04/05/2026
Today marks the Day of the Restoration of Independence, commemorating Latvia’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on 4th May 1990.
A year ago, Rīga became the world capital of , bringing together dramatherapists from across the globe for the international conference “Human and Nature in Dramatherapy.” It was an ecstatic experience for me as a newly qualified dramatherapist, especially as I had just presented my solo show, “How to Be a Latvian.”
I had the immense honour and joy of delivering a workshop and presentation exploring the enigmatic figure of the Latvian . This work later developed into my first academic article, recently published in the Dramatherapy Journal (focused on Dramatherapy in ), which I’m pleased to share below.
I feel deeply grateful, especially to my peers, teachers, and editors, for these experiences and opportunities. Above all, I am grateful for the freedom and independence, both personal and collective, as a Latvian and European, that make this work possible, and allow cultural stories, identities, and voices to be explored, expressed, and shared.
This article examines the Latvian Vilkatis (‘werewolf’) through an autoethnographic and historical approach, tracing its origins from ancient myth to its presence in contemporary cultural imagination. This study highlights the werewolf’s role as a liminal figure embodying otherness, resilience...
