ etendustele minna. Pärast seda Polish kaaluvad nad, mida selga panna PL – üliPOLISH ANIMATION I Grusbecke kond ei meeldi ja naine ütleb, et teksad ei lähe mitte. Aga pärast etendust PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY kaaluvad kaalud, mida oli neil üldse saadud elamus oli Polishkaaluda, School ofsest Animation PL nii animated films youth/adults 1h 15’ Köismäe Tower POLISHja ANIMATION II olnud, kui kaalumistulemused oleks teistsugused võimas oleks kahju väljakukkunud ja etendus nägemata jäänud. Ära kaalu!

Ilm

“Meil on igal aastal kokku lepitud kõrgemate instantsidega, et vihma ei saja. Siiani on nad oma lubadust pidanud. Ma arvan, et ka tänavu läheb nii. “

Kuklitants on selge?

Veel jõuad õppida.

- Vahur Keller, Trefi kunstiline juht

TALLINN TREFF FESTIVAL 24.–27.05.

FESTIVAL CLUB SCHEDULE (entrance with the Festival Card or Pass only) 24.05.

19.30 21.00 22.00

Ukerdajad Sibyl Vane Turki Piipl

Palju kultuure, üks keel!

Festivali (sissepääs 23.00–02.00klubis Discotäna: and theatrical DJ-s vaid passi või kaelakaardiga) Editorial: Chief editor: Taavi Eilat Journalists/critics: Marie Kliiman, Liisi Aibel, Triinu Sikk, Liisa Ojakõiv, Piamaria Uuetoa, Merete Väin, Deivi Tuppits, Mari Mets, Annika Andresen Translator Kristiina Kõrvas, Astrid Pajur

25.05.

18.00

Première of the album ‘Flâneur’ by Rebecca Kontus

21.00

Liqui Fuzz

22.00

Uebanda Balimba

23.00–02.00

Disco and theatrical DJ-s

26.05.

18.00

A joint celebration of Tallinn Treff Festival and Tallinn Old Town Days with The Tomahawck Brothers and NUKU Choir