Four White Shirts

Art has always been in conflict with power, and an artist’s freedom has always had its limits. But depending on the times in which one happens to live, the severity with which those who cross the line are treated changes. Cēzars Kalniņš, whose passion is writing songs, comes into conflict with Anita Sondore, a member of the cultural commission who considers Cēzars’s songs indecent and therefore demands that they be censored. Bella is also caught up in the clash between their views. Her world cannot be confined within a black-and-white frame, as she chooses to live by her own rules.

At a time when society is becoming increasingly polarised and, instead of fruitful discussion, we are seeing sharp, aggressive exchanges, the creative team is staging Gunārs Priede’s legendary play Trīspadsmitā, which also inspired Rolands Kalniņš’s 1967 film Elpojiet dziļi. The team hopes to engage young people aged 16 and over by exploring the relationships between characters who each represent different views, and by turning attention to the enduring question of generational conflict. The production also features songs by Imants Kalniņš from the film Elpojiet dziļi (Četri balti krekli).

The production was created with the support of the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation during Valmiera Theatre’s 2024/2025 season.

With the Foundation’s support, the following productions reached audiences in the 2026/2027 season: Trešās impērijas bailes un posts (director Indra Roga); in the 2025/2026 season: Ļaunais gars (director Inese Mičule), Mēdeja (director Reinis Suhanovs), Tu būsi mana! (director Jānis Znotiņš), and Skroderdienas Silmačos (director Elmārs Seņkovs); in the 2024/2025 season: Romeo un Džuljeta (director Inese Mičule), Zilā (director Māra Ķimele), Sprīdītis (director Reinis Suhanovs), Četri balti krekli (director Jānis Znotiņš), and Burvju kalns (director Toms Treinis).

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

Photo: Matīss Markovskis