Born in the silence of a pandemic-stricken world, when theatres fell dark and applause faded into memory, Liepāja Radio Theatre emerged as a beacon of storytelling.
In 2020, actress Karīna Tatarinova transformed isolation into creativity, founding a theatre where voices alone could conjure entire worlds. For five years, she has woven soundscapes from the works of Latvian authors, crafting both standalone radio plays and serialized adaptations of novels, proving that the imagination needs no stage to soar.
“Audio theatre is an art of the unseen,” says Karīna Tatarinova. “It’s not just about narrating stories, but about listening – about creating entire films in the mind’s eye with nothing but voice, sound, and the author’s words. Each listener experiences something different, something deeply personal. These years have been a journey through the richness of Latvian literature, from established authors to emerging playwrights, searching for ways to make their literary language, so diverse and distinct, visually alive through sound. It’s relentless work – squeezing rehearsals and recordings between stage performances—but it’s never dull.”
This year, as Liepāja celebrates its grand 400th anniversary, the Radio Theatre marks its own milestone by presenting four brand-new audio plays – each crafted in the spirit of the city. From 18 to 21 March, at 22:05 daily, on Latvian Radio 1, listeners will be treated to original works penned by master’s graduates from RTU Liepāja Academy’s “Writing Studies” program. Each piece carries the essence of Liepāja – its winds, its history, its soul.
The anniversary series opens on 18 March with “Signs of Māra” (Māras zīmes) by Zane Eniņa, followed by Roberts Džeriņš’s “It’s Not My Dog” (Tas nav mans suns) on 19 March, Elīna Lūse’s “Ancestor6” (Sencis6) on 20 March, and concludes with Igors Šelegovskis’ “The Last Time” (Pēdējā reize) on 21 March.
This season also welcomes fresh voices to the Liepāja Radio Theatre. National Theatre actor Matīss Budovskis makes his debut in the lead role of R. Džeriņš’s play, while Liepāja Theatre actress Kintija Stūre, a familiar voice in previous seasons, takes centre stage in Z. Eniņa’s story. Both actors are also graduates of the “Writing Studies” program – proof that the lines between actor and author, performer and creator, can blur in the best of ways.
“It was a thrill working with Karīna,” says Matīss Budovskis. “She had already envisioned the entire play in her mind, and she knew exactly how to guide my voice through its twists and turns. Roberts’ story is sharp, heartfelt, and full of life – it was an honour to bring it to the airwaves.”
Kintija Stūre echoes the sentiment: “This year is special because we are giving voice to the works of our course mates. For me, radio theatre is just as essential as stage performance, and it’s crucial that it remains accessible to everyone. Working with Karīna is always dynamic and demanding, but I trust her direction completely.”
Bringing the stories to life alongside them are actors Valts Skuja, Madara Kalna, Karīna Tatarinova, Armands Kaušelis, Anda Albuže, Aina Karele, Kārlis Artejevs, Kaspars Gods, and Mārtiņš Kalita. Joining from beyond Liepāja’s borders are National Theatre’s Igors Šelegovskis, who voices his own story’s protagonist, and Dailes Theatre’s Madara Viļčuka. The sonic world of these plays has been crafted with the expertise of RTU Liepāja Academy’s “New Media Art and Design” students, Valters Vuciņš and Hardijs Cebris. As ever, the Liepāja Culture Department has provided support in making these productions possible.
For those who wish to listen to past performances, the entire four-year archive of Liepāja Radio Theatre remains freely available on the Latvian Radio website.
Meanwhile, the four-part audiovisual production “Love Story of the 21st Century”, adapted from Sabine Košeļeva’s novel, can be found on the Liepāja Theatre’s YouTube channel.
All works are also accessible via the Liepāja Theatre website.
Liepāja Theatre Literary Advisor
E-mail: zanda.borga@liepajasteatris.lv
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