{{Short description|Estonian playwright and director}}
thumb|Mehis Pihla '''Mehis Pihla''' (born 1988) is an Estonian playwright, screenwriter and director. He is best known for ''Rahamaa'' (''Business as Usual)'', a play inspired by the Danske Bank money laundering scandal. At the 2025 Estonian Theatre Awards, ''Rahamaa'' won Best Play.<ref name="draamateater.ee">{{Cite web |title=Mehis Pihla "Business as Usual" - Estonian Drama Theatre |url=https://www.draamateater.ee/valjaanded/47-mehis-pihla-business-as-usual/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Draamateater |language=et}}</ref>
Since 2018, Pihla has been a dramaturg and director at the Estonian Drama Theatre.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mehis Pihla - dramaturg |url=https://www.draamateater.ee/inimesed/mehis-pihla/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Draamateater |language=et}}</ref>
== Biography == Mehis Pihla was born in Tallinn, Estonia. He graduated from Kose Gümnaasium in 2008. In 2011 he graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in semiotics and cultural theory. From 2011 to 2012, he worked as a telecommunications and utility networks design engineer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laas |first=Triin |date=2024-06-04 |title=Mehis Pihla - Eesti Lavastajate ja Dramaturgide Liit |url=https://eldliit.ee/Liikmete%20nimekiri/mehis-pihla/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |language=et}}</ref>
In 2016 Pihla graduated from the Theatre Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with a degree in dramaturgy. From 2016 to 2018, he worked as a freelance dramaturg, playwright and director.<ref name="etbl.teatriliit.ee">{{Cite web |title=Pihla, Mehis - Eesti Entsüklopeedia |url=http://etbl.teatriliit.ee/artikkel/pihla_mehis1 |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=etbl.teatriliit.ee}}</ref> Since 2016, he has been a member of the Estonian Theatre Union and the Estonian Directors’ and Dramaturgs’ Union.<ref name="etbl.teatriliit.ee"/> Since 2018, Pihla has worked in the Literary Department of the Estonian Drama Theatre as a dramaturg.
== Works ==
=== Theatre ===
==== Plays ====
* ''Ükskord Liibanonis (2025) - Once Upon a Time in Lebanon, translated by Adam Cullen'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |title=50. Mehis Pihla "Once Upon a Time in Lebanon" |url=https://www.draamateater.ee/valjaanded/50-mehis-pihla-once-upon-a-time-in-lebanon/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Draamateater |language=et}}</ref> The play premiered in February 2025 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Hendrik Toompere Jr Jr. * ''Rahamaa'' (2024) - ''Business as Usual'', translated by Adam Cullen (2024).<ref name="draamateater.ee"/> The play premiered in June 2024 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Hendrik Toompere Jr Jr. The play has been translated into French (''La Grande Lessive,'' translated by Martin Carayol, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allik |first=Karin |date=2025-07-03 |title=Mehis Pihla näidend "Rahamaa" ilmus prantsuskeelses tõlkes |url=https://teater.ee/uudised/mehis-pihla-naidend-rahamaa-ilmus-prantsuskeelses-tolkes/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Eesti Teatri Agentuur |language=et}}</ref>); into Romanian (''Afacerile sunt afaceri,'' translated by Raluca Rădulescu, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allik |first=Karin |date=2025-08-13 |title=Valminud on esimene rumeeniakeelne eesti näidendite kogumik |url=https://teater.ee/uudised/valminud-on-esimene-rumeeniakeelne-eesti-naidendite-kogumik/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Eesti Teatri Agentuur |language=et}}</ref>) * ''Surm'' (2023, co-authors Birgit Landberg, Kaarel Targo, Kristian Lüüs, Laura Niils) - ''The Death'' premiered in December 2023 at Must Kast Theatre, directed by Birgit Landberg. * ''Meister Solness'' (2022, co-author Siret Campbell) - ''The'' ''Master Solness'' premiered in October 2022 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Mehis Pihla. Adaptation of ''The Master Builder'' by Henrik Ibsen. * ''Solist'' (2021) - ''The Soloist'' premiered in February 2022 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Kersti Heinloo. * ''Kuldse liilia saladus'' (2019) - ''The Secret of the Golden Lily'' premiered in December 2019 at Rakvere Teater, directed by Kersti Heinloo. * ''Evolutsiooni revolutsioon'' (2019, co-author Birgit Landberg and the ensemble) - ''The Revolution of the Evolution'' premiered in December 2019 at Must Kast Theatre, directed by Birgit Landberg. * ''Bладь и Миръ'' (2019) - translated into Latvian (''Bладь и Миръ,'' translated by Daila Ozola, 2025) * ''Metsa forte'' (2018) - ''Forest Forte'' premiered in May 2018 at the Estonian Drama Theatre (co-production with Nargenfestival), directed by Hendrik Toompere Jr Jr.
==== Adaptations ====
* ''Aja oma atra läbi koolnute kontide'' (2024) - ''Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead'' premiered at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Hendrik Toompere Jr, adapted from the Olga Tokarczuk novel of the same name. * ''Lohe needus'' (2018) - ''The Curse of the Dragon'' premiered in November 2018 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, directed by Kersti Heinloo, adapted from the Helen Käit's children's book of the same name.
==== Productions ====
* Henrik Ibsen, Mehis Pihla, Siret Campbell ''Meister Solness'' (''Master Solness;'' 2022) - premiered in October 2022 at the Estonian Drama Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ibsen/Pihla "Meister Solness" |url=https://www.draamateater.ee/lavastus/meister-solness/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Draamateater |language=et}}</ref> * Ingmar Bergman ''Stseenid ühest abielust'' (''Scenes from a Marriage;'' 2021) - co-director Kristjan Suits, production by SKENE Katus Kunstile<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-22 |title=Lavastused |url=https://teater.ee/teatriinfo/lavastused/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Eesti Teatri Agentuur |language=et}}</ref> * Mehis Pihla, Birgit Kermes, Kristjan Lüüs, Karl Kermes ''Olla või ohkida?'' (''To Be, or to Sigh''; 2020) - premiered in September 2020 at Vanemuine concert hall, production by Point Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kristjan Lüüs wake-up comedy "Olla või ohkida?" - Vanemuine |url=https://vanemuine.ee/repertuaar/kristjan-luus-wake-up-comedy-olla-voi-ohkida/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=vanemuine.ee |language=et}}</ref> * Anat Gov ''Oh jumal'' (''Oh God''; 2020) - premiere February 29, 2020 at the Estonian Drama Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gov / Pihla "Oh jumal" |url=https://www.draamateater.ee/lavastus/oh-jumal/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Draamateater |language=et}}</ref> * Lucas Hnath ''Nukumaja, osa 2'' (''A Doll's House, Part 2''; 2019) - premiered in March 2019 at the Estonian Drama Theatre * Annie Baker ''John'' (2018) - premiered in October 2018 at Tallinn City Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=JOHN |url=https://linnateater.ee/arhiiv/john/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Linnateater |language=et}}</ref> * Henrik Ibsen ''Hedda Gabler'' (2017) - premiered in May 2017 at Vanemuine Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hedda Gabler - Vanemuine |url=https://vanemuine.ee/repertuaar/hedda-gabler/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=vanemuine.ee |language=et}}</ref> * Mehis Pihla ''Tasujad'' (''The Avengers''; 2016) - premiered in November 2016 at Ugala Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-16 |title=Tasujad - Ugala Teater |url=https://www.ugala.ee/lavastus/tasujad/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |language=et}}</ref> * Mehis Pihla and ensemble ''Ilus on noorelt...'' (2016) - premiered in April 2016 at Vanemuine Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilus on noorelt... - Vanemuine |url=https://vanemuine.ee/repertuaar/ilus-on-noorelt/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=vanemuine.ee |language=et}}</ref> * Mehis Pihla and ensemble ''Uhkus ja eelarve'' (''Pride and Budget''; 2016) - premiered in January 2016 at Endla Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lavastused |url=https://www.endla.ee/lavastused |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Endla Teater |language=et}}</ref>
=== Film === Pihla was one of the screenwriters of the Estonian TV series ''Alo'' (2018, 2021) and the film ''Kalev'' (2022, Allfilm). He is the screenwriter of ''Meie Erika'' (''Our Erika'', 2026), a film about the Estonian track bicycle racer and Olympic gold medalist Erika Salumäe (director: German Golub).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Erika |url=https://industry.poff.ee/project/our-erika2024/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=industry.poff.ee |language=en}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* 2014 – Voldemar Panso Award [https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voldemar_Panso_nimeline_auhind] * 2019 – 3rd Prize for ''Bладь и Миръ'', Estonian Theatre Agency Playwriting Competition<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |date=2019-10-22 |title=Galerii. Selgusid Eesti Teatri Agentuuri näidendivõistluse võitjad |url=https://kultuur.err.ee/994310/galerii-selgusid-eesti-teatri-agentuuri-naidendivoistluse-voitjad |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=ERR |language=et}}</ref> * 2021 – Estonian Drama Theatre Colleagues’ Award ''Kaval-Ants'' - for the readiness to write, direct, and step on stage at short notice<ref>{{Cite web |last=eta |date=2021-12-21 |title=Draamateatri kolleegipreemiad Antsud 2021 |url=https://teater.ee/uudised/draamateatri-kolleegipreemiad-antsud-2021/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Eesti Teatri Agentuur |language=et}}</ref> * 2022 – Estonian Drama Theatre Colleagues’ Award ''Kaval-Ants'' (with Kairi Kruus) - for directing ''Today we die hard,'' staged reading project<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allik |first=Karin |date=2022-12-19 |title=Draamateatris jagati välja kolleegipreemiad |url=https://teater.ee/uudised/draamateatris-jagati-valja-kolleegipreemiad/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Eesti Teatri Agentuur |language=et}}</ref> * 2024 – Estonian Drama Theatre Colleagues’ Award ''Kaval-Ants'' ''-'' for astonishing talent<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |date=2024-12-22 |title=Pildid: Eesti Draamateater jagas kolleegipreemiaid |url=https://kultuur.err.ee/1609558735/pildid-eesti-draamateater-jagas-kolleegipreemiaid |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=ERR |language=et}}</ref> * 2025 – Estonian Theatre Award for Best Play - for the play ''Rahamaa'' (''Business as Usual'')<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pihla, Mehis}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Estonian male dramatists and playwrights Category:Estonian theatre directors Category:Estonian male screenwriters Category:Writers from Tallinn Category:21st-century Estonian male writers Category:University of Tartu alumni Category:Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni