Valmiera Theatre stages play about race walker Jānis Daliņš

Valmiera Theatre has premiered a new production titled «Daliņš», dedicated to the legendary Latvian race walker Jānis Daliņš. The athlete won a silver medal at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the creators of the play describe him as a perpetual mover, a legend, a strong individual, a hero and a patriot, while also portraying him as an ordinary person.

An unusual approach to the role

The creative team behind the production chose an unconventional way to depict Daliņš's life story — his role is performed by seven actors of different generations and genders. This approach allows the production to trace a human life journey across an entire century, revealing the hero's development through different stages of age and life.

An original take on depicting race walking

Director Toms Treinis, together with set designer Kristaps Kramiņš, developed an original theatrical device to represent race walking, the sport that formed the central part of Daliņš's life. This artistic solution allows the audience to sense the athlete's perseverance and constant forward motion, which has become one of the central themes of the production.

The production «Daliņš» reflects Valmiera Theatre's interest in figures from Latvian history and sport, offering audiences a chance to rediscover one of the country's most notable athletes both as a public figure and as an individual with his own personal story.