29/05/2026
A Bridge Between Cultures: Riga celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Gesher theater with the screening of "Beyond the Light" and a creative evening with Avdotya Smirnova.
On Tuesday, May 26, the majestic atmosphere of Riga's Splendid Palace cinema hosted a landmark cultural event. The evening brought together two major occasions: the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Israel's renowned Gesher Theater (whose name symbolically translates as "Bridge") and a creative meeting with the well-known director, screenwriter, and publicist Avdotya (Dunya) Smirnova.
The scale event was organized by the production company ART Forte. A special role in the realization of the project was played by Nativ organization - its crucial financial and operation support once again confirmed the importance of strengthening international cultural ties.
The evening was opened by the head of ART Forte, Yulia Lochmele. She welcomed the guests gathered in the hall and expressed her deep gratitude to the partners from Nativ for their invaluable assistance in preparing the event.
Next to take the stage was Maxim Zlotnik, the representative of Nativ in the Baltic States. In his speech, he highly praised the multifaceted work of Avdotya Smirnova and expressed his sincere admiration for Gesher’s contributions. Special words of appreciation and anniversary congratulations were addressed to Elena Kreindlina, the CEO and leader of the theater.
The ceremonial part concluded with a beautiful gesture: Maxim Zlotnik presented magnificent flower bouquets to Yulia Lochmele, Elena Kreindlina, and Avdotya Smirnova.
The central event of the first half of the evening was the presentation of a unique documentary film dedicated to the history of the theater. The film was personally introduced to the audience by Elena Kreindlina.
The documentary vividly demonstrated the grandiose, inspiring, and at times thorny path that Gesher has traveled over its 35 years of existence—from a bold idea envisioned by a group of like-minded people to its current status as one of the most vibrant, avant-garde, and acclaimed cultural institutions.
Following the screening, Elena Kreindlina and Avdotya Smirnova took the stage. The main topic of their conversation was their collaboration on the play "Beyond the Light", directed by Smirnova at the Gesher Theater. The creative tandem shared behind-the-scenes secrets, discussing how the production was born, the challenges they faced, and how the synergy of directorial vision and Israeli theatrical traditions helped create a truly unique performance.
In the second part of the meeting, Avdotya Smirnova captivated the audience with stories about her creative journey, her views on contemporary art, and her plans for the future. The evening flew by in a remarkably warm and intimate atmosphere, with the director providing detailed and heartfelt answers to numerous questions from the audience.
The event at Splendid Palace was not just a report on achievements, but a true celebration of art, bringing together over a hundred perceptive, appreciative audience members and their idols. For one evening, Riga transformed into a cultural bridge connecting destinies, countries, and meanings.
