In June, Sigismund von Krahl’s ‘Eesti Mängud. TÖNK’ will be performed at the Raadi airplane hangar. The performance will tell the story of the importance of games in the development of humans and features the music of Trad.Attack!

Author: Sigismund von Krahl
Director: Peeter Jalakas
Music: Trad.Attack!
Dramaturg-actor Taavi Eelmaa (Von Krahl Theatre)
Artists: Kärt Ojavee and Edith Karlson
Video: Martti Helde
Graphic design: Margus Tamm
Technical solutions: Enar Tarmo
Sound: Mait Karm

Why did our usually quite rational ancestors decide to spend their hard-earned energy on pointless endeavours in winter? They pretended to be giraffes on dark nights by using the shaft of a broom inserted through the sleeve of a coat or used commodities to create a tönk, an entirely useless object. What do our folk games say about our society, dreams, or loneliness?

Games have had a significant importance in the development of humankind. According to historian Johan Huizinga, the Homo sapiens, the wise man, is succeeded by the Homo ludens, the playing man. He said this in 1938, long before Nintendo and computer games.

‘Eesti mängud. TÖNK’ is a performance based on music. Trad.Attack!, a band whose works are closely connected to our folklore, will take the stage. The venue of the performance, the Raadi airplane hangar in Tartu, which is in close proximity of the Estonian National Museum, is therefore a very meaningful and the most logical place for the performance.

‘Eesti mängud. TÖNK’ is a collaboration between Eesti Kontsert and Von Krahl Theatre. For stage director Peeter Jalakas, this is the third time to deal with Estonian games – the previous ones were ‘Eesti mängud. Kaelkirjak liigub edasi’ (‘Estonian games. The giraffe keeps moving’) in 1990 and ‘Eesti mängud. Pulm’ (‘Estonian games. Weddings’) in 1996.

‘Eesti mängud. TÖNK’ will premiere at the Raadi airplane hangar in Tartu at 8 p.m. on 10 June.

The performances are dedicated to the centenary of the Republic of Estonia.

Support from: Tartu City Government

Please note! The performances will take place at the Raadi airplane hangar in Tartu (Roosi 83). As this is a hangar building, we recommend guests to dress accordingly and consider the weather.

Get a 10% ticket discount for ERM exhibitions with a ticket for TÖNK! Pre-order tickets for TÖNK at a 10% discount with a ticket for ERM!