VAT Theatre production “The Paul Street Boys”

A story about war and friendship. The timeless themes, exciting plot and vivid characters of the great Hungarian writer Ferenc Molnar’s young-adult novel “The Paul Street Boys” firmly place it among the classics of children’s and young-adult literature. Every schoolboy in this adventure story carries dreams within him and is full of determination to fight for them. This gripping story is about Hungarian boys who, in battles on a playground, carry the idea of their homeland’s aspirations for independence. The struggle between the Paul Street Boys and the Redshirts of the Botanical Garden over a sawmill plot has moved audiences to empathise, reflect on honour and friendship, and consider this: “…what, in fact, is this life whose servants we all are—sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, but always fighting.” (F. Molnar)

Ferenc Molnar is a Hungarian writer and one of the most distinguished and internationally acclaimed representatives of 20th-century Hungarian drama. His plays “Liliom”, “The Play’s the Thing”, “The Swan” and others have remained continuously in theatre repertoires. His autobiographical young-adult novel “The Paul Street Boys” was published in 1907. The work has been adapted for the stage and screen several times. In Estonia, the novel first reached the stage at the Draamastuudio Theatre in 1932, in Andres Särev’s dramatisation.

The production “The Paul Street Boys” premiered at VAT Theatre on 16 November 2004. The production starred Margo Teder, Janek Sarapson, Tanel Saar and Kaspar Jancis. This cast performed the production 200 times over a period of 10 years. The final performance took place on 7 November 2014. Director Aare Toikka and set designer Kaspar Jancis brought the production back with a new cast in November 2015. The new cast features Meelis Põdersoo, Maarius Pärn, Mihkel Kabel and Martin Kõiv. From autumn 2025, Rauno Kaibiainen will join the troupe in place of Martin Kõiv.