Performativity in Estonian Political Theatre of the 2010s

Estonian political theatre of the 2010s, particularly through Teater NO99's experimental projects, demonstrated significant performativity by blurring lines between art and reality, influencing real political processes. Key performances like Tallinn — Our City (2010) exposed corruption involving city officials, while United Estonia Assembly (2010) mirrored unfair campaign tactics, foreshadowing the rise of hyper-populism. Other works, such as Meeting of the Leadership of the Reform Party (2012) and Savisaar (2015), addressed real political scandals, with the latter even boosting electoral activity. The study identifies three strategies: role reversal, where audiences become active participants; use of public spaces to stage politics; and the integration of fictitious processes that parallel and impact real politics. These findings highlight theatre's potential as a tool for political critique and engagement.

Volodina, A. V. (2022). Performativity in Estonian Political Theatre of the 2010s. Concept: Philosophy, Religion, Culture, 6(1), 138–153. https://doi.org/10.24833/2541-8831-2022-1-21-138-153