NEW THEATRE INSTITUTE OF LATVIA

contemporary performing arts in Latvia and abroad

Only a few years after establishing, the New Riga Theatre (JRT) participated in the “Young Directors Project” of the Salzburg Festival with the performance “Revisor” (director Alvis Hermanis), winning the first, Max Reinhard Prize. It was a contest that selected productions by young theatre directors from all over the world. This event marked the beginning of the international recognition of JRT company and the international career of theatre’s artistic director Hermanis, followed by guest performances in 40 countries and in more than 200 cities for 15 years, participating in the world’s largest theatre festivals. Inspired by this example in theatre’s history, JRT announces a project contest called “JRT 2.0”.

In the autumn of 2022, the return of JRT is planned to the historical premises of the theatre at Lāčplēša Street 25, in the downtown of Riga. After the renovation, JRT will have at disposal three theatre halls (the large stage and two smaller ones with seats for 300 and 100 spectators). This means that JRT will produce more new performances in one season than before. The JRT actors’ company will also be supplemented with the JRT students of the Latvian Academy of Culture. And the theatre will also need young directors.

Latvian and foreign young directors with their new production ideas are invited to participate in this project contest. The five best proposals will be produced by JRT during the next season and, upon returning to historical building on Lāčplēša Street, these new productions will be shown in a separate theatre festival “JRT 2.0”.

Application guidelines

– The text of the performance, a detailed description of the idea of the new production and the visual concept (sketches and drawings of decorations, costumes) should be submitted by 30 May 2021.

– The desired actors of performance must be specified (no more than five actors involved). Only JRT company actors, including JRT students, can participate in the performance (jrt.lv will provide you with some information about actors and actresses).

– The cost of producing the performance should meet the budget assigned by JRT, which will be announced separately later. The rehearsal period of the performance may not exceed nine weeks.

– The performance should be designed for the JRT Small Hall (100 seats) or the New Hall (300 seats), both – “black box” stages.

– Along with the new production project, at least one filmed video version of any of the director’s previous theatre works should be submitted.

– It is an international contest. The director does not have to be a Latvian citizen. The knowledge of Latvian language is not necessary. However the performance must be staged in Latvian language.

– The director of the performance should be young.

Project proposals should be sent to Elīna Adamaite, JRT International project coordinator (elina@jrt.lv).

Additional information

The five best proposals will be chosen to be produced by JRT. They will be performed at the Theater Festival “JRT 2.0”, upon the opening of the renovated JRT building, and will remain in the future JRT repertoire.

The first prize of the project contest “JRT 2.0” is the opportunity to stage a performance on the JRT Big stage in the season 2023/2024.

The winner of the “JRT 2.0” contest will be determined by an international jury, which will be announced a week before the opening of the “JRT 2.0” festival.

The New Riga Theatre is a state repertory theatre founded in 1992 in Riga, Latvia, led by artistic director Alvis Hermanis since 1997. The company is comprised of 16 actors. The New Riga Theatre has performed at major festivals around the world, including Festival d’Avignon, The Edinburgh International Festival, Wiener Festwochen, Salzburger Festspiele, Holland Festival, BITEF, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, and, to date, has toured to more than 200 towns and cities in 40 countries, both in Europe and overseas.

For more information visit JRT’s homepage.

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