HISTORICAL NARRATIVES IN CONTEMPORARY LATVIAN THEATRE: CONSTRUCTING SOCIAL IDENTITY

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between theatre narratives and the formation of collective memory and social identity in contemporary society. Focusing on Latvia, the study examines how current theatrical practices represent twentieth-century historical events – particularly those related to the Second World War and its aftermath – and how these representations influence national social consciousness and cultural trauma. While grounded in the Latvian context, the analysis highlights the broader relevance of these issues within European discourse. Using frameworks from memory studies and social identity theory, the study explores how performance narratives serve as tools for shaping social identity and collective memory. The findings suggest that Latvian repertory theatre predominantly promotes a humanistic collective memory, but also point to the need for narratives that acknowledge the nation’s victimhood under occupation and promote a positive sense of identity among younger generations.