TWO SOLO EXHIBITIONS IN KURESSAARE — Madis Nurms

This summer, the Estonian island town of Kuressaare becomes the only place where visitors can experience the complete creative journey of theatrical costume design - from the first sketch on paper to the finished costume worn on stage.

Berlin-based theatre designer and director Madis Nurms presents two interconnected solo exhibitions that reveal the hidden creative process behind musical theatre productions. Together, they offer a rare opportunity to step behind the curtain and explore how a stage character is born.

Caught on Paper

Presented at Kuressaare Theatre, the exhibition Caught on Paper showcases 24 original costume sketches created for theatre productions. Curated by Tõnis Kipper, the exhibition focuses on the earliest stage of theatrical creation, when a character exists only as an idea translated onto paper.

Working almost exclusively by hand, Nurms creates each design using coloured markers on A4 paper. Rather than relying on digital mood boards or found imagery, every costume evolves through drawing — a process that allows ideas, proportions and dramatic meaning to develop simultaneously.

"Some designers prefer collage or, even worse, bring Pinterest references directly into the costume workshop. Working through every costume by hand gives me the time to think every detail through"

The exhibition offers visitors a glimpse into a part of theatre-making that audiences rarely see: the moment before fabric is cut, before costumes are sewn, and long before actors step onto the stage.

Character

At Kuressaare Castle, part of the Saaremaa Museum, the exhibition Character, designed by Indrek Aija, presents a spectacular selection of costumes from PromFest International Opera Festival productions created between 2007 and 2026.

Normally viewed from a distance, these costumes can now be examined at close range, revealing their construction, materials and craftsmanship.

"A costume tells stories through colour, cut and material. Within it are frozen a character's past, experiences and dreams. Here visitors can examine every stitch from close up and discover what usually remains hidden deep on the stage"

A Journey from Sketch to Stage

Seen together, the two exhibitions form a complete narrative of theatrical creation — from the first line on paper to the finished costume that becomes part of a living performance.

For Nurms, the exhibitions also have a personal significance. Although he has lived and worked in Berlin for many years, his roots are in Saaremaa, making Kuressaare a particularly meaningful place to present this retrospective of his work.

During the exhibition period, Nurms will also be present in Kuressaare, leading stage and costume design workshops as part of the Saaremaa Opera Days, offering visitors and young participants the opportunity to explore the creative world of theatre design firsthand.