Dmitri Petrenko continues as artistic director of Südalinn Theatre

Dmitri Petrenko will retain his position as artistic director of the Südalinn Theatre, according to the results of a competition.

The competition committee included representatives from the Estonian Theatre Agency, the Estonian Union of Theatre Workers, the Estonian Union of Directors and Playwrights, the Ministry of Culture, the theatre's council, the troupe, and the theatre's director. A total of 13 applications were received.

Theatre director Anne-Li Päiv noted that this year's competition was international, with applications arriving from Israel and the United States. However, all foreign candidates lacked knowledge of the Estonian language, which is a mandatory requirement for the artistic director of a state theatre. Four of the strongest candidates were invited for an interview. The committee found that Petrenko stood out with his clear artistic vision, convincing theatre development plan, and deep understanding of the Südalinn Theatre's role in Estonia's cultural landscape.

The artistic director's responsibilities include shaping the theatre's creative strategy, guiding repertoire policy, and developing cooperation with theatre partners in Estonia and abroad.

Petrenko (born May 1, 1981, in Riga) is a Latvian and Estonian theatre director. He holds a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Latvia, as well as a master's degree in theatre direction from the Latvian Academy of Culture. Before working in theatre, he was a journalist, editor, political analyst, and lecturer, and hosted and edited the cultural TV program "100 g kultūras" on Latvian Television.

As a director, Petrenko has worked in several Latvian theatres, including Dirty Deal Teatro, the Dailes Theatre, and the Liepāja Theatre, where he served as chief director from 2021 to 2024. He has been the artistic director of the Südalinn Theatre since 2023.