The Prodigal Son

“In Latvian dramaturgy, The Prodigal Son is one of the most powerful works about the meeting of youth and maturity. Personally, I feel that the relationship between parents and children is one of the most important questions in this play. As the father of two children, I also wonder what it will be like when I send them out into adult life—what emotions, mistakes and moments of guilt there will be then… In my view, nothing can replace the moments of happiness we share,” says Reinis Suhanovs. The director believes that choosing this play is a natural step when new actors join a theatre. Reinis Suhanovs calls Blaumanis’s dramaturgical masterpiece a seminal work and is staging it for the second time at Valmieras teātris. A play about how important it is to talk things through—to talk at all. Then it is possible to bend the spruce back, rather than stretch the “threads” of silence and defiance until they end in tragedy. It is about repaying debts in every sense—to the innkeeper, to one’s father, to life, and to oneself. This emphasis is especially important to the director in this new interpretation.

The production received 5 awards at the 2023/2024 “Spēlmaņu nakts” awards:
▪️ Production of the Year (Small-Scale Production)
▪️ Director of the Year – Reinis Suhanovs
▪️ Actress of the Year – Māra Mennika for the role of Roplainiete
▪️ New Musical Work of the Year – Jēkabs Nīmanis
▪️ Audience Award

The production was nominated for the 2023/2024 “Spēlmaņu nakts” awards in the following categories:
▪️ Young Stage Artist of the Year – Krišjānis Strods for the role of Krustiņš
▪️ Actress in a Supporting Role of the Year – Elīna Vāne for the role of Aža
▪️ Costume Designer of the Year – Anna Heinrihsone

The production was created with the support of the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation in Valmieras teātris’s 2023/2024 season.

With the Foundation’s support, the following productions reached audiences in the 2026/2027 season: Fear and Misery of the Third Empire (director Indra Roga).

In the 2025/2026 season: The Evil Spirit (director Inese Mičule), Medea (director Reinis Suhanovs), You Will Be Mine! (director Jānis Znotiņš), Skroderdienas Silmačos (director Elmārs Seņkovs).

In the 2024/2025 season: Romeo and Juliet (director Inese Mičule), Blue (director Māra Ķimele), Sprīdītis (director Reinis Suhanovs), Four White Shirts (director Jānis Znotiņš), and The Magic Mountain (director Toms Treinis).

The friendship between the theatre and the Foundation began in the 2023/2024 season, the theatre’s centenary, when four classics of Latvian dramaturgy were staged: Valmieras puikas (director Jānis Znotiņš), Atraitnes dēls (director Viesturs Roziņš), and the productions Jāzeps un viņa brāļi (director Inese Mičule) and Pazudušais dēls (director Reinis Suhanovs), which received special acclaim from audiences and critics.

Photo: Matīss Markovskis