The Great Gatsby
Jazz plays, champagne flows, silk shimmers in the spotlight. In December 2024, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s immortal novel came to life anew on the stage of the Latvian National Theatre. This festive season, the performance returns to transport audiences to America of the 1920’s — a time when it seemed that the word “impossible” simply did not exist.
After the premiere, one spectator said: “Put on your brightest outfit and go to the theatre to celebrate life.” Indeed, this spectacular, large-scale show creates a true festive atmosphere — one you’ll want to immerse yourself in again and again.
DECEMBER 11 – JANUARY 15
AT THE LATVIAN NATIONAL THEATRE
Christmas Cards
Cards. Christmas. Joy
Here at the Latvian National Theatre, there is a beautiful tradition: every December, actors send each other postcards filled with wishes, kind words, and small personal confessions. This very tradition inspired the concert-performance “Christmas Cards”, which brings together the theatre’s most sincere voices and arrangements by Edgars Mākens into one heartfelt whole.
The production is based on texts from those very Christmas cards written by the creative team that they have been carefully keeping in their personal hideaways for years. Director Paula Pļavniece is convinced that after the performance you, too, will feel like writing a few bright words of hope and warmth to your loved ones.
DECEMBER 28 – JANUARY 4
AT THE LATVIAN NATIONAL THEATRE
Midnight Journey
Musical adventure with time travel elements
“Sometimes it feels like all the trump cards are dealt to someone else, that only neighbors win the lottery, that other people’s pies turn out to be more golden, that only your falling sandwich lands with butter on the bottom and only you have a broken heart. And like you’re the only one who’s had your heart broken on New Year’s Eve.” This is how the protagonist of Mārtiņš Kalita’s new production feels. And, to be true, he is definitely not the only one.
In this premiere musical, one “very influential creature in the Universe” appears and decides to intervene — to show the desperate protagonist (and everyone in the audience) that life is still full of miracles.
DECEMBER 12 – JANUARY 8
AT THE MIKHAIL CHEKHOV RIGA RUSSIAN THEATRE
Robin Hood
A performance for people aged 7 to 127 who dream of escaping law-abiding modern dullness into an era of knightly duels, daring risks, and bold adventures
You might ask what Robin Hood is doing in a Christmas and New Year’s theatre selection. The answer is simple: a vivid story of courage and kindness, colorful costumes, and plenty of almost cinematic action is an excellent cure for winter blues.
“I had a pathologically good mood while we were making all of this,” says Elena Sigova, actress and author of the text and songs for Robin Hood. We hope the performance gives you the very same feeling — one that will stay with you for at least a few months to come.
NEXT PERFORMANCE ON JANUARY 2
Suddenly in the Light (Pēkšņi gaismā)
A guide on how to find that “unique, white, and warm festive mood”
Who doesn’t feel a special thrill when opening the first mandarin of the season, or taking the first bite of piparkūkas or gingerbread? A mix of aromas and flavors, pre-holiday rituals, and bright memories make December — despite the darkness outside — truly magical.
Aiming to emphasize the significance of this tender time, director Jānis Znotiņš staged a Christmas concert at the Dailes Theatre, bringing together the Sudden Lights band and young actors from Daile’s 10th studio. Folk songs and contemporary Latvian music, traditions and creative team’s personal memories is, perhaps, the best description of what awaits you at the concert.
DECEMBER 19 – 30
AT THE DAILES THEATRE
The Bird’s Opera
Striking stage design by Ieva Jurjāne and memorable music by Jānis Lūsēns
The story of the remarkable Doctor Dolittle first appeared on the stage of the Latvian National Opera in 2000 — and for a quarter of a century has remained the country’s most popular children’s musical performance. In a form accessible to children, it tells a story about the power of friendship and music, about longing for freedom and finding it.
After the opera’s premiere in 2000, the former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga said: “This wonderful opera should be shown in many parts of the world, because it has magnificent scenes and a happy ending.”
NEXT PERFORMANCE ON JANUARY 11
The Republic at New Year (Republika gadumijā)
A New Year’s comedy evening
“New Year is relentless! It doesn’t care about global warming, pays no attention to Cabinet of Ministers’ regulations, doesn’t engage in political intrigues, and calmly ignores all the twists of human life. New Year has only two reference points — December 31 and January 1. But we, the citizens of our republic, are tied to these dates and divide life into two stages: the race toward December 31 and a new life starting on January 1.”
With this slogan and after a long break — New Year returns to the stage of the Austrumu Robeža theatre club. Anna Šteina, Zane Burnicka, Madars Zvagulis, Zane Valicka, Kārlis Anitens and Reinis Rešetins present a series of short humorous sketches filled with recognizable situations and vivid characters that will help you look back on the outgoing year with a smile — and step into the new one lightly and with hope.
DECEMBER 16 – JANUARY 10
Come to theatres, find your inspiration, and fill yourself with light — and then generously share this light with others.
