Draama 2024

Crime and Punishment

Estonian Drama Theatre

Crime and Punishment foto
Foto: Gabriela Urm
      07.09.2021       at 6 p.m.
The Grand Building of Theatre Vanemuine
       08.09.2021       at 2 p.m. 
The Grand Building of Theatre Vanemuine (English translation)

In 1866, Dostoyevsky wrote his first big novel. It talks about the former law student Raskolnikov who takes law into his own hands while drunk on superiority and kills two people. In addition to philosophical and religious discourses, the novel also explores the ruthless contradictions between social topics.

In 2020, Ene-Liis Semper and Tiit Ojasoo used the same novel to analyse the crime phenomenon in an individualistic context. It becomes a springboard for the artists to discuss questions like: where is the conscience of the globalised society? Who create the rules and laws in a world where different religions, cultures and political systems clash? Does morality still exist in this day and age? And what kind of a role does individual power actually play in current legislation?

“A crime? What kind of a crime? Do you mean that I killed a detestable, harmful louse, a loan shark’s old hag who no one needs and whose murder will redeem forty sins, who was sucking life juice out of poor people? And this is supposed to be a crime?”

This kind of bragging bravura is shown by one of the most famous characters of world literature, the penniless student Raskolnikov but these words which were written more than 150 years ago sound like they were written today and for us.

Cast: Ursel Tilk, Hendrik Toompere, Priit Võigemast, Taavi Teplenkov, Hilje Murel, Mirtel Pohla, Uku Uusberg, Helena Lotman, Markus Luik
Dramatists, directors and set designers: Ene-Liis Semper ja Tiit Ojasoo
Lighting and video designers: Petri Tuhkanen
Composer: Jakob Juhkam
Translator: A. H. Tammsaare

It premiered on 13th December 2020 in the Grand Hall of Estonian Drama Theatre.

The performance has one intermission and lasts for 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Cigarette replacements, gun shots and flashing lights are used.


Petri Tuhkanen – best scenographer award 2021 laureate
Priit Võigemast – best male performance award 2021 laureate
Helena Lotman – best female supporting role award 2021 nominee
Jakob Juhkam – best music design award laureate in 2021