The Prodigal Son

“In Latvian drama, The Prodigal Son is one of the most powerful works about the meeting of youth and maturity. For me personally, the relationship between parents and children is one of the play’s most important questions. As a father of two, 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 shared moments of happiness,” says Reinis Suhanovs. The director believes that choosing this play is a natural decision when new actors join a theatre. Reinis Suhanovs calls Blaumanis’s dramatic masterpiece a defining work and is staging it at Valmiera Theatre for the second time. A production about how important it is to talk things through, to communicate at all. Then it is possible to bend that spruce tree back and not stretch the “threads” of silence and defiance until they lead to tragedy. It is about repaying debts in every sense—to the innkeeper, to one’s father, to life, 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:
▪️ Small-Form Production of the Year
▪️ Director of the Year – Reinis Suhanovs
▪️ Actress of the Year – Māra Mennika for the role of Roplainiete
▪️ Original Music of the Year – Jēkabs Nīmanis
▪️ Audience Choice Award

The production received nominations at the 2023/2024 “Spēlmaņu nakts” awards in the following categories:
▪️ Young Stage Artist of the Year – Krišjānis Strods for the role of Krustiņš
▪️ Supporting Actress 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 during Valmiera Theatre’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 theatre and the Foundation began their partnership in the 2023/2024 season, the theatre’s centenary, when four classics of Latvian drama were staged: Valmiera Boys (director Jānis Znotiņš), The Widow’s Son (director Viesturs Roziņš), as well as Joseph and His Brothers (director Inese Mičule) and The Prodigal Son (director Reinis Suhanovs), which received particular acclaim from audiences and critics.

Photo: Matīss Markovskis