An encounter with contemporary Estonian playwriting in translation
In March 2026, we hosted an Estonian Showcase as part of Beyond Borders, a Foreign Affairs season exploring international voices and cross-cultural collaboration in theatre.
Across four days, we welcomed five playwrights for rehearsals and cultural and practice exchange. This culminated in two public showcases at Jermyn Street Theatre: an afternoon and an evening of script-in-hand readings of four plays that have recently shaped the Estonian stage. Each reading was followed by a post-show discussion with the visiting playwrights and translator Adam Cullen – moderated by Nastazja Domaradzka in the afternoon and Dr. Margherita Laera in the evening. The showcase offered an opportunity to engage with these works in English translation and to explore the craft and choices involved in bringing them into a new language.
The readings were:
- Queen of the Night by Piret Jaaks, translated by Adam Cullen
- An Orgy by Livia Ulman and Andris Feldmanis, translated by the playwrights
- Business as Usual by Mehis Pihla, translated by Adam Cullen
- The Last Livonian by Paavo Piik, translated by Siim Nurklik with the playwright
We were thrilled to be joined by directors Flo Dessau (working on An Orgy and Queen of the Night) and Ria Samartzi (working on Business as Usual and The Last Livonian), and actors Eduardo Arcelus, Edyta Budnik, Gassan Abdulrazek, Kaitlyn Kelly, Karol Stanisz, Laurie Coldwell, Sarah Priddy, and Youness Bouzinab – alongside the visiting Estonian playwrights and our partners at the Estonian Theatre Agency and the Embassy of Estonia in London.
The showcase project was produced by Camila França and Trine Garrett, with associate producer Rachel Toogood and creative coordinator Maja Szewczuk.
For more information about the project, scroll down to watch our short film with participating artists, read about the plays and playwrights, and explore artist biographies.
Playwrights, directors, and partners reflect on the Estonian Showcase – the work, the exchange, and what it meant to bring these plays to London.
Video by Héctor Manchego.
plays & playwrights
An Orgy
by Livia Ulman & Andris Feldmanis
Translated by the playwrights (English language proof edit by Jane Fallowfield)
A sharp and darkly humorous exploration of modern relationships and the compulsive need to “keep up.” As two couples engage in a quiet competition over everything from furniture to life-changing decisions, the play asks: do we actually want the lives we are living, or are we just trying to survive in a parallel universe of our own making?
Info:
- Year: 2025 • Acts: 2 • Pages: 53 • Character: 2F, 2M
- Full English translation available.
- Read more on the Estonian Theatre Agency website.
Livia Ulman and Andris Feldmanis are a screenwriting duo. With backgrounds in philology (Ulman) and history (Feldmanis), they bring a unique perspective to their writing, often focusing on human relationships, identity, and the quiet drama of everyday life. Their collaboration began organically, as Ulman, the daughter of a screenwriter, and Feldmanis – initially a film critic – discovered a shared passion for storytelling. Today, they write all their work together, from the first messy brainstorms to the final draft, embracing a collaborative and intuitive process. Ulman and Feldmanis believe in the importance of shared mental space with directors and other collaborators, often developing projects in close creative partnerships.
Full bio with awards, prizes and plays here (Ulman) and here (Feldmanis).
Queen of the Night
by Piret Jaaks
Translated by Adam Cullen
A lyrical and emotionally charged play about a former opera diva navigating grief and survival in rural Estonia. When a young caregiver enters her life, a series of flirtations and power games unfold – but the protagonist remains firmly in control. It is a haunting study of ageing, charm, and the quiet strength of a woman who refuses to disappear.
Info:
- Year: 2015 • Acts: 2 • Pages: 51 • Character: 1F, 2M
- Full English translation available.
- Read more on the Estonian Theatre Agency website.
Piret Jaaks is an Estonian writer, playwright, and dramaturg. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Tartu and a PhD in Theatre Arts from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Jaaks is known for her bold and imaginative writing, often exploring social issues through sincerity, humour, and poetic imagery. Her work spans multiple genres – from plays and prose to children’s literature and television scripts. In 2019 she made her debut as a director with a production Beautiful People (Ilusad inimesed) at Tartu Uus Theatre. She published a collection of plays, Sirens and Other Plays, in 2022. Jaaks is also one of the screenwriters of the popular Estonian TV series ESSR (Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as ENSV in Estonian).
Full bio with awards, prizes and plays here.
Business as Usual
by Mehis Pihla
Translated by Adam Cullen
A gripping narrative inspired by the scandals that rocked Estonian banking, this play channels a society’s ambitions through Artur, a young man from the suburbs. Entangled with Eastern Bloc oligarchs at a prestigious bank, Artur navigates a “back-door” world where cash is carried in suitcases with wheels.
Info:
- Year: 2024 • Acts: 2 • Pages: 82 • Character: Many
- Full English translation available.
- Read more on the Estonian Theatre Agency website.
Mehis Pihla is an Estonian dramaturg, director, and screenwriter known for exploring pivotal moments in Estonian history, blending sharp wit with meticulous research. He is recognised for his thoughtful portrayal of real people and events, providing respectful and nuanced representations of often-overlooked stories.
Pihla graduated from the University of Tartu in 2011 with a degree in semiotics and cultural theory, then completed dramaturgy studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2016. He has also completed courses in dramatisation and playwriting at Drakadeemia. Since 2018, he has worked as a dramaturg and director at the Estonian Drama Theatre. Active in film and television, Pihla has written numerous stand-up comedy scripts and sketch shows, and served as dramaturg for Estonia’s Independence Day concert
Full bio with awards, prizes and plays here.
The Last Livonian
by Paavo Piik
Translated by Siim Nurklik with the playwright
A provocative lyrical satire on what it means for a nation to go extinct. Against the onslaught of the English language and state-led efforts to boost fertility, this “post-dramatic postcard” intersperses the history of the Livonian people with the perils of searching for one’s roots in modern society.
Info:
- Year: 2025 • Acts: 1 • Characters: Multiple
- English sample translation available.
- To find out more, contact the Estonian Theatre Agency here.
Paavo Piikis a playwright, dramaturg, and scriptwriter. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford and completed dramaturgy studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Piik is a founding member of Kinoteater, where he continues to be active as a dramaturg and director. Known for his ironic poetic voice, Piik has published three poetry collections and gained wider recognition with the play End of the Chain, which was adapted into a feature film.
His work blends humour with sharp social insight, often highlighting the absurdities of modern life through precise dialogue and subtle wit. It also reflects his long-standing engagement with documentary theatre.
Full bio with awards, prizes and plays here.
artist biographies
directors
Flo Dessau
Flo Dessau is a Director and Dramaturg working with new writing, adapted and translated texts. Flo’s work often explores questions of history, inheritance, family and gender. Flo has worked with acclaimed companies such as the Royal Court, Actors Touring Company, Bruntwood Prize, The North Wall, Synergy and The Bush. Flo is an Arts Council DYCP recipient and was the dramaturgs’ network’s 2025 Fellowship Award winner. Through these funded projects she is currently exploring her dramaturgical practice in new contexts, including internationally, devised and movement-based.
Ria Samartzi
Ria Samartzi is a UK-based director, dramaturg and performance maker from Greece. Her background is in movement, developing new work and collaborative practice. Recent credits include directing Black Swans by Christina Kettering (Omnibus, 2024) and production dramaturgy on The Wetsuitman by Freek Mariën (dir. Trine Garrett, Rose Lipman Building, 2022 & Arcola, 2023).
ensemble
Eduardo Arcelus
Eduardo is a Mexican actor and writer based in London. His stage credits include A Fight Against… (Royal Court) and Falkland Sound (Royal Shakespeare Company). He is currently developing his new play with support from Arts Council England.
Edyta Budnik
Edyta plays the role of ‘Jade’ in the critically acclaimed series, Ted Lasso for Apple
TV+. Theatre credits include The New Real at the Royal Shakespeare Company; Albion at the Almeida and The Death of Ophelia at the Globe. TV credits include Killing Eve; The Tunnel II; The Bletchley Circle and Suspects.
Gassan Abdulrazek
Gassan Abdulrazek is a multidisciplinary actor from West London and of Egyptian heritage. Television: Bait (Amazon Prime), Vera (ITV), Mr Big Stuff (Sky). Film: The Julia Set. Theatre: The Apocalypse Bear Trilogy (Jack Studio Theatre), A Clockwork Orange (Bloomsbury Theatre), Saint Joan (Bloomsbury Theatre), Electra (Shaw Theatre). Training: Rose Bruford College MA Acting
Kaitlyn Kelly
Kaitlyn is a Canadian actor and writer based in London. She has performed her work with True Story London and is featured on their podcast. Her solo show, I Didn’t Know I Was Polish has played at the Voila! and Edinburgh Festivals, earning an Offie and Fringe Theatre Award nomination.
Karol Stanisz
Karol Stanisz is a Polish-born actor based in London and a recent graduate of Rose Bruford College. He stars as Rabbit in the upcoming Winnie the Pooh 3: Blood and Honey and as well as Porthos/Rochefort in The Three Musketeers (Illyria UK Tour).
Laurie Coldwell
Laurie is an actor, writer and a co-artistic director of award-winning company Bang Average Theatre. Featured credits include Dirty Corset (Bang Average/Pleasance/Soho Theatre), Red Skies (Eastern Angles), Tale Trail to the Three Musketeers (New Vic Theatre) & Hound of the Baskervilles (Vienna’s English Theatre).
Sarah Priddy
TV Credits: Wolfhall (BBC); John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams (Peacock); Disclaimer (Apple TV) and Sherwood (BBC). Film Credits: Gator Creek; Degenerates; Six Years Gone; Shadow. Theatre Credits: House of Ife (Bush Theatre); The Doctor (Duke of Yorks Theatre); The Regina Monologues; Poison (Maltings Theatre); Building the Wall (Abbey Theatre).
Youness Bouzinab
Youness Bouzinab is a Moroccan, Greek and Belgian performer, theatre-maker and dramaturg. He trained at Royal Central. Theatre credits include: Maktub (Pleasance Theatre, Complicité), The Wetsuitman (Arcola Theatre, Trine Garrett), Little Brother (Jermyn Street Theatre, Stella Powell-Jones) and Murder On The Orient Express (China Tour, Lucy Bailey).
Presented in association with Jermyn Street Theatre, the Playwriting from Estonia showcase was a collaboration between Foreign Affairs – winner of The Stage International Award 2026 – the Estonian Theatre Agency, and the Estonian Embassy in London.
The project was generously supported by the Estonian Embassy, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, and Arts Council England, as part of Beyond Borders, a Foreign Affairs season funded by Arts Council England.
