I Am 13

I Am 13 Years Old (Estonian: Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane, Olen 13-aastane)
Written by	Merle Karusoo
Characters	Andrus Guido Toomas
Date premiered	1980-07-26
Place premiered	Noorsooteater, Tallinn
Original language	Estonian
Setting	Soviet Estonia

I Am 13 Years Old (Estonian: Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane, Olen 13-aastane) is a 1980 play by Merle Karusoo. This is the first of a series of plays representing Karusoo's 'memory theatre' based on documentary material.

The drama, set in deep Soviet occupation era of Estonia, was developed by integrating a number of essays collected from 13-year-old schoolchildren of the era, and developed into a coherent, yet comprehensive plot depicting everyday life and culture of 1980s early teenagers.

It was staged by Karusoo 1980 in the State Youth Theatre of the Estonian SSR. The text was born in course of repetitions. It was played at Klooga rand, a beach outside of Tallinn.

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 roles, and originally written with these actors in mind. (The primary roles, 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.

Awards

As the director, Merle Karusoo was awarded by the award of the Theatre Union of the Estonian SSR (1980). The troupe got the collective special award of the Theatre Union.

In 1981, Merle Karusoo was awarded by the Literary Award of the Estonian SSR for the play.

In 1988, Andrus Vaarik was awarded by the Ants Lauter Award for his roles, including the role in this play.

Sources

• Olen 13-aastane

Further reading

• Merle Karusoo 1989: Olen kolmeteistkümne aastane. Ühe etenduse lugu, ISBN 5-450-00809-0
• Piret Kruuspere July 2002: Merle Karusoo's Memory Theatre, published in Interlitteraria, number 7, 2002, pages 276–289
• Merle Karusoo Põhisuunda mittekuuluv