On February 25, 1940, Rakvere Theatre was opened with the production of In the Whirl of Winds. The story is still fresh and now it is here again.
They rebel and demand their rights. One man thinks of the entire nation, but can not see the woman beside him. A second man demands the return of his land and loves the bride of another man. The woman doesn't know whom to choose. Passions surge, people fight. Everybody wants only good, but everything is in a hurricane, inside the whirling winds. Who wins in such a situation?
„This is how In the Whirl of Winds was summarised on the home page of Rakvere Theatre in 2010 – when the unemployment rate in Estonia was higher than ever, the rights of employees had been considerably restricted with the new Employment Act and the revolt of the bank slaves seemed to be in the air. Of course, no one comes out on the streets today to protest against injustice and to fight for their rights – no, 20 years of capitalist freedom have taught the worker to shut up and do one's duty. Sometimes fear is so deep that it eats your soul.
“Quite a context!” says Estonian theatre critic Margit Tõnson in her review about Rakvere Theatre's production of In the Whirl of Winds. Andres Laasik, another wellknown Estonian critic adds: “There is a passionately hot love triangle on the stage of the Rakvere Theatre, as the farmhand Jaak takes the chance and grabs the place left vacant by Kaarel. The stage constructed in the small hall that consists of podia and resembles a boxing ring favours sporty plastics. On the stage, usually laying down, is the beautiful young girl Leena, waiting for love. Young men walk around the stage. Once in a while, Kaarel comes “inside” to put back to place the red and blue carpet that is part of the minimalist stage design. Two men and a woman longing for love bring about a dramatic situation in this room, a situation that escalates and becomes ever more complicated.”
The rewritten play, direction and set design by Andres Noormets (Endla Theatre), costume design by Kristi Leppik. Cast: Anneli Rahkema, Tiina Mälberg, Peeter Rästas, Erni Kask and Toomas Suuman.
Premiered on September 24, 2010 in Rakvere Theatre.
„In the Whirl of Winds” won the Audience Award of Rakvere Theatre in 2010/2011 as best production and was one of eight theatre productions that were chosen for the main programme of the Estonian Theatre Festival DRAAMA 2011.
Rakvere Teater (opened in 1940) is a professional repertory theatre in the small northeastern town of Rakvere, Estonia. Rakvere at present has ca 17 000 inhabitants and is probably the smallest place with a professional repertory theatre of its own in the whole Europe. Being the smallest state owned theatre in Estonia the name Rakvere Teater has become a well-known brand that equals to a good ensemble work of its 20 actors with collaboration of the best Estonian guest directors.
The repertoire of Rakvere Teater is divided between classical and more avant-garde productions. At the moment it consists authors such as Ostrovsky, Pinter, Genet, E.-E. Schmitt, Kane etc., but also Estonian originals such as Kitzberg and Kivirähk. It doesn't matter whether classics or modern – the essence of Rakvere Teater's productions is a highly skillful professional performing art that is very noticeable in the space of Estonian contemporary theatre.