Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane

Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane (Estonian for "I am 13") is an influential 1980 drama by Merle Karusoo. The drama, set in deep Soviet occupation era of Estonia, was developed by integrating a number of essays collected from schoolchildren of the era, and developed into a coherent, yet comprehensive plot depicting everyday life and culture of 1980's early teenagers.

Foreshadowing

The generation depicted — people born in late 1960s — were the last generation spending their youth in occupied Estonia, and the first generation to shape the post-occupation culture, life and eventually, policy. While most of the superficial trappings have been forgotten, changed or become memorables, several attitudes illustrated in the play are recognisable in Estonian public life of late 20th and early 21st century.

Common presentation

The play is best known as presented by Andrus Vaarik, Guido Kangur and Toomas Lõhmuste in the primary rôles, and, in fact, originally written with these actors in mind. (The primary rôles, Andrus, Guido and Toomas, are named after them.) However, as a technically simple drama of strong recognition by teenagers of later decades, it, or episodes from it, has been presented by numerous non-notable school theatre projects.

Literature

* Merle Karusoo 1989: "Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane. Ühe etenduse lugu", ISBN 5450008090
* Piret Kruuspere July 2002: "Merle Karusoo's Memory Theatre", published in Interlitteraria, number 7, 2002, pages 276–289