Both beautiful, sweet and scary. Shakespeare’s «Dream Summer Night» in Viestura Kairish version

Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Resonates in Modern times

Over five hundred years after its creation,William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Director Viestur Kairish, drawn to the play’s enduring power, brings a fresh outlook to this timeless tale, weaving together ancient themes with contemporary relevance.

Kairish believes in the profound enduring nature of Shakespeare’s work, stating, “I’m only interested in how I feel today and what it is indeed today, and this is the genius of Shakespeare. Maybe I’m not changing Shakespeare, I might tell another story using Shakespeare’s play. But in principle, I’m not there—almost all of the play [veidota] with very minimal solutions, very minimal stickers. As you can say, in a way, a very classic Shakespeare.”

He aims to delve deeper into the complexities of Shakespeare’s text, moving beyond the traditional fairy tale interpretation. Kairish highlights the play’s exploration of jealousy,manipulation,and the blurry line between reality and illusion,saying,”I sincerely tried to read Shakespeare’s text and wanted to see everything there as there is this tradition to make it as a fairy tale. But actually, the idea that a jealous man checks his wife to spend the night with a donkey. We are thinking about what she did that night with it, then not so naive and fabulously it seems, and it is very modern.”

Shakespeare himself described “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as “the saddest comedy,” a fitting title considering its exploration of love, loss, and the darker aspects of human nature. Actress Ieva Segliņa, who portrays Queen Titania, finds the play’s timeless themes deeply resonant. She shares, “This is a job in which we are quite deeply operating a person’s primordial instincts. We are operating evil from were it comes from? How much evil can actually be in human primordial instincts and how much do we sit or in some way control them. And when we are, we stop controlling what is coming out of that person, how do they do what they are able to sow in the world?”

Dream on a Summer night at the Daile Theater

Photo: Marko Rass

The Daile Theater is about to transport audiences to a world of enchantment and intrigue with its upcoming production of Shakespeare’s timeless classic, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Premiering on January 31st,this captivating rendition promises to explore the complexities of love,desire,and the human condition.

Actress Katrina Griga, who embodies the character of Helen, beautifully captures the essence of the play’s profound exploration of love: “It’s a return to the beginning, ​to that authenticity.Shakespeare challenges us to question the very essence of love, to delve​ into its deepest form.” Griga emphasizes that the play offers a journey of self-discovery, stating, “We each long to be loved, to be seen, and⁢ to be accepted.this ⁤play encourages us to embrace ourselves fully.”

Behind the scenes,a talented team of artists brings Shakespeare’s words to life. Kristaps Kramins’ masterful stage design sets the scene, while Baiba Litiņa’s costumes add layers of visual storytelling.Anna Abalihina’s choreography imbues the performances with movement and expression, and Viktorija Martyanova’s video artistry enhances the visual spectacle.Though, it’s Jacob Yanchevsky’s music that truly elevates the production to new heights. Yanchevsky, speaking about his approach to the score, reveals, “This isn’t a comedy for me – it’s a story, something deeply profound. I ⁢don’t subscribe to genre labels. I hope to never​ fully ‍understand ‍the genre ​of this production, ‍but for ‍me, ⁢it’s multi-layered. I explore love and its extremes, the passion that drives us, our‌ capacity to both cherish and destroy.”

Yanchevsky’s composition reflects the fragility of love and the darkness lurking beneath its surface. “These are primordial savage ⁤instincts. ⁤They come to the surface, and the line between love and destruction is incredibly fragile. ⁢In this production,I still grapple with which direction we’re leaning – towards love or towards ruin.”

The director further adds their perspective,stating,”For this current reality…”

“A Midsummer night’s Dream” promises to be a captivating theatrical experience, exploring timeless themes with a contemporary lens.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Exploring Love, Identity, and the power of Dreams

The Daile Theater is about to transport audiences to a world of magic and mischief with their highly anticipated production of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, “A Midsummer night’s Dream,” premiering on January 31st. Actress Katrina Griga, who portrays Helen in the play, eloquently describes its profound exploration of love: “It’s a return to the beginning, to that authenticity.Shakespeare challenges us to question the very essence of love, to delve into its deepest form.”

Griga emphasizes that the play offers a journey of self-discovery, encouraging us to embrace our authentic selves. “We each long to be loved, to be seen, and to be accepted,” she shares. “This play encourages us to embrace ourselves fully.”

This intimate exploration of human emotions is further enhanced by a talented creative team. Kristaps Kramins’ masterful stage design and Baiba Litiņa’s evocative costumes set the scene for a vibrant and captivating performance. anna abalihina’s innovative choreography adds a layer of movement and expression, while Viktorija martyanova’s video artistry enriches the visual experience. However, it is Jacob Yanchevsky’s music that truly elevates the production to new heights.

Yanchevsky’s approach to composing the score is deeply personal and thoght-provoking. “This isn’t a comedy for me – it’s a story, something deeply profound,” he reveals. “I don’t subscribe to genre labels. I hope to never fully understand the genre of this production, but for me, it’s multi-layered. I explore love and its extremes, the passion that drives us, our capacity to both cherish and destroy.”

This sense of duality is woven throughout the music. Yanchevsky explains, “These are primordial savage instincts. They come to the surface, and the line between love and destruction is incredibly fragile. In this production, I still grapple with which direction we’re leaning – towards love or towards ruin.”

Adding another layer of depth to the production, the director delves into the symbolic power of dreams. “In our waking lives, we ofen try to escape dreams,” they say, “but they offer a space for contemplation, a realm where the complexities we grapple with can be reflected upon. Yes, the dream is both beautiful, sweet, and terrifying.”

This production of “A Midsummer night’s dream” promises to be a captivating and thought-provoking experience, inviting audiences to explore timeless themes of love, identity, and the nature of reality through the lens of Shakespeare’s enchanting story.

Do you think dreams offer us an escape from reality or do they reflect the complexities we grapple with in our waking lives? Share yoru thoughts!

Dreams: Escape or Reflection?

Dreams have captivated humanity for centuries. They offer a glimpse into a world where the unachievable becomes possible, where our deepest fears and desires take shape. But what do dreams truly represent?

A filmmaker exploring the depths of the human subconscious reflects on the enigmatic nature of dreams, stating, “For this current reality, we yearn to wake from this harrowing day, like a bad nightmare.We are surrounded by a nightmarish reality that demands our contemplation. The dream, a realm we frequently enough try to escape, offers a space where such contemplation is absolutely possible.”

This duality of dreams, their ability to both comfort and unsettle, is at the heart of the filmmaker’s contemplation. As they aptly put it, “Yes, the dream is both beautiful, sweet, and terrifying.

Do you think dreams offer us an escape from reality, or do they merely reflect the complexities we grapple with in our waking lives?

How does Zenaida petrova’s approach to staging “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” reflect the play’s themes of love and illusion?

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Exploring Dreams, Love, and the Shadow Self

The Daile theater’s upcoming production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” promises to be a captivating journey into the heart of human emotion. To delve deeper into this magical realm, we spoke with actor Leonards Luks, who portrays the character of Oberon, the fairy king, and artistic director Zenaida Petrova, who oversees the production’s creative vision.

Leonards, your portrayal of Oberon brings a complex layer to this timeless play. Can you share your insights into the character’s motivations?

Leonards Luks: Oberon is a ruler, a lover, but also a pawn of his own desires. He wields power through magic, but his own emotions, his jealousy and passion, lead him to disrupt the delicate balance of the forest.It’s a reminder that even those who hold power are not immune to the complexities of the human heart.

Zenaida, the Daile Theatre is known for its imaginative staging and thought-provoking productions. What inspired your approach to “A Midsummer night’s Dream”?

Zenaida Petrova: We wanted to explore the play’s themes of love and illusion in a way that felt both relevant and timeless. Shakespeare’s words are incredibly potent, and we felt it was important to expose the rawness beneath the surface gaiety. We’re drawing inspiration from surrealism and dream imagery to create a world that both feels familiar and otherworldly.

Leonards, what aspects of Oberon’s character resonate with you personally?

Leonards Luks: I think we all carry a bit of Oberon within us – the capacity for both great love and great mischief.My hope is that audiences will see a reflection of themselves in his journey and understand the powerful forces that shape our choices, both in love and in life.

Zenaida, the play dives into the nature of dreams. In today’s world,can dreams still offer us escape or are they a reflection of our anxieties?

Zenaida Petrova: Dreams have always been a space where our conscious and unconscious minds collide. They can be a source of both solace and terror, a place to confront our fears and explore hidden desires. I believe that in a world that frequently enough feels overwhelming, dreams can offer a space for contemplation, a pathway to understanding ourselves more deeply.

Do you believe dreams are a refuge or a mirror to our waking lives? Share your thoughts in the comments below!