Valmiera Theatre stages satirical play about youth in Soviet times
Valmiera Theatre has premiered "Mēs, roks, sekss un PSRS," a play about three young people who experience first love and rebellion after a 1985 concert by the band Pērkons in Ogre. Playwright Ance Muižniece describes how the work grew far beyond her original ambitions.
Valmiera Theatre has added a new satirical production, "Mēs, roks, sekss un PSRS" ("We, Rock, Sex and the USSR"), to its repertoire, offering a look at everyday life in the Soviet era through the eyes of young people.
The story follows three main characters whose lives take a turning point after a concert by the band Pērkons in Ogre in 1985. That event becomes the backdrop for their friendship and first love, while the characters also confront fear and an inner rebellion — a desire to decide their own lives at a time when the system dictated most choices.
The playwright's perspective
Playwright Ance Muižniece has shared how the piece grew over time into something far larger than she originally intended. She compared the process to a snowball that, as it rolled, grew into something much bigger than her own artistic ambitions or wishes. According to the author, such an experience creates a feeling that a person is not powerless or small in the face of larger processes beyond their control.
The production combines personal stories of young people's experiences with a broader picture of the era, allowing audiences to see how individual choices and emotions intertwined with the restrictions imposed by society at the time in Latvia.
