Latvian National Theater

On February 8, 1919, by the decree of the Chairman of the Soviet Government of Latvia, Peter Stuchki, the building of the Russian Second City Theater was nationalized and placed at the disposal of the state-financed Latvian Workers' Theater. The head of the artistic department of the People’s Commissariat of Education, writer Andrei Upit, was appointed head of the new theater.

February 23, 1919, staging the play of the Latvian revolutionary writer Leon Paegle "Resurrection" Workers Theater began its work. The troupe consisted of actors recruited from other theaters ( D. Akmentiyn , P. Baltabol, A. Brehmane, L. Eric, H. Freimane, J. Germanis, E. Jekabsone, R. Kalnins, A. Clints, K. Kveps, J. Leins, J. Osis , T. Podnieks, M. Riekstinka, B. Rumniece, J. Skaidrite, B. Skujenice, M. Schmitiene, L. Špilberga, V. Schwarz, T. Waldshmit, R. Weizs).

Since the founding of the theater, directors have been Alfred Amtmanis-Brieditis ("Resurrection" by Leon Paegle, 1919) and Alexis Mierlauks ("The Enemies " by M. Gorky , 1919).

In 1918, a member of the Provisional National Council (later the National Council of Latvia), Janis Akurater , attempted to create a National Theater, which began work in Valka on April 23, 1918. After the evacuation of the Soviet government from Riga, the activity of the Workers' Theater was suspended. On November 30, 1919, Rudolf Blaumanis’s play In Fire was staged by A. Mierlauks, which marked the beginning of the work of the National Theater.

From 1919 to 1921 the theater was headed by the Board of Directors, chaired by A. Mierlauks. In 1921-1925, the theater director was a Latvian poet, playwright, translator, politician and public figure Rainis . The directors were A. Amtmanis-Brieditis, A. Mierlauks, E. Feldmanis , J. Leins, K. Linde, F. Rode. Priority was given to the productions of plays by Latvian dramatists and European classics.

In 1925–1937, the director of the theater was Arthur Berzins. The directors are A. Alksnis, Y. Yurovsky , J. Osis, J. Zarins. The main artist - A. Zimermanis . The company was replenished with the arrival of new actors (M. Damrose, E. Ezerin, H. Gobzine, I. Graudiяa, J. Katlaps, O. Leyaskalne, N. Melnbard, H. Prinze, O. Urshtein, A. Videgniks, M. Zilava ). German directors I. Schmidt and N. Drizen were invited, Polish director A. Zelverovich and Russians - M. Chekhov and F. Komissarzhevsky were invited. Repertoire policy remained the same.

After Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union, the theater was renamed, A. Amtmanis-Brieditis and actor J. Schaberts moved to Liepaja Theater , and actress L. Erica to Jelgava . The main directors at that time were J. Zarins and O. Urshtein. There were staged plays by Soviet playwrights K. Trenyov and B. Lavrenev , as well as Latvian classics, represented by plays by R. Blaumanis and A. Upit.

During the Nazi occupation, the directors A. Amtmanis-Brieditis, A. Alksnis, O. Urshtein and O. Glaznieks produced works by Latvian authors - Aspazija , Rainis, R. Blaumanis, A. Brigadere , E. Wolfe, M. Sievert, A. Eglitis and German - G. Hauptmann and F. Schiller .

After the restoration of Soviet power, a number of actors and directors emigrated. The artistic director of the theater was A. Amtmanis-Brieditis. The directors were E. Feldmanis and V. Baliuna . The troupe was joined by actors K. Kletnieks, O. Krumina , V. Silinieks, O. Starka-Stendere. A studio was organized in the theater, the graduates of which soon formed the backbone of the renewed ensemble (E. Britins, L. Freimane, M. Greenberg, A. Yaunushans , J. Kubilis, V. Linet , M. Minnietz, K. Pamshe, K. Trencis) . Later, graduates of the theater faculty of the Latvian State Conservatory J. Bebrishs, G. Tsilinsky , E. Duda , R. Garne, B. Indriksone, V. Jakans , J. Leiaskalns , A. Liedskalnnia , A. Linins , H. Romanova, came to the theater. O. Shalkonis, I. Tyrol, M. Zemdega . Since 1954, E. Radzia played in the theater.

In the repertoire policy, priority was given to the productions of the Latvian and Russian classics ( R. Blaumanis , V. Lacis , A. Upit, P. Rozitis , A. N. Ostrovsky , I. S. Turgenev , F. M. Dostoevsky ), plays were made by A. Dumas son , A. Cason , T. Williams , J. Galan .

In 1966-1987, Alfred Jaunushans became the main director. The repertoire policy shifted its priority to the works of modern Latvian drama. During these years, plays by Latvian dramatists H. Gulbis , G. Priide , P. Putins were staged on the theater stage.

Later, the new directors of the theater Mikhail Kublinskis (1987–1989) and Olgert Kroders (1989–1995) continued and strengthened the basic principles of the theatrical activity of the collective. Since 1995, the artistic director is Edmund Freibergs. As before, the theater works in the genre of traditional psychological realism, recently allocating a place in the repertoire for more experimental and modern productions. The theater considers support of the Latvian original dramatic art as one of its main tasks.

The performances of the Latvian National Theater are played in three venues - the main hall (776 seats), the actor (80 seats) and the new hall (80-100 seats) ^[1] .

The building of the Latvian National Theater was designed by architect August Reinberg (1899-1902) and is an architectural monument, a vivid example of the eclecticism of the late XIX - early XX century. From 1902 to 1918 the building housed the Russian City Theater for 800 seats ^[2] . It is considered one of the last buildings of Riga in the period of eclecticism and represents a structure sustained in large-scale baroque forms, close to the functional solution of modern theaters.

The ingeniously solved ventilation and air conditioning system was quite satisfactory until very recently. In the exterior of the theater, decorative forms and compositional techniques characteristic of the work of architect Christoph Haberland (the so-called burgher classicism ) are reproduced. Thus, according to the author of the project, the closeness of the architectural appearance of the theater with the historical buildings of the Old Town was achieved ^[3] .

Atlanta and decorative elements on the facade of the building are made by sculptor Augustus Foltz , the interiors are made by Otto und Vassil. The construction was supervised by one of the most experienced Riga masters, Krisjanis Kergalvis .

In 1962, architect D. Driboy redeveloped the building with the advent of a new element - a rotating scene (engineer A. Bite). In 1975, a small hall with 100 seats and a theater cafe were opened in the basement by the project of architect O. Dombrovsky.

In 2002-2004 the theater building was subjected to a global reconstruction. The author of the restoration project was E. Zerpins from the architectural bureau Graf-X, the authors of the interior project were J. Borgs, E. Zerpins and J. Gusev. At the time of construction, the performances were held in the Palace of Culture of the VEF plant and the small hall of the Dailes Theater .

• 1965 - “You do not hear your bullet” by Arvid Grigulis
• 1966 - The Golden Boy by Clifford Odets
• 1966 - “Lyubov Yarovaya” by Konstantin Trenyov
• 1967 - “Kihnu Yun is a wild captain” by Johan Smuul
• 1967 - “Damn Rifle” by Egon Lives
• 1968 - “The Perfect Husband” by Oscar Wilde
• 1969 - Tennessee Williams ' A Streetcar Named Desire
• 1969 - “Days of Tailors in Silmachy” by Rudolf Blaumanis
• 1969 - “Days of Tailors in Silmachy” by Rudolf Blaumanis
• 1970 - “Once, New Year's Eve ...” by Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov
• 1971 - Cinderella by Eugene Schwartz
• 1971 - “Liliom” by Ferens Molnara
• 1972 - “Summer Residents” by M. Gorky
• 1973 - “The Door Slam” by Michel Fermo
• 1973 - Lorenzacho by Alfred de Musset
• 1974 - "Looking like a lion" by Rustam Ibrahimbekov
• 1975 - “Days of Tailors in Silmachy” by Rudolf Blaumanis
• 1976 - " Duck Hunt " by Alexander Vampilov
• 1976 - “ A Month in the Country ” by I. S. Turgenev
• 1977 - "On the verge of centuries" based on the works of Andrey Upit
• 1977 - The Cuckoo Clock by Janis Jurkans
• 1979 - “The Devil's Apprentice” by George Bernard Shaw
• 1980 - The Times of the Surveyors by Reinis and Mathis Kaudzit
• 1981 - "Monsieur Amilcar" by Yves Zhamiak
• 1981 - “The Inspector General ” N. V. Gogol
• 1982 - “The Wonderful Adventures of Old Tizel” by Marger Zarins
• 1983 - “Albert” by Harii Gulbis
• 1984 - Peteris Peterson's Meteor
• 1985 - “Oliver” by Harii Gulbis
• 1985 - “Fire and night” by Rainis
• 1986 - “The Wagon” by Nina Pavlova
• 1986 - "Nuremberg ... 1948 ..." Abby Mann
• 1989 - “Madam, we are going to Acapulco!” Yves Zhamiak
• 1990 - “ Lolita ” based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov
• 1991 - "Scenes from matrimonial life" by Ingmar Bergman
• 1991 - “Heda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen
• 1991 - “Sacred Monsters” by Jean Cocteau
• 1992 - “Carmen, Carmen!” By Anshlav Eglitis
• 1993 - The Circle of Somerset Maugham
• 1994 - Anna Brigadere 's Big Catch
• 1995 - “Ceplis” based on the novel by Pavil Rozitis
• 1995 - “The Salem Witches” by Arthur Miller’s “Stern Test”
• 1995 - “The House of Bernarda Alba ” by Federico Garcia Lorca
• 1996 - “The Land of Green” by Andrey Upit
• 1997 - “Mamure” by Jean Sarman
• 1998 - “Riga” by Augusta Deglav
• 1998 - Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand
• 1999 - "The Eldest Son " by Alexander Vampilov
• 2000 - “The Flight of the Seagull” by Andrey Upit
• 2000 - “Summer morning” based on the play by Alexander Vampilov “ Last summer in Chulimsk ”
• 2000 - "The Tempest " by William Shakespeare
• 2001 - “Swenson Swanson” by M. Hughart
• 2001 - “West Pier” by Bernard-Marie Koltes
• 2002 - “Long Live the Queen, Viva!” By Robert Bolt
• 2003 - “Iron Grass” by Inga Abele
• 2006 - “Charity Bazaar” by Adolf Alunan
• 2007 - “The Prince and the Pauper” based on the novel by Mark Twain

In 2013, the theater troupe consisted of 47 full-time and 24 part-time actors, many of whom were awarded with prizes of the prestigious national theater award “Teātra balva” at various times, annually presented at the “Night of the actors” solemn ceremony.

Regular actors: Ainar Anchevskis, Janis Amanis, Uldis Angers, Maria Berzina, Dat Bonate , Lüelge, jurus joppeh Misane-Grasberg, Uldis Norenbergs, Ivar P ha, Ilze Rudolf, Mandara Saldovere, Anete Saul, and Janis Skanis, Evia Skulte, Inara of Slutsk , Juris Hirshs Lolita TSAUK, Waldemar Shorinsh, Martins Egliens, Geert Yakovlev , Zane Janczewska.

Actors for the staff: Marta Anchevska, Ingrida Andrina, Kaspars Aninsh, Nymera Berzs, Svetlana Bless , Aivar Bogdanovich , Regnars Vaivars, Rasma Garne, Mayga Greenberg, Helga Danzberg , Mara Zemdega , Ausma Ziemele Liepainieks, Zigurd Neimanis, Sanita Pushpure, Indra Roga, Inita Tirol, Arnaud Upenieks, Edmund Freiberg, Robert Ceplitis, Olgert Shalkonis.

Directors: Hayk Karapetyan, Feliks Deich Inara Slutsk.

Scenographers: U Угis Berzins, Reinis Dzudzilo, Kristīne Vitola, Mārtiьš Milbrats, Aigars Ozoliиньš, Reinis Suhanovs, Mārtiьš Vilkarsis, Gunnars Zamgals.

Costume artists: Anna Heinriksone, Krista Dzudzilo, Liene Rolstein, Vechela Varslavane.

• The official website of the Latvian National Theater