Daily Treff

DAILY TREFF Saturday 26 May 2012

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

Street theatre pulls (to the ground) FEATURE Duda Paiva and rubber foam puppets

REVIEW TaptoeTheatre’s auction

NEWS Bald men on the streets

www.nuku.ee/festival

2

News

26/05/2012

Potid ja topsid teevad rõõmsaks lapsed ja näitlejad

FOTO: LAURA LENDLA

Two Finnish ensembles play for toddlers This year’s Treff Festival features two Finnish ensembles that perform for children with honesty and bright eyes.

TAAVI EILAT Building a tower from jars For three consecutive mornings Teatteri Kurahousukirahvi performs “Potpotpot“ at 11 o’clock in the Hall of the Children’s Literature Centre and invites babies and toddlers to the theatre to introduce them to the world of pots and jars.

Actress Maaria Tuhkunen says that reaching pots and jars was a lengthy process and involved experimenting with different items in rehearsals. “At one point I remembered how I used to play with my mom’s cake tins. Then I took an empty yoghurt pot with me to rehearsal and recreated this memory,“ says Tuhkunen. The director also liked this and together they started building on this idea.

For Maaria Tuhkunen and Annastiina Storm the biggest challenge is the journey back to the world of babies and toddlers, as they themselves were that little some decades ago. “Toddlers are

so charming sometimes that you just melt when you see them,” adds Tuhkunen.

As always, feedback is a crucial part of theatre experience and the performers think it is important for them to do their job as well as possible to see contented faces in the crowd. “In theatre kids do not play nice.”

That pots and jars are very popular with children is revealed by the fact when they are invited to play after the performance they do not doubt for a moment. It appears that building a tower is the most popular activity.

The performance is without words and is thus suitable for people of any nation or language.

Additionally, adults will certainly find enjoyable moments in the show. Tuhkunen says that their theatre is quite uncommon because in Finland not many performances are made specifically for children.

Inspiration from paintings Yet there is another group from Finland at Treff Festival who performs specifically for kids: Teatteri Kuuma Ankapoikanen performs “A Short-Sighted Princess“, an absurd and hysterical art exhibition today at 2 and 4 o’clock in the Oval Hall of Estonian Puppet Theatre.

The performance tells the story of a topsy-turvy art exhibition where paintings come alive and people jump out of picture frames.

The inspiration for this performance came from five paintings

by Hanna Schroderus.

Co-director Antti-Juhani Manninen says that the vividness of the paintings ja cookie-like figures create a joyful and liberating atmosphere that the group tries to bring on stage.

The preparatory group included three actors, one artist and five directors. This collaboration sprang up a performance full of colourful

and funny episodes dealing with the difference between how children and adults experience things and the delicious world of colours.

In addition to the previously mentioned experiential differences there is also a contrast in the way adults and children go to the theatre.

“It is wonderful to perform for kids and receive their immediate feedback, but at the same time it is difficult to know what small children actually like. Children are actually more merciless as an audience than adults because if they do not like the performance they do not even bother to watch it,“ says Manninen.

He adds that the performance also works for adults but the downside might be that they already have certain expectations and opinions as to what theatre should be like.

News

26/05/2012

3

The Gorillapolice to Lecture with Laughter Tallinn is a host to a small pack of actors, arriving overseas from the Kuuma Ankanpoikanen theatre in Finland, all of them dressed up in hairy gorilla costumes.

The performance of simultaneous entertainment and crowd control by gorillas dressed as police officers can be seen in the experiment-slash-performance “Gorillapolice”.

MARI METS Turku held the title of the Capital of Culture along with Tallinn just yesteryear. Turku was the place where one could run into the dressed-up police monkeys. “Gorilla Police” is as much as a street performance act as it is a social experiment, combining both improvisation and playing by the script, reported Turun Ylioppilaslehti.

Arrests and Tea Parties The gorilla police are a soft bunch, childish at times, but eager to patrol for the joy of everyone around them. Their duties include refined detective work, keeping an eye on the mental well-being of the K-9 unit and making arrests, but also leave room for painting landscapes, riding a tricycle and having

An alert citizen grabbed after her phone sophisticated tea parties.

“We were requested by the street festival Eurocultured Turku to compile an agenda and we wanted to go for something refreshing, “ commented Merja Pöyhönen, one of the gorilla police force, to Turun Ylioppilaslehti. “An event as huge as this is well-suited for improvisation among the crowd. The idea of imitating police officers came to us from their abundance in the Eurocultured [festival].”

FOTO: MARIE KLIIMAN

A Police State?

In addition to lecturing petty thieves and being a laugh to both the young and the old, the gorilla police pose a far more important question – is the constant surveillance and supervision necessary or is it causing fear and predicaments, in other words, just asking for trouble?

According to Merja Pöyhönen, people’s reactions to the gorilla

officers range from chuckles to bursts of anger. “For example, many strange women have wanted to pose sensually with the gorillas, and trading words with drunken men is no isolated occurrence as well. It’s mainly the children who enjoy the gorillas the most.”

“Gorilla Police” project has been an inspiration for a YouTube crime series. The gorillas will be on duty three times during Treff.

ATTENTION! Bald men on the streets of Old Town for two days in a row Attention! For three days creatures with uncommonly large heads and green coats can be seen on the streets of Old Town.

LIISA OJAKÕIV It is not a new gene mutation, but a street theatre performance “Homs Fums” by Compagnie Ecart from France. This group consists of self-educated actors who mainly express themselves through body language, with which they create eye-catching visual patterns. For example, “Homs Fums” performs dances to music and entertains the viewers in other possible ways.

Acting spontaneously, these three peculiar characters break the

The men are not afraid of the audience rules of everyday reality and offer as an alternative a different kind of progression.

The bold men try to become a part of the natural street life and

FOTO: LIIS REIMAN

also involve the viewers in their actions. Using the universal wordless language and minimalistic resources, comical-abstract situations are performed. For under-

standing them, fantasy and a sense of humor are required. This way Homs Fums opens up a peculiar world to the viewers, leaving them a free interpretation and thought trajectory, flying them to a childish parallel universe.

Previously, the three naughty men have used as props for example a miniature car or a drum set, but the involvement of the audience may inspire them in an unexpected way and that is why every performance is unique.

Yesterday the men could be seen in front of the Puppet Theatre’s staff entrance, today they move around the Town Hall Square and tomorrow on the corner of Pikk and Nunne Street.

4

Feature

26/05/2012

Duda Paiva belives in dancing rubber foam “Angel”, “Malediction” and “Bastard!” are performances still remembered by the audiences from previous Treff festivals. They were brought to us by Duda Paiva and his company.

TAAVI EILAT Paiva’s creations can also be seen this year in performances “Detox the Dummy” and “Love Dolls”, but this time he is in the role of a director. The artist who is living in the Netherlands and changing the puppet world across the globe was unable to come to the festival in person, but he recalls his creative work on these pages.

The boy with a weird voice Paiva started acting as a young boy in Brazil, but after puberty he was unable to get verbal roles, because his voice swayed from low to super high. Over time he learned to use this voice, as his puppets often speak in a feminine, whiny tone and are answered by a low-voiced actor.

Later Paiva became the “funny boy“ who expressed himself through his body. To develop his dancing skills, he studied choreography in his homeland, Japan and India. When he reached his twenties and moved to Europe, Paiva began his search for an intersection between dancing, puppet theatre and video art. He now has a company (DudaPaiva Company) that collaborates with different theatres all over the world.

Brings sponge to life Although Paiva has become famous as a puppeteer, he believes in the synergy of different styles.

“I always consider the choreographer’s point of view,“ says Paiva, bringing a sponge-sized rubber foam puppet from the other room.

“I am thinking to myself, how is it possible to dance with a puppet?

How does it allow me to dance?“ (he moves the tiny doll and the little eyeless guy suddenly comes to life) “When will he make an extra move? When will he make a move big and when small? There are

The audience can see two performances by Paiva at this year’s Treff festival movements we cannot make with our bodies but can with puppets. (he stretches the puppet’s hand longer in slow motion and brings it back) It is a good tool in the theatre,“ says Paiva and puts his friend down. In a moment the puppet becomes just a sponge-like thing on the table.

Paiva thinks that foam rubber is the best material, because it allows better movements than a human.

These kinds of puppets create a contact between the public and the viewer. “The puppets need the pub-

lic’s reaction to understand they are alive. This kind of relationship becomes possible only in theatre, not with a computer.“ Virtual society The word “computer“ leads Paiva to another interesting element – the virtual world. Paiva is quite critical of it. The director explains that a person’s relationship with a computer cannot be as vivid, direct and animated as real communication and comes to a conclusion,

“The charm of the theatre is that it creates emotions and atmosphere. It is the key against the virtual world. I hope that the key still exists in the future.“ The puppeteer does not just move soft materials around on stage, he is a reasoning person also worried about the society.

“We live in a pop-plastic Barbie world,“ says Paiva and brings an example how in Japan, due to technical development, life-size rubber dolls became companions for men.

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre’s “Love

164881

26/05/2012

EST

drama

youth/adults

45’

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

EST

physical theatre

youth

30’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

1h

St John the Baptist’s Hospital*

25’

Goat Stage

NUKU’s Small Hall

20.30

PUNG

Dreek Studio

22.00

LIFE IS GOOD WHERE THERE IS NO US

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

Turku Arts Academy

FIN

youth/adults

object theatre

adults

24.00

WILD GROWLING HAPPINESS

NUKU Theatre

EST

visual theatre

youth 10+

1 h 20’

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

SISALE

ScarlattineTeatro

ITA

visual theatre

children 1,5–5

40’

Small Hall of Tallinn City Theatre

12.00

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.

26.05.

-Taavi Tõnisson (leading actor in “Detox the Dummy”)

12.30

13.00

14.00

14.30

15.00

15.30

16.00

- “Detox the Dummy” today at 15 ja 18.30 in NUKU small hall

Uebanda Balimba

EST

street music concert

whole family

20’

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

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

SISALE

ScarlattineTeatro

ITA

45’

Town Hall Square

visual theatre

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

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.

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

17.00

STAN

Scallywag Theatre

HOLGBR

puppetry

adults

50’

Von Krahl Theatre

HOMS FUMS

Compagnie Ecart

FRA

street theatre

whole family

45’

Town Hall Square

18.00

…AND THE SUN GOES OUT

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

45 min

Courtyard of Estonian Theatre and Music Museum*

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

164881

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

youth/adults

45’

Kiek in de Kök*

STAN

Scallywag Theatre

HOLGBR

puppetry

adults

50’

Von Krahl Theatre

20.00

21.30

- “Love Dolls” today at 20 NUKU great hall 22.00

However, introducing puppet art is not easy. “The younger generation is more open-minded about performances like these than the older. For example in Bulgaria some professors from the puppet academy stood up and walked out during the performance, because I broke all the rules they believe in.“ Art has to be free and that is why the Brazilian finds that the viewer must also have the freedom to stand up and leave if he does not like something.

Free is also Paiva’s own soul, which does not allow restrictive situations arise in the rehearsals.

Now, when he is mainly active as a director he is happy to go along with the actors and try different movements himself, to make sure that all his wishes are doable.

Paiva has the passion to make others understand puppets the way he and other puppet freaks do.

“There are situations where a puppet can surprise me on stage. I know that I lead the puppet, but sometimes he takes over and I become the tool. It is a magical moment.“

UEcommunity ON THE HEAD OF THE ROAD

16.30

18.30

Paiva becomes thoughtful, scratches his reddish beard and says seriously, “I think there is an intersection between art and politics. In the Middle Ages puppets were used to criticize the rulers.

In that society, puppets had more freedom than people. This can become a reality nowadays, for example in the Netherlands and most other European countries art submits to nothing. Benefits are cut and many theatres and actors have to stop working. It is definitely necessary for artists to stand up for themselves, but the question is how.“ He finds that these issues need to be underlined on stage and he does so in all of his performances.

drama

Von Krahl Theatre

Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight theatre programme:

“I would say that at first sight his movements seem clumsy, but when he jumps… amazing cognition of body and coordination. His whole movement is dancing. Like a cat, relaxed, but always ready.”

Lengthy work and freedom

Kiek in de Kök*

Feature

Today and tomorrow

puppets

Dolls”, which can be seen at Treff today, speaks about those lovedolls. In the performance the dolls have sex with men and are mostly undressed. „My dolls are always naked, because unlike humans, a doll has nothing to hide.“

University

DEPARTURE

Saša Pepelyaev/Kinetic Theatre

RUSEST

multimedia/dance/ animation

adults

50’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

WAITING FOR OTTO

Dreek Studio

EST

physical theatre

youth

30’

NUKU’s Small Hall

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

adults

25’

Goat Stage

Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight cinema programme in the Old Town towers in cooperation with festival Animated Dreams: 24.00

PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH ANIMATION II

Polish School of Animation

PL

animated films

youth/adults

1h 15’

Tower behind Grusbecke

24.00

FILMS OF SCOTTISH ANIMATION STUDENTS

Edinburgh College of Art

GBR

animated films

youth/adults

55’

Köismäe Tower

27.05.

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

MOMMIES’ NEST EGGS

NUKU’s Children Theatre

EST

puppetry

children 1–3

30’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

12.45 13.00

HOMS FUMS

Compagnie Ecart

FRA

street theatre

whole family

45’

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

SNOW WHITE

MiniTheatre

SLO

puppetry

children 5+

50’

Courtyard of the Children’s Literature Centre

HARLEQUINADE

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

dance

youth/adults

15’

Festival Club

CHILDREN CIRCUS I

Circus Studio Folie

EST

circus

whole family

20’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

EST

dance

COSETTE

NUKU’s Children Theatre

EST

drama/puppetry

children 7+

45’

Köismäe Tower

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON

CIRCUS

La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre

BEL

object theatre

whole family

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Main Hall gate

CHILDREN CIRCUS II

Circus Studio Folie

EST

circus

whole family

20’

Courtyard of the Museum of Applied Art and Design

EST

street music concert

UEcommunity

13.30 14.00

14.30

THE BUBBLES

Uebanda Balimba

The Kharkov State Kotlyarevsky University of Arts

UKR

object theatre

whole family

whole family

whole family

15’

30’

30’

Goat Stage

NUKU’s staff entrance Tallinn Treff 2012 | 6 NUKU’s staffFestival entrance

Corner of Pikk and Nunne St.

GORILLAPOLICE

Theatre Dirty Duckling

FIN

street theatre/puppetry

whole family

40’

HARLEQUINADE

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

dance

youth/adults

15’

THE GLASSES

Experimental troupe V a.m.

EST

dance

youth/adults

20’

Goat Stage

youth

30’

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

BIO I 15.00

Free Flow Studio

Secondary school age class of the TeatriPolygon Theatre School

EST

drama

Festival Club

ALL DIFFERENT, ALL STRANGE

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre

SLO

drama/pupptery

children 3+

35’

LET’S PLAY PANTOMIME

Gábor Dvorák’s Pantomime Theatre

HUN

pantomime

children 4–10

50’

Goat Stage

STORIES FROM INSIDE THE PICTURE

Viljandi Culture Academy of Tartu University

EST

drama

children 4–10

40’

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

15.00

UEcommunity

Uebanda Balimba

EST

street music concert

whole family

40’

15.30

TREBLE CLEF THEATRE

Tartu Student Theatre

EST

drama/concert

youth/adults

1h

Festival Club

16.00

ANIMAL FARM

NUKU’s Youth Studio

EST

drama

youth/adults

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Oval Hall

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON

La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre

BEL

object theatre

whole family

1 h 10’

NUKU’s Main Hall gate

THE BUBBLES

The Kharkov State Kotlyarevsky University of Arts

UKR

object theatre

whole family

30’

ALL DIFFERENT, ALL STRANGE

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre

SLO

drama/pupptery

children 3+

35’

NUKU’s Small Hall

16.30

drama

youth/adults

1 h 30’

BEL

object theatre

whole family

1 h 10’

Von Krahl Theatre

EST

physical theatre

youth

30’

18.00

POTUDAN

Russian Theatre School

EST

19.00

PROF. OLAF STEVENSON

La Compagnie des Chemins de Terre

PUNG

Dreek Studio

20.30

NUKU’s staff entrance

Heaven Stage of Tallinn City Theatre

TALLINN TREFF FESTIVAL AWARD CEREMONY

NUKU’s Oval Hall NUKU’s Main Hall

Tallinn Treff Festival’s exclusive midnight cinema programme in the Old Town towers in cooperation with festival Animated Dreams: 24.00

PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH ANIMATION I

Polish School of Animation

PL

animated films

youth/adults

1h 10’

Tower behind Grusbecke

24.00

PEARLS OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH ANIMATION II

Polish School of Animation

PL

animated films

youth/adults

1h 15’

Köismäe Tower

5

6

Review

26/05/2012

A woman in her room on the street A woman with her tiny room, faded pink dress and nostalgic thoughts has come to the street in front of the Great Guild. The street with its creamy colours forms an appropriate backdrop for the woman.

MARIE KLIIMAN The author, director and performer is Noam Sandel from Israel who has attempted to melt together the performer and the costume into a new form of life already in her previous works. In the performance “A Woman in Her Room“ the performer cannot see the surrounding environment because her head has been replaced by a cocoon-like formation. She can only hear people passing by and the click-clack of their shoes, an accidental conversation, bursts of laughter and flashing camera sounds. The woman only reacts to the voices by turning her head (or cocoon) towards the source of noise.

“A Woman in Her Room“ is not an ordinary street theatre performance but rather a performance of condition or even a sculpture.

Some passers-by do not even notice that there is something unusual going on whereas others stop to observe the performance.

With its slow pace the performance alters the street hustle and bustle and both those who hurry by and those who stop for a while become self-engrossed. It is the meeting of two different rhythms of life. San-

Woman, where is your room? del has managed to draw attention to the constant “hurry up” mentality so prevalent in our lives. One

FOTOD: MARIE KLIIMAN

passing gentleman with a pram even starts to play along and move

in slow motion. Let us take heed and remain playful!

Shiny on the outside, rotten on the inside “Die-Cut Scrap“, created and performed by Merja Pöyhönen from the Finnish Nukkuteatteri Kuuma Ankanpoikanen yesterday in the Small Hall of Estonian Puppet Theatre, is a soulful love story between a mysterious man and a delicate young woman that is destroyed because of the man’s inexhaustible desire for perfection.

LIISA OJAKÕIV In the beginning, everything is almost perfect: after a passionate

night the man and the woman decide to build a house together and furnish it according to the latest fashion. There is porcelain on the table and the floors are polished, all this because the man appreciates quality in objects as well as in people. As the third member of this mini-family the couple adopts a chinchilla who is also the woman’s alter ego and thanks to whom the story finds it happy ending.

The couple’s multi-storey doll house is built during the performance, and the doll representing the woman is similarly sculpted on the spot. She acquires an appear-

ance suitable for the prince only after several tries and the man’s search for perfection in every aspect of life thus appears already from the beginning. The pressure mounts. The man starts to demand more and more from the woman, yet remains distant and unapproachable. The woman tries very hard to be a superhuman but this is still not good enough for her marble-faced partner whose day is planned to the very last minute.

This perfection is slowly undermined by the woman’s fear of being imperfect. The relationship between the two becomes increasingly unequal and some sort of cul-

mination is imminent. Unexpectedly the man is the first to break down and physically assaults his beloved. The woman has become a doll who slowly fades away under the man’s terror and represses her personality in order to keep together what is already destined for doom. The woman’s desperate efforts are underlined by the nervous and ambiguous acting that effectively supports the build-up of the character. At the very last moment, however, the young woman finds enough strength in herself to liberate herself from the man and a smiling doll is left sitting in the spotlight.

Review

26/05/2012

7

Going , going… gone!

Luk De Bruyker has worked in Taptoe Theatre for more than fourty years. During that time he has definitely performed a considerable amount of roles with different kinds of puppets.

DEIVI TUPPITS Seeing him standing on the doorway of the theatre, greeting the viewers and wishing them a nice evening, it is hard to even imagine his puppet theatre baggage. The audience is politely led to the theatre, which is soon full of people.

After that Luk announces, “If you came for a show, there won’t be one, only an auction.“ The first ten minutes of the performance pass in the belief that there is actually an auction going to happen where the actor sells old puppets and props that belong to Taptoe Theatre. “I ask you to turn off your phones unless you are talking to another seller or a person who will give you money. And I ask you not to take pictures, but buy,“ he pleads to the audience. He then introduces the general order and procedure of the auction, in a sappy and humorous way of course. A so-called practice run is played out, during which the viewers are still confused – is this really an auction, where an unsuspecting member of the audience can purchase a shabby puppet?

The Little Prince Luk presents the puppets. The little prince appears in front of the viewers, but breaks unexpectedly before the bidding. From that moment we realise that the performance is about to start. The lighting changes, lyrical music is played and Luk repairs his doll.

From the first moment he appears on stage with tenderness in his eyes, it is obvious that this man’s

De Bruyker auctioning the Little Prince soul belongs to the puppet theatre.

He creates an immediate contact, a personal relationship with the puppet – an actor and his puppet are on the stage. It is a story about friendship. A story about how puppet theatre has by fate become a part of a man’s life and been his close companion. How every puppet, every role has become a friend. “Every time I got another puppet I used to bring it to my bedroom and hang it on my wall so that we could become friends.“ The importantce of text Text is very important in this show. It is very positive that the De Bruyker’s lengthy monologues and own life truths have been translated into English for the audience.

Without translation a lot of cru-

cial knowledge and moving word art would be lost to the audience.

Reflections on his roles in other performances, for example “Scrooge“, “Don Giovanni“, Turkish shadow theatre (Karagöz and Hacivat) and “Madame Butterfly“, vary considerably and paint a varied picture from the perspective of theatre history and techniques, acknowledging Luk’s range of experience. Changes in atmosphere and intertwining of the stories do not interfere with the audience enjoying them separately.

Symbol of departure There are boxes and suitcases on stage, out of which the puppets appear, creating a somewhat sad and warmhearted mood. They are always a symbol of an ending or a departure.

FOTO: KEIDI LAAST

The deeper effect of this performance is not in the accuracy of details or perfection, but in humanity – a warmhearted and enthusiastic story of a man and his life. At the end of the day when the curtain has closed, the lights gone out and only a dusty stage and objects on it are left the actor is the one who makes the puppets special. Selling them will not guarantee the continuation of their value and singularity. The puppets are the ones who teach us how to find and see in ourselves the child whom we cannot sell.

“Are we rich now? Not in terms of money, but here,“ says Luk and presses his shaking hand onto his heart with child-like belief and love.

8

Practise some Estonian!

26/05/2012

Kalkuni köögivilja vokk – festival sinu suus!

Aeg on rääkida söögist.

Ausalt!

ANNIKA ANDRESEN Öeldi ju küll, et kaelakaart on VIP, aga festivali esimesel päeval ootasime oma lehetiimiga lauas menüüd ligi 15 minuti. Vähe sellest, kui me oma uhkete kaelakaartidega toitlustusjärjekorda jõudsime, küsiti meilt tagatipuks talongi, just nagu gümnaasiumis... või nõukogude ajal. Andsime. Mis see nüüd siis on? Vokk (see särisev, mitte vurisev) – liha paistab igal juhul palju olevat aga kas see on siga või kana? Kalkun hoopis, väga hea, dieediväärtuslik valik– vähe rasvane ja valgurohke. Valasime morssi, võtsime söögi-löögi riistad ning istusime lauda.

Taustaks mängisid Ukerajad, õhkkond oli kultuurne ja talongisüsteem oli peast hetkega pühitud.

Tuju teeb rõõmsaks ka pilk taldrikusse: liha oli vokiroas rohkem kui

nuudleid ning tervislikkuse mõttes oli mõeldud ka juurviljadele.

Maitsefestival algas.

Võtsin ampsukese vokist, millele avapaugu andis kuklite [esimese kahe eskülje järgi võib oletada, et need olid Trefi Teataja peatoimetaja isiklikud lemmikud] asemel paprika. Sujuva ülemineku andsid nuudlid, kalkun ja ingver– aasiapärases võtmes kõikidele midagi.

Kahvlitäiele annab lisaelamusi karrikaste, šampinjonid, porgandisalat ja peale rüüpamiseks oli pakutud morssi. Kõik omade eripäradega domineeerivad, moodustades mitmevärvilise kombinatsiooni kuid sulandudes seejuures idamaiselt ühte tervikusse.

Just nagu Tallinn Treff ise, palju üheskoos, palju keeli, paju kultuure ja palju erinevaid maitseid.

Huvitavaid elamusi ja detaile leidus igaühele, nii festivali kavas kui kalkunivokis. Nagu festivalil, leidus ka selle toitlustuses detaile kõigile – toitlustus otse festivalile loodud.

Siia joonista oma tänane menüü:

Retsept Kallid trefikad, juhuks, kui koju jõudes suur festivaliigatsus peale tuleb, võite nostalgilised tunded luua omaenda köögis. Siin on Teile kodus kokkamiseks neljapäeva- ja pühapäevaõhtuste toitude retseptid.

Kõik portsjonid on mõeldud neljale inimesele.

Kalkuni köögivilja vokk toored munanuudlid 300g kalkuni kinstuliha 240g küüslauk 15g porgand 60g seller 50g roheline sibul 30g paprika 50g zukiini 50g sampinjone 50g ingevrit 20g soja 80g sweet chilli 40g suhkur 30g värske koriander 20g aplesini mahla 100ml õli 20g laim 4 sektorit

Trefi moodi serveerimiseks valmista kõrvale: Karrikaste Porgandi-ananassi salat Hammusta kõrvale leiba ja saia võiga Metsamarjamorss Valmistamine Leota munanuudleid leiges vees 20 minutit; lõika kalkunist ribad ca 4 cm pikad ja 0,5 cm laiad; sama tee ka kõikide köögiviljadega. Riivi värsket ingevrit erladi; lase pann kuumaks, lisa õli (pann peab olema ekstra kuum, lausa suitsema); nüüd lisa kalkuni ribad, kuumuta ca 1-2 minutit, küüslauk, porgand, seller, paprika, seened, kuumuta veel ca 1-2 minutit lisa zukiini ja ingver; maitsesta soja kastme, suhkru, sweet chilli ja aplseini mahlaga, kuumutada voki max 2 minutit; serveerimiel aseta peale hakitud värsket koriandrit, laimi sektorid ja rohelist sibulat.

Ilm Kas saab juba selgeks ka?

“Meil on igal aastal kokku lepitud kõrgemate instantsidega, et vihma ei saja. Siiani on nad oma FESTIVALI KLUBI AJAKAVA (sissepääs ainult festivali kaelakaardi või passi ettenäitamisel) lubadust pidanud. Ma arvan, et ka tänavu läheb nii. “ 24.05.

19.30 21.00 22.00

Ukerdajad

TALLINN TREFF FESTIVAL 24.–27.05.

Sibyl Vane Turki Piipl

23.00–02.00 25.05.

18.00 21.00 22.00

- Vahur Keller, Trefi kunstiline juht

Disko ja teatraalsed plaadikeerutajad GAG-i saalis

Rebecca Kontuse sooloalbumi „Flâneur” esitluskontsert Liqui Fuzz

Uebanda Balimba

Palju kultuure, üks keel!

Today in theDisko festival club 23.00–02.00 ja teatraalsed plaadikeerutajad GAG-i saalis 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

26.05.

18.00

Tallinn Treff Festivali ja Tallinna Vanalinna Päevade ühispidu Üles astuvad The Tomahawck Brothers ja NUKU koor

21.30

State of Zoe

23.00–02.00

Disko ja teatraalsed plaadikeerutajad GAG-i saalis