I was lucky enough to see the "Phantom of the Opera" - this wonderful musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber - in the presentation of Theatre Vanemuine - Tartu. I am a volunteer in Estonia, and in Narva - where I live now -, we truly lack of some demanding theatrical shows, so I was especially happy to be part of the audience. I saw many times the Hungarian version of this musical  in my hometown ( Budapest - Hungary) as I am a big musical lover. Honestly I think it is now very hard to surprise me when talking about different staging forms of well-known musicals. I saw  many others in London and in Germany in the last 10 years, so I can say I am well experienced in this field. Despite all this the production of Theatre Vanemuine achieved my admiration. The stage was a lot smaller and the set was also not only about showing off how much they invested in the show - which I think sadly at many times is the case. Everything was working perfectly, and even better. I loved the creative ideas which thanks to a theatrical rule, let the Estonians put their own ideas to the show, and they were not obliged to copy everything from the original production. I just love when there is a small idea leads to a great outcome and makes you wonder and believe again in the magic of the theater. I guess I am not giving away great secrets when I say that all the actors were playing and singing outstandingly, giving me goose bumps at some songs ( " All I ask of you", "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'") and taking me far away from my seat to the present time of the story. 

I saw the "Phantome of the Opera" in Tallinn, as they played here as guests, so I did not have a chance to see the home building of the company, but I am sure it is beautiful one and it provides a place for the artist to create more breathtaking shows in the future as well. Thanks to this experience I met another European country's theatrical world that let me broaden my cultural horizon and made me even more interested in all that Estonia represents.

Just as confusing as the two theatres on the same street being known as Vanemuine [the big house] (at #6 Vanemuise tn) and Vaike [the small house] Vanemuine (at #47A Vanemuise tn), the street they are located used to be called Aia.
The first two Vanemuine theatres, both of which burnt down in 1903/04 and 1944 respectively, were located at #6 Vanemuise, the site of the current Vanemuine (i.e. overlooking the shopping malls of Kaubamaja and Tasku.)
In 1944, after the theatre burnt down, the institution moved to the former German theatre at #47A, this theatre became known as 'the small house'.
In 1962, the current theatre - the big house - was opened.