Captain Morten on the Ship of Fools

Ballet by Helen Veidebaum to the music of Kaspar Jancis and Malle Maltis after Kaspar Jancis’ eponymous children’s story
World premiere in the Estonian National Opera on November 27, 2026

Recommended age: The production is suitable for children aged 5 and over. For performances starting at 19:00, we recommend a minimum age of 7. Please note that lap tickets are not available for these performances.
Duration: 2 h, one intermission

Choreographer: Helen Veidebaum
Composer: Kaspar Jancis
Composer and Arranger: Malle Maltis
Librettist: Helen Veidebaum
Music Director and Conductor: Lauri Sirp
Conductors: Martin Trudnikov, Jaan Ots
Designer: Kaspar Jancis
Lighting Designer: Rasmus Rembel 

NB: On November 27, guests will be accompanied by the creative team of the "Captain Morten on the Ship of Fools" during the dinner "Stage Fever Before the Premiere". Alongside a delicious three-course dinner, we will talk about exciting details and incidents related to the birth of the production, which might go unnoticed on the stage. 

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“Captain Morten on the Ship of Fools” is a whimsical, warm-hearted fairy-tale voyage into a boy’s imagination. The story begins at home, where Morten rummages through his father’s seafaring gear and dreams of adventures. Before setting sail, his father fashions a ship from his own shoe – and the journey can begin! Fantasy blends with reality, and Morten escapes aboard his father’s gifted vessel. Along the way he encounters playful characters, fearsome sailors, a spellbinding magician, and the irresistible lure of jam-filled doughnuts. At the story’s climax he rescues Elise, transformed into a butterfly, and realises that the true captain has been within him all along. This production fuses music, dance, and the magic of visual theatre to celebrate the boundless power of imagination.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:
Theatre Visit Guide – For Children, Parents and Teachers