ABSTRACT
The productions of new Eastern European drama between 1974 and 1991 staged at the National Theatre are discussed in this chapter. Compared to the National Theatre’s repertoire as a whole, the proportion of Eastern European premieres was not particularly substantial, but many of the productions that were staged attracted comment and started lively public discussions. However, strikingly few Soviet plays aligned with its programming goals. It becomes clear that Eastern European drama at the National Theatre did not mean Soviet drama. Similarly, dramatic connections with East Germany hinged on one single play about Chekhov. Rather than being seen as Eastern European, Estonian drama was examined through the lens of Estonia being Finland’s sister nation, with Estonia occupying its own unique position in the Soviet Union’s axis. What tended to thematically unite all new Eastern European drama at the time was the examination of an individual caught up in a problematic social situation.
