Artis Jančevskis
Born: May 25, 1997
Born and raised in Valmiera. Graduated from the cultural education class of Valmiera Secondary School No. 5 (2016). During his school years, he studied graphic arts and painting at the Valmiera Art School. He gained his first theatre experience already in high school, participating in several productions at the Valmiera Theatre. In 2021, he graduated from the Latvian Academy of Culture (LCA) Dramatic Theatre Acting program under course directors Indra Roga and Mihails Gruzdovs.
“Artis possesses a gentle, pleasant vocal timbre. His own worldview – melancholic and with a smile,” is how course director Indra Roga described the actor.
When you talk to Artis about what theatre means to him, there is a scent of something nostalgically romantic, as if from a slightly different era of theatre, when theatre was idolized, admired, and when one felt happy and inspired just to be a part of that whole mysterious, bustling “anthill”, rather than calculating everything by the profitability of a bare business plan and international success.
Before entering the theatre through the stage door, Artis sometimes used to sit at home by the kitchen window, watching the illuminated theatre and the streams of people flowing from the theatre after a performance. That was when he decided he didn’t want to work a routine job from nine to five.
His neighbor – Valmiera Theatre actress Māra Mennika – is also not without blame; while babysitting her daughters, Artis became even closer to the theatre: “A friendship formed, which grew into a family-like working relationship.” As a reward for babysitting, Māra would invite him to the plays.
Artis Jančevskis does not hide that there have been moments when his heart ached a little because he only received supporting and minor roles that were not fulfilling, while his classmates were already entrusted with more serious tasks. Soon enough, he also realized the benefit of his individual path: “All the small roles have given me a wild range, and there is colorfulness.” By now, his “solo” appearance has also arrived. For the role of the lover Paolo Malatesta in Indra Roga’s production of Paolo and Francesca, Artis Jančevskis was nominated for the Spēlmaņu Nakts Award in the category of Young Actor of the Year for the 2022/2023 season. Here, the actor’s romantic temperament can manifest itself in ideal conditions.
Artis Jančevskis won the Spēlmaņu Nakts Actor of the Year award for the role of Hans Castorp in the production of The Magic Mountain in the 2024/2025 season.
“Artis Jančevskis’s sensible Paolo is particularly pleasing, who, although trying to stay within ‘bounds’ (after all, one must not betray their brother!), still cannot help but be passionate, no matter how tragic the consequences of such giving in to feelings might be. The basis of his internal conflict is the desire to be proper, but the inability to fulfill it (relatable?)” (Armands Kalniņš. A sad and bright love story with a twist of love. La.lv. 10.05.2023.).
