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Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, is a city of striking contrasts: medieval streets and historic architecture sit alongside modern buildings and a thriving arts scene. The city has long been recognized for its high-quality theatre productions, and Tallinn City Theatre has been at the heart of this cultural landscape. After a three-year renovation, the theatre reopened in fall 2025, unveiling a fully modernized lighting system that sets a new benchmark for performance spaces in Estonia.
Seven Unique Stages, One Integrated SystemThe City Theatre houses seven stages, each with a unique architectural layout and design, offering flexibility for a wide range of performances. The renovation was the largest theatre construction project in Estonian history, providing a rare opportunity to implement a comprehensive, state-of-the-art lighting solution across the entire venue. The project reflects a commitment to both artistic excellence and technical precision, ensuring the theatre can meet the demands of contemporary productions, experimental performances, and classical works alike.
Expert Design and Implementation
Focus Point Systems, led by lighting designer Kalle Karindi, was commissioned to design and implement the theatre’s lighting and effects package. “For me and my company, this project was a milestone,” says Karindi. “It’s the largest theatre project we’ve undertaken, and the scale required attention to every detail.” The installation includes hundreds of ETC fixtures, such as Source Four LED Series 3, SolaFrame Studio, fos/4, and ColorSource, as well as ArcLamp and Irideon architectural lighting. The system is controlled using Eos Apex consoles and Echo architectural control.
Precision, Quiet Operation, and Color Fidelity
One of the critical goals for the renovation was to ensure quiet, precise, and flexible lighting. “The seven stages vary greatly in size and design,” explains Emil Kallas, head of the theatre’s lighting department. “We needed fixtures that could deliver accurate colors, smooth dimming, and silent operation. This is essential for drama performances where subtle lighting cues are critical, and for immersive productions where every visual detail counts.”
The Source Four LED Series 3 fixtures were selected for their ability to produce natural skin tones and rich colors, providing consistency across all stages. SolaFrame Studio moving lights deliver complex features including zoom, gobos, iris, frost, prisms, and high-output LEDs completely silently. ArcLamp and Irideon fixtures provide smooth, dimmable architectural lighting for both public areas and the main auditorium.
Integrated Control Across All Venues
“ETC provides a fully integrated system from a single source,” says Karindi. “Integration across fixtures, consoles, and networking ensures reliability and simplifies updates. Every light, every cue, works in harmony across all seven stages.” The Eos Apex 5 consoles, allow the theatre to manage complex cue sequences efficiently. Augment3d enables precise visualization and programming of 3D lighting models, a feature particularly useful for productions with multiple, simultaneous stage areas.
Showcasing the System: Iphienie.Agamemnon.Elektra
The reopening production, Iphienie.Agamemnon.Elektra, a four-hour mythological epic directed by Ukus Uusberg, illustrated the system’s versatility. Dynamic lighting transitions, contrasting moods, and intricate scene changes were all supported by the new system. Even audience members who did not understand Estonian were fully immersed in the storytelling, demonstrating how effective lighting enhances visual communication and the overall theatrical experience.
Attention to Public and Architectural Spaces
Attention to detail extended beyond the stages to the architectural and public spaces. “Normally, the interior lighting is handled by the interior designers,” says Karindi. “This time, we integrated ArcLamp and Irideon fixtures to ensure consistency from stage to auditorium. The dimming is smooth to zero percent, and the color rendering mimics the warmth of traditional incandescent lighting.”
A Regional Benchmark for Theatre Lighting
Florian Maier, ETC Regional Manager, remarks, “This installation is one of the largest in Eastern Europe, reflecting a close collaboration between the theatre, Kalle, and ETC. The result elevates the audience experience and ensures long-term operational reliability. It’s a project that sets a new standard for theatre lighting in the region.”
The Tallinn City Theatre lighting renovation demonstrates the impact of integrating advanced ETC technology thoughtfully. The system balances artistic freedom with technical precision, supporting productions that range from minimalist drama to elaborate, multi-hour epics. By investing in a fully networked, energy-efficient, and versatile lighting solution, the theatre ensures that every production can be realized exactly as envisioned, now and in the future.
Through this project, Tallinn City Theatre has not only enhanced its artistic capabilities but also established a model for modern theatre lighting in Estonia and beyond. For audiences, the results are clear: more immersive, visually compelling performances that transform every visit into an unforgettable experience.
Photography: Siim Vahur/City Theatre and Matejka/snapshot.
