Ingo Normet, theatre pedagogue and director, passed away

Ingo Normet, a prominent Estonian theatre teacher and director, died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 76. Born on June 8, 1946, in Tallinn, Normet graduated from the Moscow State Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in 1969, specializing in directing. He subsequently studied at the Leningrad Theatre and Cinematography Institute and the Helsinki Theatre Academy.

From 1969 to 1982, Normet worked as a director at the Endla Theatre, and from 1982 to 1991, he served as its head. In 1991, he became the head of the Estonian National Television (ETV) theatre, and later the head of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EMTA) School of Acting, holding that position from 1991 to 1996. During this time, he also served as a professor at the EMTA school.

Normet’s career extended to teaching at four other acting schools, establishing formal acting training programs, and creating the school’s theatre library. He taught in numerous European theatre schools and was involved in over 110 productions in Estonia and Finland, as well as at the ETV theatre. From 1993 to 1995, he headed the Estonian Theatre Directors’ Union and served as Vice President of the Estonian Cultural Endowment, and from 1993-1995, he headed the Estonian Actors’ Union.

Normet received the Ants Lauteri Award, the IV Class of the Order of the White Star, and the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Hendrik Toompere noted that Normet’s influence helped shape his acting development, stating, “I think it was a significant push for him as he set sail on this ship. Ingo was not my teacher, but thanks to him, I became his teacher.

I really enjoyed being his teacher, I enjoy seeing my students happy on their way to becoming actors and directors.”

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