„500 Years of Friendship“, a musical tale of seven women whose lives span nearly a century, has been selected for the Estonian Contemporary Performing Arts Showcase 2026 taking place from 7 to 10 September in Tallinn and Tartu.
The showcase, organised by the Estonian Theatre Agency in close collaboration with the Estonian Theatre Festival DRAAMA, introduces international guests to some of the most exciting new productions that premiered on Estonian stages during the 2025/26 season. The programme brings together artists and productions from different parts of the Estonian performing arts scene, offering visiting theatre professionals the chance to discover new contacts, partners, artists, and works for future collaboration.
„500 Years of Friendship“, directed by Hendrik Toompere jr, will be performed at the Estonian Drama Theatre on Tuesday, 8 September at 18:00. The performance will have surtitles.
Written by Eero Epner, „500 Years of Friendship“ is a musical tale of seven friends. Based on true stories, the production follows the lives of seven women from the 1930s to the present day. It is a story of time passing, worlds changing, countries rising and falling, wars beginning and ending — and of friendship that quietly endures through it all. At the centre of the production are Lia, Silvi, Laine, Vilma, Vivi, Maret, and Ita. Their lives are woven together through memories, everyday details, dreams, losses, laughter, and the simple joy of being together. The production moves between the intimate and the historical, between private lives and the larger turns of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Estonian Theatre Agency describes „500 Years of Friendship“ as „a visually stunning journey that follows the lives of seven women from the 1930s to the present day“.
The Estonian Contemporary Performing Arts Showcase 2026 programme also includes productions by Lauri Lagle, Renate Keerd, Mart Kangro, Liisa Saaremäel and Keithy Kuuspu, Juhan Ulfsak, Maike Lond, Lukas Jansen and Kim Noble, and Nele Tiidelepp. All performances in the showcase programme are available with English translation.