Early Rust

Jānis Lūsēns, Pēters Brūveris

Early Rust

Musical

14+

2 hours 30 minutes

In Latvian

Big Hall

Sightlines to the stage are limited from the boxes

Premiere on January 24, 2026

The musical is based on Elīna Zālīte’s novel about a young country girl, Elza, whose value compass has been touched by the rust of money and wealth since early childhood. Tempted by a luxurious and easy life, she finds herself in a golden cage, and it turns out that her heart still longs for the scent of jasmine and an “I love you” spoken in the rustle of leaves...

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“Money is like a magic key that opens all fairy-tale castles,” this is Elza’s conviction, instilled in her by her mother. After graduating from gymnasium, the capital tempts her with its opportunities, shop windows seduce her with visions of a better life, but Riga greets Elza with haze, a herring-scented little room, and unemployment. Her illusions begin to crumble little by little. Unable to resist the promise of a beautiful and carefree life, she marries the wealthy but elderly industrialist Ķikulis. Life with him resembles the shop windows she once admired - outwardly bright, but empty and cold. And her heart begins to long for something real. Only choices made in the heat of the heart often demand the highest price.

Elīna Zālīte’s novel “Early Rust,” set in 1930s Latvia, is also known for its 1979 film adaptation directed by Gunārs Cilinskis. In the film, the role of Ķikulis was played by Oļģerts Dunkers, the former artistic director of the Daugavpils Musical Drama Theatre. The first staging of Jānis Lūsēns and Pēteris Brūvers’s musical “Early Rust” was created in 2007 at the Liepāja Theatre, later also staged by the Valmiera Theatre and Producer Group 7. The Daugavpils Theatre has created the fourth stage version of this musical.

Director - Oļegs Šapošņikovs

Vocal coach for the soloists - Ilona Bagele

Choreographers - Irina Bogeruka, Anna Blakunova

Set and costume designer - Inga Bermaka

Arranger - Jānis Lūsēns Junior

Rehearsal pianist - Eduards Zariņš

Lighting designer - Sergejs Vasiļjevs

Cast: Beate Megija Baranovska or Katažina Dudareva, Sandis Ulpe, Artis Muižnieks, Renāts Cvečkovskis, Maksis Krilovs, Kristīna Zaharova, Alisa May, Marģers Eglinskis, Agnese Laicāne, Zanda Mankopa, Alina Kaļina, Luiza Prokofjeva, Kristina Tiško, Līga Ivanova, Viktors Jancevičs, Egils Viļumovs, Deniss Garkalns, Aleksandra Koguce, Alisa Matvejeva, Anna Blakunova, Miroslavs Blakunovs, Artjoms Afanasjevs, Darja Šakalova, Eduards Beļnikovs, Inese Ivulāne-Mežale, Jūlija Ļaha, Jevgeņijs Mihailovs, Kaspars Krauklis, Kristaps Saulītēns, Mihails Samodahovs, Natālija Kotona, Nikolajs Gedzjuns, Raimonds Paegle, Ritvars Gailums, Vanda Gibovska, Vladislavs Vasiļjevs, Žanna Lubgāne, Marks Šelutko