Liepājas Leļļu teātris is launching “Čalotāji” (“The Babblers”), a 35-minute sensory theatre production tailored specifically for toddlers aged one to three. Opening on September 19, at the venue on Rožu laukumā 5/6, the immersive project utilizes color, movement, and the rare theremin instrument to engage infants before they master verbal speech.
The Bottom Line
- Target Audience: Designed explicitly for infants and toddlers aged 1 to 3 years old, running a concise 35 minutes.
- Creative Force: Conceived, written, and directed by Sandija Santa, featuring original music by Jēkabs Nīmanis and set/costume design by Marta Madara Grantiņa.
- Premiere Date: Opening performances take place on September 19, at Liepājas Leļļu teātris, with tickets available via Biļešu Paradīze.
The Sensory Architecture of Early Childhood Theatre
According to production materials from Liepājas Leļļu teātris, “Čalotāji” is built around how a young child naturally decodes the physical world: through sight, sound, touch, movement, rhythm, and repetition. Rather than relying on a linear plot that demands intellectual comprehension, the project offers a secure, aesthetically pure sensory environment. Here, the infant is not a passive spectator but an active participant who watches, listens, reacts, moves, and touches alongside the actors.
Here is the kicker. The creative team treats attention spans not as obstacles to manage, but as organic rhythms to respect. The production allows children to dictate their own pace of engagement, removing any pressure to “understand” or articulate a narrative. Instead, presence and discovery take center stage.
Meet the Investigators: Lili, Arvo, and the Theremin
The narrative core—if it can be called that—revolves around two researchers named Lili and Arvo. Portrayed by theatre actors Ilze Ročāne and Pēteris Lapiņš, these characters enter an empty space to uncover the sounds, colors, and forms dwelling within it. Step by step, the environment materializes around the young audience as new elements enter the room.
Color functions as a mobile, shifting scenic element rather than a static backdrop. Meanwhile, sound acts as a primary dramatic instrument. Crucially, composer Jēkabs Nīmanis brings a distinct sonic texture to the stage by experimenting with the theremin—an ethereal, slightly cosmic early electronic instrument. With minor hand gestures, the actors generate unusual pitch fluctuations that instantly capture the toddlers’ attention without relying on spoken dialogue.
| Production Element | Creative Contributor | Key Focus / Function |
|---|---|---|
| Idea, Playwriting, Direction | Sandija Santa | Focuses on sound exploration and child-centric sensory rhythms. |
| Scenography & Costumes | Marta Madara Grantiņa | Constructs a visual environment for pre-verbal world explorers. |
| Original Music | Jēkabs Nīmanis | Utilizes the ethereal theremin to generate interactive pitch shifts. |
| Movement Language | Ramona Levane | Translates bodily rhythm and space into primary storytelling. |
| Cast (Researchers Lili & Arvo) | Ilze Ročāne & Pēteris Lapiņš | Guides toddlers through live theatrical discovery on stage. |
A Powerhouse Creative Roster Behind the Curtain
Writer and director Sandija Santa is well-known for exploring soundscapes in youth theatre. Her previous collaborations with Liepājas Leļļu teātris include the cosmos-themed children’s work “Ilgonis un (Vis)visums”, alongside works for Zīmējumu teātris and Rēzeknes teātris “Joriks”.
Visual designer Marta Madara Grantiņa—whose portfolio spans painting, performance, and major theatrical designs like the 2026 Mihaila Čehova Rīgas Krievu teātris production “Princešu Olimpiskās spēles”—faced the unique challenge of designing for spectators who are encountering visual art for the first time. Complementing this is the movement direction of Ramona Levane, whose contemporary dance background with institutions such as Dailes teātris and Latvijas Nacionālais teātris ensures that physical choreography replaces spoken exposition.
Composer Jēkabs Nīmanis brings substantial credentials to the production. Having scored over 100 theatre productions, animations, and films—including the children’s animation cycle “Lupatiņi” and stage works like “Latviešu mīlestība” and “Voiceks”—Nīmanis is a recipient of the Spēlmaņu nakts professional theatre award.
Ticketing and Premiere Details
The dual opening performances of “Čalotāji” are scheduled for September 19, at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM (with parallel venue ticketing notes also referencing a 2:00 PM slot) at Liepājas Leļļu teātris, located at Rožu laukumā 5/6 in Liepāja. Tickets are currently accessible via the box offices of Biļešu Paradīze across Latvia, online at www.bilesuparadize.lv, and at the theatre’s physical box office. Financial backing for the staging is provided by the Liepāja municipality, signaling strong municipal support for innovative early-childhood arts programming.
