Legendary Latvian Puppet Theatre Administrator Dzidra Ādama Passes Away

On the morning of Jāņi, Dzidra Ādama, a legend of the Latvian Puppet Theatre, passed away. She worked at the theatre from 1960 to 2001 as its chief administrator. During the tenure of director Jānis Žīgurs, she also took on the roles of theatre pedagogue and head of the literary department.

Ādama was responsible for selecting the repertoire, aligning it with educational work in schools. She did immense work in planning and organising the theatre, especially in the 1960s when two Russian and two Latvian acting troupes were active. Her organisational skills enabled the Latvian Puppet Theatre to perform in other Soviet republics, boosting its recognition and international contacts.

Over her career, she experienced 11 changes of theatre director, always managing to find common ground with people of different temperaments. Her main goal was the theatre's survival, good reputation, and popularity. For her contribution to culture, she received several certificates of appreciation from the Ministry of Culture, and in 2000, a recognition award "For long-term and selfless work at the State Puppet Theatre".

Colleagues remember her as a calm, confident, and always positive person who could find a solution to any problem. She creatively sought ways to secure theatre income even in difficult circumstances. Both administrative and artistic management relied on her advice in shaping the repertoire to balance economic and artistic interests.

Dzidra Ādama dedicated her life to the theatre and its preservation, even when its existence was threatened. For 40 years, she responsibly managed the theatre's organisational, planning, and coordination mechanisms. Even after retirement, colleagues continued to visit her for stories, advice, and encouragement, which she always provided, maintaining interest in the theatre until the end of her life.