On June 5 and 6, Riga will host what can already be called one of the most important theatrical events of recent years. For the first time in Latvia, Schaubühne Berlin — one of Europe’s most renowned and influential dramatic theatres — will appear in Riga.
Together with the company comes Thomas Ostermeier, one of the defining directors of contemporary world theatre, artistic director of Schaubühne Berlin since 2009 and recipient of the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale. His productions have become highlights of the world’s leading international festivals, from Avignon and Edinburgh to Vienna and Berlin.
Berlin may open the doors of around 150 theatres and concert venues every evening, yet Schaubühne remains one of the city’s most sought-after cultural institutions. The theatre has long become a phenomenon of European culture — a place where intellectually uncompromising, emotionally powerful theatre continues to attract full audiences. Over the years, artists such as Peter Stein, Luc Bondy, Robert Wilson, Sasha Waltz, Milo Rau and Katie Mitchell have all shaped its artistic legacy.
In Riga, Schaubühne Berlin will present “History of Violence”, one of Thomas Ostermeier’s most acclaimed productions of recent years. The performance is based on the autobiographical novel by French writer Édouard Louis, an international bestseller translated into dozens of languages.
The story begins with a chance encounter on Christmas Eve that turns into violence, fear and psychological devastation. Yet Ostermeier’s production is not focused on the crime itself, but on what follows afterwards: trauma, memory, fear, the impossibility of fully reconstructing truth, and the painful process of rebuilding oneself after violence.
Through striking scenography, live video, and extraordinarily intense acting, the performance creates an almost documentary sense of immediacy. At the same time, it avoids naturalism and becomes a profound exploration of vulnerability, identity, trauma, and the human ability to survive.
The arrival of Schaubühne Berlin in Riga is a truly unprecedented cultural event and a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s great theatre companies live on stage.
