ALTERNATE HISTORIES AS GATEWAYS TO THE FUTURE

Abstract

The article is analysing three productions from Estonia 100 theatre series “Tale of the Century” (Sajandi lugu): “The Landlady of Raven Stone” (Kaarnakivi perenaine), “Estonian History. A Nation Born of Shock” (Eesti ajalugu. Ehmatusest sündinud rahvas) and “Will Be / Will Not Be. Estonia in 100 Years” (Tuleb / Ei tule. Eesti 100 aasta pärast). These three productions had a common feature: they presented an al- ternate history, using either mytho-historic, counterfactual or utopian approach in interpreting Estonian history. The main aim is to demonstrate, how poetics of alter- nate history or utopia is explicitly or implicitly also building up politics of the future, depriving from victimisation and empowering subjectivity and agency. Alternate histories create space for opportunities where different stories – both factual, personal and fictional – can be realized. Estonian theatre makers and audi- ences seem not need any more precise imitations or reconstruction of history but reflections from different point of views and with different degrees of authenticity that help them to remember and understand the palimpsestic nature of history, the current situation and possible future scenarios.