Alvis Hermanis is a Latvian theatre director, set designer and actor. Since 1997 he works at the New Riga Theatre. Hermanis was one of the establishers of the theatre in 1992 and since 1997 has worked as the artistic director of the theatre. His style of direction is often associated with postdramatic theatre.
Hermanis was born in Riga and in his early teens he played hockey in Dinamo Riga sports school. He was forced to leave sport at the age of 15 due to health reasons. He obtained his first theatre and stage experience when he attended Riga pantomime studio under Roberts Ligers. From 1981 until 1982 Hermanis attended the Riga Peoples artist studio. He continued his education from 1984 until 1988 in the Theatre department of Latvian State conservatory.
As an actor, he appeared in several movies in late 1980s. For his role in Fotogrāfija ar sievieti un mežakuili he received the Best Actor Award at the Lielais Kristaps festival in 1987.
Aside from New Riga Theatre, Hermanis has directed several plays in Austria, Germany, Russia, Switzerland among others. A number of New Riga Theatre plays have toured the whole of Europe.