VAT Theatre is the oldest independent professional theatre company in Estonia. Founded on 1 October 1987, the theatre has developed into a distinctive and internationally active company, combining contemporary theatre-making with a strong commitment to social and educational engagement.
VAT Theatre has a permanent team of 15 people and collaborates regularly with a wide network of freelance directors, actors, designers, composers, writers and other performing arts professionals. The company presents performances at its home venue in Tallinn, as well as at theatres, cultural institutions and other venues across Estonia.
International collaboration has been an integral part of VAT Theatre’s work throughout its history. The company has performed in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia, Portugal, Japan, Zimbabwe and the United States. Its productions have travelled from beyond the Arctic Circle to the Southern Hemisphere.
Alongside its artistic programme, VAT Theatre has a long-standing commitment to theatre education and participatory practices. The VAT Theatre Forum Group works with Augusto Boal’s Forum Theatre methodology, using theatre as a means of dialogue, reflection and active participation. Educational activities, workshops and projects for young audiences form an important part of the theatre’s work.
VAT Theatre is a member of the Estonian Theatre Association, the Estonian Association of Performing Arts Institutions, ASSITEJ Estonia and the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations.