Tomass Ralfs Ābolkalns

Born: July 22, 1999

Born in Madona. Studied at Valmiera Viesturs Secondary School. In 2025, graduated from the Dramatic Theatre Acting course led by director Elmārs Seņkovs, becoming an actor at the Valmiera Theatre.

“The first association that comes to mind about Tomass is an incredible capacity for work. I even felt uncomfortable comparing him to others—I became unfair to the others, because he worked at an unbelievably fast pace. He is genuinely interested in theatre; he delves deeply into things, he does the work he enjoys. Tomass strives for the kind of theatre in which he himself would like to perform. He has his own criteria for what theatre should be. Perhaps he is still too young to fully articulate it, but there is something of Konstantin Treplev in him. He is also somewhat rebellious and does not want to merely serve the theatre, but to move it forward. Tomass wants to be where the art is in theatre. Clearly, he sets very high goals for himself and works hard towards them. An individualist. Perhaps this has developed because others cannot keep up. He reminds me of a good poker player—he thinks three steps ahead. There is also a sense of азарт (drive, азарт). He is interested in directing as well, and in the work he performs, he is able to see and grasp the bigger picture, to think not only about himself but also to see others,” says Elmārs Seņkovs, head of the Dramatic Theatre Acting course at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

In 2023, he received the “Best Actor” award at the Latvian Academy of Culture’s young artists’ festival Patriarha rudens for the role of the Old Man in The Shimmering and Dark Blue and the role of Prince Philip in Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy.

He made a strong impression in his diploma performances—Crystal Children, The Dreamers, The Unknown Maria, among others. He has also performed in the Latvian National Theatre production The Golden Temple (2025).