The Estonian Theatre Festival Foundation ...

... was founded by the Estonian Theatre Union and participant private persons in 2004 with the aim of, first and foremost, providing smoother organisation for events which carry the same name. However, that was not the only objective. From the unique position of a festival organiser, it is easier to cooperate with different theatres and theatre makers on topics other than those concerned with the festival.

The common denominator behind all the activities of the foundation is the wish to support quality Estonian theatre. The theatre plays an important role in the intellectual and cultural life of a small nation. Over a hundred premiers of novel plays are held in Estonia every year and the total number of people visiting the theatre extends over one million and is increasing rather than decreasing. However, that does not mean that we could not do better. Studies have shown that three fourths of Estonians would like to visit theatres more often, but the tickets are too expensive, the theatre is too far from home or they simply do not have time for visiting the theatre.

The aim of the Estonian Theatre Festival Foundation is to try to overcome and minimise these obstacles. The festivals which have been organised so far have succeeded in doing that. The best of Estonian theatre has in a concentrated way and with acceptable ticket prices been available in space and time for everyone who is interested. Composing a list of the best of Estonian plays has also had an enthusing effect on theatre makers and helped quality theatre to pass the news threshold without resorting to scandals. The foundation tries to repeat that effect year after year and use its experiences to support quality theatre between festivals as well.

Estonian Theatre Festival has developed since 1996 when the first overview festival took place into a true celebration of theatre and has become the biggest theatre event in Estonia. Every other year, best plays of the last two seasons are brought to Tartu for a week by Estonian Theatre Festival DRAMA. Since the festival COMEDY in 2004, thematic interim festivals are held in the years between festivals. In 2006, the OurDRAMA festival was held and in 2008, the festival UNT! which was dedicated to the director Mati Unt took place.

We organise these festivals to remind ourselves and others of the greatness of Estonian theatre. Therefore, it would be dangerous to forget how quality theatre comes to be. For this reason, Estonian Theatre Festival Foundation among other things also produces plays. We know that others do it as well and do it well, but sometimes a good idea is too risky for a theatre to take up or the timing is not right. We can put these ideas into practice because we do not have to worry about keeping a large theatre machine working.

Esotnian Theatre Festival Foundation consists of three full-time members: Margus Kasterpalu/Artistic Director-Manager, Siim Sillamaa/Executive Manager and Kadri Kasterpalu/Program Manager. As the festival draws closer, the number of team members grows rapidly. Usually about 50 persons are involved in organising the overview DRAMA festival.