Draama 2026
Additional programme

The grand staircases and backstages of European theatre

Panel discussion with foreign guests

The grand staircases and backstages of European theatre foto
10th September 2026 at 12.00
Tartu New Theatre, small hall, FREE OF CHARGE!
What is the current landscape of international theater festivals? Who are the directors whose every new work is eagerly anticipated, and for whom the doors of the most important festivals are always open? How are the trajectories of theater art within Europe and across the globe taking shape, and what are the key trends? Every fall, curators of international festivals and program directors of foreign theaters gather in Estonia to find something in Estonian theater that they haven’t found anywhere else — the Estonian contemporary performing arts showcase* takes place. What motivates curators to come here, and what exactly are they looking for? To help Estonian theater reach major international stages more than ever before, would it take more money, hard work, or just a stroke of luck?

The discussion will feature international guests of the Estonian contemporary performing arts festival:

Grzegorz Reske is the artistic director of the SPRING Performing Arts Festival in Utrecht.

SPRING is a leading international platform for the development of contemporary performing arts, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary forms. The SPRING Festival is a ten-day international festival with innovative dance, theatre, performance, and more in the city of Utrecht. You will find SPRING in the theatres, at special locations and in public spaces. The festival presents over 25 adventurous and urgent performances from both near and far that dare to ask questions about the state of the world.

Gábor Thury is Curator for Theatre & Performance at HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin.
HAU, with its three venues HAU1, HAU2 and HAU3, is one of the most highly regarded and well-connected international production houses in Europe. Both co-productions and touring productions by renowned artists and groups from all over the world are produced and shown there. HAU stands for innovative formats that frequently attract attention far beyond Berlin, and provides impulse and inspiration for other art and culture producers. In addition, HAU puts on one of Europe’s most important dance festivals every year, “Tanz im August”.

Tayler Everts is Company Manager of NYU Skirball in New York City.
With major international artists alongside groundbreaking voices, NYU Skirball is committed to bringing the most urgent and adventurous work from around the globe to New York. Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, it is one of New York City’s major presenters of international work. The 800-seat theater, led by Director Jay Wegman, provides a home for internationally renowned artists, innovators, and thinkers, hosting over 300 events annually.
NYU Skirball’s manifesto: https://nyuskirball.org/about/curatorial-manifesto/

 The festival’s curator and coordinator, Liisi Aibel (Estonian Theatre Agency), will moderate the discussion. The discussion will be held in English.

* Showcase, formerly known as draamamaa.weekend, has been held since 2013 and provides invited international professionals, including curators, producers, and festival and theater directors, with an overview of the latest trends in Estonian performing arts. The festival’s main goal is to expand and strengthen Estonian performing arts institutions’ contacts with foreign countries and increase the chances that high-quality productions will reach audiences beyond Estonia. The main criterion for selecting the program is that the productions shown at the festival should be innovative and memorable even for festivalgoers who have already seen a great deal of theater in their lives.

In 2026, foreign curators will view four productions in Tallinn: Liisa Saaremäel and Keithy Kuuspu’s What Are Little Girls Made Of, Nele Tiidelepp’s 10 Ways to Dance, Hendrik Toompere Jr.'s 500 Years of Friendship and Juhan Ulfsak’s Feedback, as well as four productions in Tartu: Renate Keerd’s The Sun Does Not Shine at Night, Mart Kangro’s MEDIUM, Lauri Lagle’s I Didn’t Even Notice You Leaving and Maike Lond’s Three Ballads, a Story and My Mother’s Estate. The festival is organized by the Estonian Theatre Agency.