Oskar Luts

SPRING

“Spring” is a heartfelt, humorous, and touching tale about the school years of the author Oskar Luts at a small-town church school during the national awakening at the start of the 20th century.

It’s been recognized as the second most important literary work in Estonia and the dramatisation of “Spring” has become the most frequently staged adaptation in Estonian theatre. It’s been said that all Estonians know the novel and have to make a pilgrimage at least once in their lives to Palamuse where the story takes place. It’s the embodiment of the Estonian childhood feeling.

Next to the pale Arno sits the mischievous Toots. Arno is a shy boy with a lyrical soul, brought up by his mother and missing a father figure in his life. Toots with his unruly character is a prankster who doesn’t spare even his classmate Kiir’s parents. In the meantime, Tõnisson is ready to stand up to the set hierarchy ruled by German kids. The German kids are being defended by the meek local sacristan, while the beloved bell ringer Lible gets punished for an offence done by another. The keeper of peace and honour in all this is the teacher Laur who becomes not just an authority in the boys’ eyes but also a friend. When white Christmas arrives at the boarding school the friendship between Arno and Teele blossoms into young love. And with it the unavoidable first heartbreak.

In Latvia, a dramatisation of “Spring” was first performed in 1980 in the legendary Youth Theatre by Estonian director Mikk Mikiver. It was performed more than 350 times and made a huge impact on a whole generation. The newest production in Dailes Theatre which is based on a dramatisation of the classic novel is directed by one of the best-known Estonian directors, the master of poetic theatre Priit Pedajass.