The performance is inspired by Herman Melville’s short story “Bartleby, The Scrivener” (1853) based on which Taavi Eelmaa wrote a new stage play. In an ordinary copying office people are working diligently and all the work-related joys from solidarity of the collective to pleasant lunch breaks are affirmed. To raise solemnity, the office manager puts special rituals to practice which add emotional value to everyday tasks. As the amount of work increases, the office is forced to find a new copier and their arrival would mean that the work will be done even more efficiently. But suddenly the new employee does something completely unexpected. Something that no-one has done before. The pillars of the world as they know it start to shake and the voice of the people is growling with rage. Melville’s “Bartleby, The Scrivener” was written over 150 years ago but is still relevant today. The influence of this text can be found in literature (Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, etc) and also in philosophy and contemporary social theory. Slavoj Žižek has claimed that the central conflict of “Bartleby, The Scrivener” is essential for the contemporary world if we still want to think about becoming free from dominant economical, ideological and other norms.
Estonian theatre awards 2021 - Performing art award - Juhan Ulfsak
Estonian theatre awards 2021 - Starring actress award - Marika Vaarik
Estonian theatre awards 2021 - Supporting actor award - Jörgen Liik
Estonian theatre awards 2021 - Sound design and original score award - Jakob Juhkam
