Latvian Radio Explores Link Between Puppetry, Youth Activism
Riga, Latvia – Latvijas Radio LR1’s “Ģimenes Studija” (Family Studio) program recently investigated the surprising intersection of puppetry adn protest, examining how both can serve as powerful tools for young people too voice their concerns and engage in civic action.The discussion was sparked by a youth-focused play at the Riga Puppet Theatre exploring the role of puppets in demonstrations,coinciding with recent large-scale protests against Latvia’s potential withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.
The program sought to address a common dismissal of youth activism – the notion that protests are “only young people” - and explore what motivates young Latvians to take to the streets and whether their voices are being heard by decision-makers. Experts debated the effectiveness of youth-led movements and the cultural meaning of using symbolic representation, like puppets, to convey complex political messages.
Featured guests included Veronika Abdul-Visotka, director; Laima Jaunzema, choreographer; Cindy Mierture, chairperson of the board of the youth institution “Protests“; and Sabine Ozola, a lecturer and research assistant at the Latvian Academy of Culture.
Listeners were encouraged to participate in the conversation by sending WhatsApp messages to +25660440. Latvijas Radio reserves the right to remove comments deemed disrespectful or unethical.
