  | LETTONIE / LATVIA | |
Population: 2 380 000
Telephone Code: 371
Address:
Riga Latvian Society
Merkela 13-426
1050 Riga
Tel: 947 09 90 (mobile)
Fax: 7-270 424
Email: itilatvia@gmail.com
Board Members:
President : Guna ZELTINA
Vice-President : Brigita SILINA
Secretary Gen. : Ivars PUGA
Anna EIZVERTINA
Mara KIMELE
Silvija RADZOBE
Nbr of Members: Organisational -12
Date Centre founded: 16-07-1993
ITI Committee and Project Group contact persons:
Communication: Brigita SILINA
Role & Services:
The aim of the Latvian Centre of the ITI is to promote Latvian theatre abroad, to collect materials on Latvian and foreign theatre for information purposes and to prepare different kinds of publications on Latvian theatre. The Centre promotes both international exchange in the theatre arts, and cooperation between theatre people in Latvia and other countries.
The Centre organizes seminars, conferences, lectures and workshops for Latvian theatre people inviting the foreign and local theatre experts.
The Centre takes care for visitors from abroad, helps them to make contacts with their colleagues in Latvian theatre, to visit the theatres, organisations, theatre schools, etc.
The Centre sends an information, photos, articles, and posters concerning Latvian theatre to institutions and individuals upon request.
Activities & Events:
The Centre organises the presentation of Latvian theatre abroad, such as a course of lectures on Latvian theatre and a performance of the Latvian National Theatre in Poland in 1997, the International theatre conference "The Sacred and the Profane in the Contemporary Theatre" in 1997, the workshops, such as with participation of prof. Z.Molik, devoted to J.Grotowsky, in 1998 and K.Miklashevsky, devoted to T.Kantor, in 2000.
Other Publications:
The Centre publishes magazines on Latvian theatre in English, such as Latvian Theatre (1993), Latvieu jaunie reisori/ Latvian New Directors (both in Latvian and English, 1997), Latvian Theatre Today (1999).
Guest performances: ( 2003) two performances of Lithuanian theatre MENO FORTAS- Shakespeares OTELLO.
Workshops and lectures (2002-2003): Videolectures of prof.A.Bartoshevitch (Moscow)
Shekespeare,His Plays and Performances, The Work of Eimuntas Nekrosius on Shakespeare-a workshop of Lithuanianian director E.Nekrosius for directors. Actor in Ancient Greek theatre-a workshop of Polish director Wlodimierz Stanewski.
Conferences ( 2003): International conference Postmodernism in Theatre and Drama.
Recent Theatre History LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
The history of the Latvian professional theatre begins in 1868, when the Riga Latvian Theatre was established and regular performances in Latvian were being seen in Riga. The influence of German theatre was rather strong on Latvian theatre at the very beginnig but lately other influences, such as of Russian theatre, could be noticed. The Riga Russian Drama Theatre began operating in 1883. The 1890s brought artistic maturity and the rise of original Latvian playwrighting (Aspazija, Rudolfs Blaumanis). At the New Riga Theatre, founded in 1908, the symbolic verse dramas of Latvian greatest poet Janis Rainis were given evocative life. In 1918, Latvia declared its independence, and in 1919, the Latvian National Theatre was established. Actors and directors here were trained in and worked in the then-predominant style of psychological realism. The Daile (Art) Theatre was launched in 1920, under the aegis of director-actor Eduards Smiļgis. His bold, theatrical style was much more in the tradition of the Russians Alexander Tairov and Vsevolod Meyerhold, with a new accent on music, lighting and movement. After the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, the 1940s and 1950s brought a heavy influx of Russian dramatic literature and theatre methodology. A lot of Latvian artists focused on the Stanislavsky system. In 1945, all Latvian theatre companies officially became state theatres, operating with significant government subsidies, runing in repertory and envolving large resident acting companies. In the 1960s Latvian theatre has become more varied in its styles of expression due to activities of a new generation of directors Peteris Petersons, Alfreds Jaunusans, Adolfs Sapiro in Riga theatres and Oļgerts Kroders in the regional Valmiera Drama Theatre. The Brechtian principles for productions were put into practise, the modern verse theatre was created by Peteris Petersons. In 1970s the director Arnolds Liniņš at the Daile theatre revived Smilgis' tradition of colourful theatricality. The plays of contemporary national playwrights Gunārs Priede, Pauls Putnins and Harijs Gulbis were regulary staged. The work of new directors in the 1970s and 1980s Mara Kimele, Valdis Luriņs, Karlis Auskaps and Valentins Maculevics- was filled with innovative flair. They are interested in revitalizing and modernizing both world's and Latvian classic and contemporary plays. In 1980s critically acclaimed were the poetic-metaphoric ventures of the Youth Theatre artistic director Sapiro, also innovative was the work of director Arkady Kacs at the Riga Russian Drama Theatre. Till now one must mention Kroder's psychologically and philosophically rich stagings of classical and new plays. In a similar vein is the work of Ķimele and director Felikss Deics at the Valmiera Theatre. In 1990s there arose a new generation of directors in Latvian theatre: Alvis Hermanis, Viesturs Kairiss, Dz.Dz.Dzilindzers, Regnars Vaivars and others. They are searching for new forms and stylistics, applying more bravely to visual arts, Eastern theatre, post-modernistic experiences, etc. and returning to psychological theatre again. Since the 80s the plays of female playwrights Mara Zalite and Lelde Stumbre also appeared on the stage of Latvian theatre. Especially Mara Zalite became very popular due her librettoes for musicals and rock operas devoted to eternal matters and fate of Latvian people. Since the 90s a significant reputation has won a guest director Mihail Gruzdov from St.Petersburg who regularly stages Russian classics and other plays at different Latvian theatres. In the 90s economic problems for theatres became enormous, subsidies quickly began to vanish, the troups were diminished. In 2003 there are 8 professional theatres subsidized by government and one theatre subsidized by state and municipal authorities in Latvia. Six of these theatres are located in Riga, three of them are regional theatres: in Valmiera, Liepāja and Daugavpils. There are about 10 independent professional theatres and more than 200 amateur theatres. |
(Ministčres, organismes publics, associations professionnelles) Main organisations concerned with theatre (Ministries, organizations, unions, professional associations) LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Kr. Valdemāra iela 11A, Riga LV-1364, Tel: 7-356 629 - 7-357 921, Fax: 7-227 916, Email: info@km.gov.lv, Website: http://www.km.gov.lv |
| Latvian Theatre Union, Dzirnavu iela 135, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-287 895, Fax: 7-287 895, Email: ltds@neonet.lv, Website: http://www.ltds.lv, Contact: Lolita Cauka (Chairman) |
| Latvian New Theatre Institute, Riga Latvian Society, Merkela iela 13, Room 426, Riga Tel: 7-212 622, Fax: 7-212 471, Email: jti@latnet.lv, Website: http://www.theatre.lv |
| Latvian Actors Association, Jāņa sēta 5, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-229 938, Fax: 7-229 938, Contact: Rolands Zagorskis (President) |
| Latvian Professional Ballet Association, Dzirnavu iela 135, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-287 895, Fax: 7-287 895, Contact: Lita Beiris (President) |
| Latvian Drama Agency, Riga Latvian Society, Merkela iela 13, Room 426, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 9553442 (mobile), Contact: Ingmars Caklais (Director) |
| Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia, Kuršu iela 24, Riga LV-1426, Tel: 7-555 180, Fax: 7-554 034, Contact: Valdis Rūmnieks (Chairman) |
Main Theatres, Operas, Ballets, Danse etc. LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Latvian National Opera, Aspazijas bulvaris 3,, Riga, LV-1050, Tel: 7-073 777, Fax: 7-228 930, Email: info@opera.lv, Website: http://www.opera.lv, Contact: Andrejs Zagars (Managing director), Brigita Stroda (Director of external and development affairs), Type: Opera&Music, Dance |
| Latvian National Theatre, Kronvalda bulvaris 2, Riga LV-1028, Tel: 7-322 828, Fax: 7-323 002, Email: info@teatris.lv ilona.matvejeva@teatris.lv gunta.jekabsone@teatris.lv, Website: http://www.teatris.lv, Contact: Ivars Rudzitis (Managing director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: National theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 2 stages |
| Daile Theatre, Brīvības iela 75, Riga LV-1001, Tel: 7-270 424 - 7-770 777, Fax: 7-270 424, Website: http://www.daileteatris.lv, Contact: Karlis Auškaps (Artistic director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Latvian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 3 stages |
| New Riga Theatre, Lacpleša iela 25, Riga, LV-1011, Tel: 7-283 225, Fax: 7-282 945, Website: http://www.jrt.lv, Contact: Alvis Hermanis (Artistic director), Type: Drama, Comments: Latvian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 2 stages |
| Riga Russian Drama Theatre, Kalku iela 16, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-224 093, Fax: 7-229 692, Website: http://www.trd.lv, Contact: Eduards Cehovals (Managing director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Russian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 2 stages. |
| Latvian State Puppet Theatre, Kr.Barona iela 16/18, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-285 415, Fax: 7-285 415, Email: mail@puppet.lv info@puppet.lv, Website: http://www.puppet.lv, Contact: Donats Doniks (Managing director), Type: Puppet, Comments: Latvian and Russian language puppet theatre |
| Valmiera Drama Theatre, Lacpleša iela 4, Valmiera LV-4201, Tel: 4-222 031, Fax: 4-222 031, Contact: http://www.vdr.lvContact: Peteris Sucis (Managing director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Latvian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 3 stages |
| Liepaja Theatre, Teatra iela 4, Liepaja LV-3401, Tel: 3-426 545, Fax: 3-426 545, Email: teatris@liepajanet.lv, Website: http://teatris.liepajanet.lv, Contact: Juris Bartkevics (Artistic director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Latvian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff |
| Daugavpils Theatre, Saules iela 23-A, Daugavpils LV-5400, Tel: 5-426 321, Fax: 5-426 321, Contact: Inese Laizane (Managing director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Latvian and Russian language theatre, repertory theatre with permanent staff, 2 stages |
| Skatuve (Stage) Studio Theatre, Maskavas iela 108/110, Riga LV-1003, Tel: 7-222 281, Fax: 7-222 281, Contact: Anna Eizvertina (Artistic and managing director), Type: Drama, Comments: Latvian language theatre group, permanent stage |
| Kabata (Pocket) Independent Theatre, Peldu iela 19, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-223 334, Fax: 7-223 334, Contact: Dita Balcus (Artistic director), Type: Drama, Opera&Music, Comments: Latvian language theatre group, 2 permanent stages |
| Liepaja Puppet Theatre, Zivju iela 1, Liepaja LV-3400, Tel: 3-425 229, Fax: 3-425 229, Contact: Rihards Belte (Director), Type: Puppet, Comments: Latvian language Puppet theatre, permanent stage |
| Teatris "TT", Talsu iela 28-8, Room 304 (administrator), Riga LV-1002, Website: http://www.teatrist.lv, Type: Drama |
| United Intimacy, R. Vagnera 4, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-224 083, Type: Drama |
Main performing arts festivals LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| International Ballet Festival "Riga", Baznicas iela 4A, Nr.418, Riga LV-1010, Tel: 7-220 513, Fax: 7-220 513, Frequency: annual, Genre: Ballet, concerts, Contact: Lita Beiris (Director), Comments: Latvian ballet and international quests |
| International New Theatre Festival "Homo Novus", Latvian New Theatre Institute, Tel: 7-212 622, Fax: 7-212 471, Email: jti@latnet.lv, Frequency: bi-annual, Genre: Theatre, Contact: Peteris Krilovs (Director), Comments: Mainly experimental theatre performances, Latvian and international |
| Latvian Amateur Theatre Festival, Emils Melngailis Folk Art Centre, Pils laukums 4, Riga LV-1365, Tel: 7-221 732, Fax: 7-227 405, Email: festival@latnet.lv, Frequency: Every four years, Genre: Theatre, Comments: Latvian and international amateur theatre performances |
| Rudolfs Blaumanis Festival, Valmiera Drama Theatre, Lacplea iela 4, Valmiera LV-4201, Tel: 4-222 284, Frequency: Bi-annual, Genre: Drama, Contact: Peteris Sucis (Director), Comments: Most interesting Latvian productions of Blaumanis' plays and guest performances of his works |
| Riga Opera Festival, Latvian National Opera, Aspazijas bulv. 3, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-223 436, Fax: 7-228 930, Email: admin@opera.lv, Website: http://www.lmuza.lv/opera, Frequency: Annual, Genre: Opera, Comments: Latvian opera and international guests |
| Sigulda Opera Music Festival, Tel: 2-277 900 - 9575605 (mobile), Frequency: annual, Genre: Opera, Contact: Dainis Kalns (Manager), Comments: Open-air festival, Latvian opera and international guests |
Main performing arts schools & university theatre departments LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Latvian Academy of Culture, Ludzas iela 24, Riga LV-1003, Tel: 7-143 394, Fax: 7-141 012, Email: LKA@acad.latnet.lv, Contact: Peteris Lakis (Rector), Kalvis Zalcmanis (Chairman of Dept. of Screen and Stage Arts), Courses: acting, directing, dance, Comments: Main school for actors, directors, playwrights, dance, four year training plus magister courses |
| Latvian Academy of Music, Kr.Barona iela 1, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-228 684, Contact: Juris Karlsons (Rector), Courses: opera&music, Comments: Main school for opera artists, conducting courses |
| Latvian Academy of Art, Kalpaka bulv. 13, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-332 202, Fax: 7-228 963, Contact: Andris Freibergs (Chairman of Set Design Dept.), Courses: scenography, costume, Comments: training for scenographers and costume designers |
| Riga School of Choreography, Kalnciema iela 10/12, Riga LV-1048, Tel: 7-615 870, Contact: Haralds Ritenbergs (Headmaster), Courses: dance, Comments: Main school for ballet dancers |
| University of Latvia, Visvalza iela 4A, Riga LV-1011, Tel: 7-225 157, Fax: 7-213 405, Contact: Silvija Radzobe (Head of Theatre Studies Subprogram, Arts Study Program, Dept. of Latvian Literature, Professor), Comments: Courses include theatre history & criticism, Training for theatre critics, four year training plus magister course |
(musées,bibliothčques etc.) Main performing arts resource centres (museums, libraries, research & documentation centres,specialist publishers & bookshops etc.) LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Eduards Smiļģis Theatre Museum, E.Smiļģa iela 37/39, Riga LV-1002, Tel: 7-611 893, Contact: Rita Rotkale (Director) |
| University of Latvia, Visvala iela 4A, Riga LV-1011, Tel: 7-225 157, Fax: 7-213 405, Contact: Silvija Radzobe (Professor), Comments: Research on theatre & drama |
| Latvian Academy of Culture, Ludzas iela 24, Riga lV-1003, Tel: 7-143 394, Fax: 7-141 012, Contact: Valda Čakare (Professor), Comments: Research on theatre & drama |
| Institute of Literature, Folklore & Art, University of Latvia, Akadēmijas laukums 1, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-229 017, Fax: 7-229 017, Email: litfom@lza.lv, Contact: Guna Zeltiņa (Head of Dept. of Theatre&Music), Comments: Research on theatre & drama |
Main performing arts magazines LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Teatra Vestnesis (Theatre Messenger, magazine), Dzirnavu iela 135, Riga LV-1050, Tel: 7-287 560, Contact: Anda Burtniece (Editor in chief), Comments: Latvian language theatre magazine mainly on Latvian theatre plus materials on foreign theatre |
Selected Bibliographic data - important references LATVIA updated Sat Oct 15 01:48:57 2005 |
| Aktiermāksla latviešu teātrī (The Art of Acting in Latvian Theatre), Akurātere, Līvija, Riga 1993, Language: Latvian |
| Drāmas teātris (The Drama Theatre, a history of Latvian National Theatre), Dzene, Lilija, Riga 1979, Language: Latvian |
| Latviešu teātra vēsture (History of Latvian Theatre), Kundzinš, Karlis, Riga 1968 and 1972, Language: Latvian, Comments: in two volumes |
| Latviešu teatris: 70-ie gadi ( Latvian Theatre in the 1970s), Silvija Radzobe, Edite Tišheizere, Guna Zeltina, Riga 1993, Language: Latvian |
| Latviešu teatris: 80-ie gadi (Latvian Theatre in the 1980s), Silvija Radzobe, Edite Tišheizere, Guna Zeltina, Riga 1995, Language: Latvian |
| Latišskij teatr (Latvian Theatre), Kundzinš, Karlis, Moscow 1963, Language: Russian |
| Latvia in World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre. Vol.1: Europe, Hausmanis, Viktors at al., Routledge, London, New York 1994, Language: English |
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