Valmieras Theatre will stage Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the theatre house Jūras Vārti on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 PM. Audiences in Ventspils were slated to experience a bleakly comic look at Irish paramilitarism and absolute devotion to a pet cat, though ticket sales opened ahead of the autumn touring date across Biļešu Paradīze platforms. The performance continues the guest performance season at the Jūras Vārti theatre house, presented as a black comedy woven with harsh jokes, misunderstandings, and unexpected twists.
Director Martins Eihe Revives the 2001 Play on Latvian Stages
Originally written by Anglo-Irish playwright Martin McDonagh in 2001, The Lieutenant of Inishmore examines the thin line between intense political violence and domestic affection. Director Mārtiņš Eihe first added the production to the Valmieras Theatre repertoire in 2020 before launching an updated version in August 2025. The staging features performances by Aigars Apinis, Rūdis Bīviņš, Artis Jančevskis, Januss Johansons, Mārtiņš Liepa, Aksels Aizkalns, and Klinta Reinholde.
The narrative follows Padraic, a ruthless Irish National Liberation Army lieutenant known for extreme methods, whose singular weakness is his deep love for his cat, Thomas. Director Mārtiņš Eihe noted that the presence of live cats on stage acts as a catalyst for the dark humor, stating that audiences are permitted to laugh from the very beginning despite the horrifying premise. Eihe posed the question of what could be stronger than a true Irish cutthroat’s love for his homeland, father, mother, and family, or stronger than a sense of duty and justice, answering that it is love for one’s cat. Anyone who harms little Thomas will not walk away healthy after the Irish National Liberation Army Lieutenant Padraic finds out about it, or at least almost no one. Addressing the common sentiment among villains, the director remarked, Bad guys tend to say that killing a human is nothing, but their hand refuses to rise against an animal. In fact, these turn out to be lies, claims sewn with white thread.
Playwright Martin McDonagh, regarded as one of contemporary playwriting’s most provocative figures, described his artistic approach by stating, I choose the border between comedy and cruelty, because one illuminates the other. We all sometimes become cruel, don’t we? And such is drama since the Greeks.
The acclaimed play has been staged in numerous places around the world, including Broadway in New York and the West End theatre in London. It has earned awards across various literary competitions, while the British publication The Daily Telegraph named it one of the 15 greatest plays of all time.
Ticket Sales and Production Support in Ventspils
Tickets remain available across all Biļešu Paradīze ticket outlets and online at bilesuparadize.lv. Event organizers noted that photography and filming may take place during the performance for promotional use across the official Jūras Vārti website and social media channels.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ventspils Performance
Who is in the cast of this updated production?
The cast features actors Aigars Apinis, Rūdis Bīviņš, Artis Jančevskis, Januss Johansons, Mārtiņš Liepa, Aksels Aizkalns, and Klinta Reinholde under the direction of Mārtiņš Eihe.
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