Monograph “Ecotheatre and Its Branching” by Kitija Balcare is published
The Publishing House of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art at the University of Latvia has published Kitija Balcare’s monograph "Ecotheatre and Its Branching". In the book, the author addresses a topical theoretical and practical issue – environmental conflicts and the role of art in raising awareness of and resolving them, examining these questions from a posthumanist perspective.
"The era in which we live can be characterised by the term ‘permacrisis’, or a crisis with no end in sight. In it, our attention wanes, our capacity for empathy weakens, and our emotional reserves run dry. Researchers refer to the ecological crisis as both a crisis of values and a crisis of imagination. What does ecotheatre offer? Space for the imagination. A shared imagination through which to create new ecosystems – that is, new forms of relationship and cooperation between people, with other species and the environment, and new conditions for coexistence. An opportunity for active hope," says the book’s author Kitija Balcare.
The book defines the phenomenon of eco-theatre and maps out its ramifications – both in terms of its origins and historical influences, and in terms of its thematic and theatrical expressions. The first chapter focuses on the theoretical foundations of posthumanism, the role of ecocriticism in cultural studies, and the tasks of the environmental humanities. The second chapter introduces ecodramaturgy, ecodirecting and ecoscenography, drawing on examples from various countries around the world, and offers a definition of ecotheatre. The third chapter outlines the artistic techniques and means of expression characteristic of ecotheatre. The book is supplemented by a diagram illustrating the branches of ecotheatre and a thematic glossary.
This study is based on dramatic, musical, puppet theatre and contemporary dance performances created by Latvian theatre artists in the 21st century, which adhere to the principles of eco-theatre.
Kitija Balcare, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art at the University of Latvia and a theatre critic. Her research interests lie in the field of environmental humanities, posthumanism studies and ecocriticism, with a particular focus on exploring the relationship between the performing arts, ecology and sustainability. In 2025 she successfully defended her doctoral thesis ‘Performing Arts in the Discourse of Ecocriticism: Ecotheatre in 21st-century Latvia’ at the University of Latvia.
This book was produced as part of the project ‘Latvia’s cultural ecosystem as a resource for national resilience and sustainability’ within the national research programme "Latvian Culture – A Resource for National Development" (2023–2026)/CERS (No. VPP–MMV–LKRVA–2023/1–0001).
As part of the “Studia humanitarica” series, the Publishing House of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art at the University of Latvia publishes the latest research in the humanities, based on recently defended doctoral theses. The series has featured monographs by Aigars Lielbāržs, Sanita Reinsone, Zita Kārkla, Kārlis Vērdiņš, Jana Kukaine, Zane Rozīte and other authors.
Literary editor: Inta Rozenvalde
Design and layout: Dita Pence
The book has been printed at "Jelgava Printing House" using environmentally friendly methods, as evidenced by the "Nordic Swan Ecolabel" for printed matter.
The book is available for purchase at the University of Latvia’s Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art (3 Mūkusalas Street, Riga, or by emailing apgads@lulfmi.lv), as well as in bookshops across Latvia. Price at the University of Latvia’s Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art: €10.00. Books are available here.