Daile Theatre in Riga premieres "Siddhartha" based on Hermann Hesse's novel
Belgian director Lisaboa Haubrechts' production "Sidharta" had its Latvian premiere at the Daile Theatre in Riga on 21 October. It is based on Hermann Hesse's novel and first opened in Germany in September.
The Daile Theatre in Riga hosted the premiere of "Sidharta" on Wednesday, 21 October. The production is directed by Belgian theatre-maker Lisaboa Haubrechts, who is also the author of its concept, and is based on motifs from the novel by German writer Hermann Hesse. Among those attending were members of Latvia's cultural community, including former president Raimonds Vējonis and his wife.
An international team
The show is co-produced by the Daile Theatre. The theatre is represented by actress Milēna Miškēviča, and the Latvian Radio Choir, led by conductor Kaspars Putniņš, also takes part. Artists from Belgium, Venezuela, the Netherlands, India and Latvia worked on the production, and the composer is American Caroline Shaw.
Haubrechts combines the means of expression of dramatic theatre and opera in the staging.
A story of spiritual quest
Hesse's novel was published in 1922. It tells of the spiritual search of a young Brahmin, Siddhartha, in India. Haubrechts notes that, in seeking his essence and the meaning of life, Siddhartha has to part with his surroundings, family, friends and his guru.
World premiere in Germany
The production's world premiere took place at the Ruhrtriennale festival in Germany on 10 September. It is the second Daile Theatre production to have its world premiere at this festival, after director Łukasz Twarkowski's show "Oracle".
