Auseklis Limbaži Theatre (), founded in 1884, is one of the oldest amateur theatres in

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. It is based in the city of

Limbaži Limbaži (, , , ) is a town in the Vidzeme region of northern Latvia, with a population of 6,888. Limbaži is located 90 km northeast of the capital Riga. During the Middle Ages, as part of Livonia, Limbaži was a fortified town with stone wa ...

and is named after the pen name of Latvian poet

Miķelis Krogzemis Miķelis Krogzemis (18 September 1850, Ungurpils – 6 February 1879, Saint Petersburg, Russia), better known by his pen name Auseklis* was a poet from the Russian Empire who wrote in Latvian and prominent member of the Young Latvians movement. ...

. In 1884 under the wing of the Community Club a troupe came together and on December 16, 1884, performed two short plays. But already in the summer of 1887 they did

Ādolfs Alunāns Adolfs Alunāns (11 October 1848 – 5 July 1912) was a Latvian actor, director and playwright. For his efforts and hard work in progressing Latvian Dramaturgy he received the title "father of Latvian theater". In 1968, the Jelgava's Adolf Alun ...

' John Neiland. At that time the Theatre would stage two or three plays each year, they did open-air shows, theatrical parades with approximately a hundred participants. Theatre shows were a significant event in the town and the nearest parishes. The Theatre had such professional directors as Kristaps Linde, Vilis Abrams, Augusts Gulbis. During the time prior to

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the directors were focusing mostly on Latvian drama, they staged about four large scale productions every year. They toured around the neighbouring parishes. The theatre would go to do their shows if the organisers covered the travel and few other basic costs, therefore some communities gained a good profit. With their large supply of costumes and stage props the Theatre would also support schools and other community organisations. The troupe was aided by the Culture Fund with their annual grants, Limbazi municipality had liberated the Theatre from the Entertainment Tax. Until 1982 the theatre was led by director Dailonis Vanags who had become a professional in his own ensemble. At that time the Theatre's scenographer was Uldis Pauzers and costume designer—Larisa Brauna. Since 1984—after graduating Schukin's Institute in Moscow, Inta Kalnina took to the management of Auseklis Limbazi Theatre. With the lapse of time there has grown strong ensemble capable of playing any classics or contemporary drama no matter whether on small indoor or large open-air stages. The theatre participates in many festivals and contests and nowadays is one of the most renowned amateur groups in Latvia. Starting with 1997, Auseklis Limbazi Theatre has been participating in international festivals. Production of

Friedrich Dürrenmatt Friedrich Dürrenmatt (; 5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant- ...

's Play Strindberg went to Belgium, Estonia and Lithuania,

Sławomir Mrożek Sławomir Mrożek (29 June 1930 – 15 August 2013) was a Polish dramatist, writer and cartoonist. Mrożek joined the Polish United Workers' Party during the reign of Stalinism in the People's Republic of Poland, and made a living as a politic ...

's At Sea travelled to Denmark, Iceland and Lithuania, Inga Abele's Dzelzzāle (Iron Weed) had its premiere in Copenhagen, Denmark. Theatre takes part in all the major events of

town and biannually holds the International Contemporary Drama Festival Spēlesprieks where churches, abandoned factories, cellars, town squares, castle ruins and other extraordinary locations are used as stages.

References

External links

Auseklis Limbazi Theatre website
{{Authority control Arts organisations based in Latvia Limbaži Theatre companies Theatre in Latvia