"Once Upon a Time in Lebanon" is a suspenseful story inspired by real events.

On March 23, 2011, the Lebanese police found seven bicycles with hiking gear in a roadside ditch. Among the items were ID cards of Estonian citizens. A few hours later, a crisis meeting is held at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn. Soon, it becomes clear that this is a hostage crisis. This is the first time the Estonian government has had to confront terrorist organizations in the Middle East to bring its citizens back. If the task is to release the Estonian hostages in Lebanon, where do you even begin?

The script is based on the TV series "Trading Life" developed by Ove Musting, Mehis Pihla, and Siret Campbell, as well as Tiit Pruuli's investigative work "Antilebanon".

Author → Mehis Pihla

Director → Hendrik Toompere Jr.
Set Designer → Kristjan Suits
Lighting Designer → Priidu Adlas
Sound Designer → Lauri Kaldoja
Video Designer → Eret Kuusk
Camera Operator → Péter Kollányi

Cast → Märten Metsaviir, Ivo Uukkivi, Christopher Rajaveer, Tõnis Niinemets, Raimo Pass, Ülle Kaljuste, Markus Luik, Kersti Heinloo, Marian Eplik, Richard Ester, Lauri Kaldoja, Johannes Tammsalu

Running time: 2 hours and 55 minutes including one intermission

The performance includes cigarette smoke and gunfire sounds.

Premiere: 22 February2025, in the main hall.