The Bastards

The Bastards (Bastardi), 2025

National Theatre of Latvia, New Hall

Even at an elite school, 11th grade boys are just boys. Confused, but confident when they need to be. Dreamers, but realists when they have to. Ready to fall in love, break boundaries and rules, but less ready to take responsibility for their actions. They are convinced that by getting into prestigious foreign universities, they will achieve everything. But then a new teacher arrives who tries to transform their values and perceptions of life with the help of art and freedom.

The play's dramaturgy is based on Peter Weir and Tom Schulman's film "Dead Poets Society" and the authors' experiences in the Latvian education system.

CREDITS
Cast
Matīss KučinskisEmīls Ralfs ZagorskisIgors ŠelegovskisRūdolfs SprukulisUldis SiliņšJuris LisnersSanta Breikša
Director
Matīss Kaža
Dramaturg
Kārlis VērdiņšMatīss Kaža
Stage and Costume Designer
Kristina Rezviha
Choreographer
Ramona Levane
Lighting Designer
Lienīte Slišāne
Authors
Tom Schulmann
STILLS

Matīss Kaža

Matīss Kaža is an Academy Award-winning Latvian producer, director and writer. He is best known for co-writing and producing the animated feature film FLOW (2024) by Gints Zilbalodis, which won the first ever Golden Globe and Oscar for an independent animated feature. Recent producing credits include SISTERS (2022, Warsaw Film Festival 1+2 Competition Winner) by Linda Olte, DROWNING DRY (2024, two awards in the Locarno Main Competition) by Laurynas Bareiša.

Matīss has directed and written for live action, documentary and the theatre, including NEON SPRING (2022, Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival) and critically acclaimed performances at the Latvian National Theatre, like SOFT POWER (2023) and THE NATIONAL NETWORK (2025).

He teaches film directing at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

Website designed & coded by Dans Jirgensons & Bartek Pierściński.

© 2025 Matīss Kaža