Somewhere on the edge of the world, where the horizon is resolutely pointing towards the North Pole, stand two small countries – Latvia and Estonia. They share a many kilometre-long border and the same sea, but know little about each other. The languages and customs are so peculiar that only the privileged ones can see and understand the train of thought of each nation.
One fine day, two very different people – Andrew from New York and German from Russia – go to a motel on the Estonian-Latvian border. Andrew is a young cosmopolitan without roots or nationality, a sales agent from the West, while German is a former ballet dancer from the East. They are unaware of each other’s existence, do not know the local language or customs, and both conceal their true reasons for coming here.
Over the course of 24 hours, strange events unfold in the motel: extraordinary personalities and four different languages collide, world views and values, hidden agendas and untold stories clash. Misunderstandings and secrets that become absurdly comic.
The story’s protagonists must overcome various contrasts: life and death, togetherness and loneliness, belonging and alienation, dream life and the mundane, national belonging and world citizenship.
*COSMOPOLITE – a person who does not consider himself to belong to any nation.
Photo: Matīss Markovskis
The performance is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 program, in collaboration with Valmiera Theatre and Ugala Theatre in Viljandi.
Premiere on the Big Stage of “Ugala” theatre on September 14.
Foto Matīss Markovskis
