RiskyTheatreFestival PARTY IN A STRANGER’S FLAT
The class of 2024 of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre hijack the flat where otherwise Only Rivers Run Free. From 17 to 20 June in the former space of Vaba Lava (currently operating under the name JAIK). Party at a stranger’s flat is a risk. A risk that the young actors of the academy of music and theatre are willing to take. During three days and nights Ekspeditsioon's stage created for Only Rivers Run Free will host different performances. Mistakes and failures — guaranteed; unexpected successes and unique encounters — guaranteed; jazz and Ukrainian folk — guaranteed; famous people — guaranteed; pancakes, tinfoil and half a kilo of sausage — guaranteed; one performance by the Tallinn City Theatre — guaranteed; a three-day marathon without a guarantee that the participants will push though — also guaranteed. Performative experiments are inspired by the particular stage and the result is unknown. Stage design originally created by Arthur Arula will be repeatedly redefined during the four days. Performed act ivities are reactive in nature, with a less strict structure, risky and include unexpected moments – just like a party in a stranger’s flat. This is a collaboration between Ekspeditsioon and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
There are several different performances at the festival:
-> SILENT HOURS
The performance Silent Hours asks what do we do at night, when we are not asleep. On two nights we invite the audience to spend time with us in the grey zone, where night and day, play and reality, dreaming and being awake blend into one another. When the most ridiculous idea can seem genius and you can't be sure even in the most basic things. How do performers (and the audience) manage the new temporal conditions and what directions do over-exerted creative impulses take?
Idea and On Stage: Emili Rohumaa, Richard Ester, Kristin Prits, Astra-Irene Susi, Juhan Soon, Laurits Muru
Designers: students of Scenography of Estonain Academy of Arts Karoline Lohe ja Natali Mällo
-> SUPREME UNIVERSITY
Indrek Koff, Ave Taavet, Eero Epner, Ott Sandrak, Maarja Kangro, David Vseviov, Daniel Vaarik, XXX, Luule Epner, Jan Kaus, Reet Aus, Elen Lotman
We know these names. These are the Estonian public intellectuals par excellence, who just cannot stay silent. Short lectures are given on topics that they have had on their minds for a long time but have not found an outlet before. Now they have their chance. The speeches are one-off and the impact will probably be unexpected for the speakers as well. Come and hear them out. This could be the last lecture you will ever need in your life.
-> DISCOVERING UKRAINE
How much of Ukrainian cultural heritage is unknown to us? What is the Ukrainian identity like, how and who have shaped it? How has Ukraine become a country that plays such a huge role in European history in this crucial moment? We looked into the identity of Ukraine and discovered a lot. There have been attempts to erase Ukrainian history, abolish the Ukrainian language and hijack its culture. Yet they have persisted and still do. We know what Ukrainians are fighting for but what drives them? What do they need to overcome? These questions led our process. Under the guidance of Anu Lamp, the class of 2024 of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre researched Ukrainian cultural heritage and found their highlights.
"What can we, outside observers do against violence? We have no other choice but to educate ourselves and not let evil lead us." /Anu Lamp/
Idea and On Stage: all Acting Students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Consultant: Anu Lamp
Designers: students of Scenography of Estonain Academy of Arts Kristel Zimmer, Karoline Lohe, Natali Mällo, Karolina Petersone and Grete Lepp
-> A GUIDED TOUR
A guided tour to Theatre Ekspeditsioon
Why does the audience know nothing about the rehearsal process? Why does the audience know nothing of the material not included in the final performance? Enough of not knowing. For three weeks, we were in close contact with the company Ekspeditsioon (including the technical team of Rivers). We asked questions, they answered. It wasn't easy. In the beginning they were sceptical; some declined answering but over time the whole company understood that it would be unfair to keep quiet. We chose the most significant pieces among the collected information and now we can share these with you. This is Guided Tour. We discuss things theatre audiences usually are not made privy to – it is a journey behind the scenes of Only Rivers Run Free. We know. Everything and much more. We investigated and we will tell. All.
Idea and Guides: Acting students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre: Edgar Vunš, Herman Pihlak, Markus Auling, Karl Birnbaum, Hele Palumaa, Kristina Preimann
-> CHILDREN'S MORNING BRAVE KEFIR
We want to put ourselves to the test in front of the most earnest theatre critics. At the Children’s Morning, young theatre lovers are greeted by pancakes and a semi-improvisational performance, inspired by Andrus Kivirähk's Brave Kefir. Brave Kefir is a story of the adventures of condiments while humans are in the other room. What is the greatest fear of Sausage? Why did Tinfoil escape the bin? Do empty ketchup bottles really go insane? And where has Mouldy Bread gone? This is a story full of discoveries, action and passion, set in a slightly mouldy kitchen.
Idea and On Stage: Kristin Prits, Lauren Grinberg, Hanna Jaanovits, Herman Pihlak, Markus Auling, Rasmus Vendel, Juhan Soon, Alice Siil, Laurits Muru, Emili Rohumaa Sound Design: Astra Irene Susi ja Martin Kirsiste
Designers: students of Scenography of Estonain Academy of Arts Karolina Petersone ja Karoline Lohe
-> LIKE PAGU
Our first diploma performance, Jaan Kross' Tiit Pagu (dir. Jaak Prints) premiered at the Salme Cultural Centre stage of the Tallinn City Theatre. This is the second premiere: an abbreviated version of Tiit Pagu meets the stage design of Only Rivers Run Free. This time, the premiere is also the last performance. Is it possible to place a performance onto a stage meant for another? How painlessly does this process go? What remains? What gets left out? What is added?
Idea and On Stage: all Acting Students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
Designers: Kristel Zimmer and Grete Lepp
-> BULLSHIT JAZZ
Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans are masters of jazz, widely known for their instrumental skills. But how did they sound when they first picked up their instrument? When you play the saxophone, you need to learn breathing techniques, when playing the piano, you need to practice scales. Would it be possible to skip these tedious parts? Jazz trio Raun Juurikas, Mihkel Mälgand and Eno Kollom together with the class of 2024 of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre embark on a jazzpedition to discover if skill and practice are truly necessary to make music. The audience is welcomed by well-known jazz standards and incompetent soloists. Bullshit-Jazz allows performers to skip tedious practice and immediately take to the stage instead. Whether you know what you are doing or not.
Idea and On Stage: all Acting Students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
Designers: students of Scenography of Estonain Academy of Arts Kristel Zimmer, Karoline Lohe, Natali Mällo, Karolina Petersone and Grete Lepp
-> 12 HOURS
Performance 12h is the 12-hour culmination and the finale of the festival. The clock is ticking and the end of the party draws nearer. The performance lasts from midday to midnight. It includes solos and duets, triangles and squares, parallelepipeds and cylinders. Viewers can come and go as they please – spend 12 hours or 12 minutes with us.
Idea and On Stage: all Acting Students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
-> CHAMBER
Have you noticed a stranger on the street, in a café or a dance floor and felt you'd like to talk to them but chickened out in the last moment and had to make do with a hypothetic conversation? Perhaps even regretted it later but convinced yourself that it's better like that anyway... How many conversations do we carry with ourselves – conversations that we never had?
Two things are certain: two people meet at the chamber. Everything said or not said in the chamber will remain in the chamber.
Idea and On Stage: all Acting Students from 31st Class of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
Designer: Kristel Zimmer
