Esitustes

Esitustes is a term used in contemporary performance studies to describe a format in which works-in-progress are presented to a live audience, with structured opportunities for feedback that can influence subsequent development. In these events, performers share material in early or evolving stages, prioritizing process, experimentation, and collective reflection over a finished product.

The etymology of esitustes is not fixed in major reference works, but it appears to draw on linguistic roots related to presentation or rendering in some Baltic or Finnic language traditions. Because there is no single, authoritative source, the term is often treated as a descriptor rather than a tightly defined genre.

Origins and use of esitustes materials are linked to experimental theatre, performance art, and studio practices that blur the line between creation and reception. The approach gained traction in European art schools and independent festivals during the 2000s and 2010s, where audiences were invited to witness development processes, ask questions, and contribute ideas.

Practice and format typically involve multiple short segments or modules performed in sequence, followed by facilitated discussion, critique, and sometimes collaborative or iterative work. Venues range from galleries and black-box theaters to open studio spaces. Documentation, when produced, tends toward notes, video, or audio archives that capture live dialogue rather than a polished finale.

Reception is mixed: supporters praise democratized creation and educational value, while critics caution about ethical and logistical challenges, such as consent, intellectual property, and the potential for performance fatigue. Esitustes remains a niche but influential concept in discussions of process-oriented performance and participatory aesthetics.