SPRĪDĪTIS

In 1903 the Riga Latvian Theatre approached Anna Brigadere (1861–1933) to translate a family play for a Christmas production. The writer decided to write an original work, and the first of her popular fairy tale plays, Sprīdītis, was written, gaining huge popularity. For more than a hundred years, Brigadere’s story of the lively, inquisitive, selfless boy with a big heart has seen many interpretations. But is the heart really like a diamond egg? In order to awaken his somewhat slumbering heart and give up his arrogance, Sprīdītis must overcome all kinds of obstacles, guarding the sons of Mother Wind, saving the children lost in the forest from Lutausis, outsmarting the Sīkstulis and finally – defeating the Devil himself. Only then comes the reward – the realisation that he didn’t have to look for happiness that far.

Sprīdītis is a personal work about return for director Reinis Suhanovs. The observant ones will notice that Suhanov’s Sprīdītis pairs well with his previous production at the Valmiera Theatre, Blaumanis’ The Prodigal Son, however this story will have a happy ending. Sprīdītis will find his way, unlike Krustiņš!

“It will be a play about growing up and a child’s adventurous entry into the adult world,” says director Reinis Suhanovs.

A performance for the whole family; children from grade 1–5.

Izrāde saņēmusi 2024./2025.gada sezonas “Spēlmaņu nakts” nomināciju kategorijā :

• Gada izrāde bērniem un/vai jauniešiem

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The production is supported by the Borisa and Ināras Teterevu Foundation for Valmiera Theatre’s 2024/2025 season. It is marked by the theatre’s return to the renovated and modernised building on Lāčplēša Street, so the theme of the productions is homecoming and the different manifestations of love.

Five of the new productions have been made possible by the theatre’s strong friendship with the Borisa and Ināras Teterevu Foundation. These are William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet (directed by Inese Mičule), Gunārs Priede’s Blue (directed by Māra Ķimele), Anna Brigadere’s play Sprīdītis (directed by Reinis Suhanovs), another play by Gunārs Priede, Thirteenth, staged under the title Four White Shirts (directed by Jānis Znotiņš) and  The Magic Mountain (directed by Toms Treinis), based on Thomas Mann’s novel.

This support is a continuation of the collaboration started in the theatre’s centenary season (2023/2024). With the support of the Foundation, four classics of Latvian drama have been staged, which have been acclaimed by the public and critics: Joseph and His Brothers (directed by Inese Mičule), The Widow’s Son (directed by Viesturs Roziņš), The Boys of Valmiera (directed by Jānis Znotiņš) and The Prodigal Son (directed by Reinis Suhanovs).

Foto Matīss Markovskis