100 Years to the Professional Lithuanian Theatre

Here you stand in front of the theatre that has been appointed an honourable mission to pursue this arduous, lengthy, glorious, and improbable path strewed ith changes and creative challenges. Along this path the title also varied – on 19 December 1920, the theatre was founded as a Drama Playhouse with its first premiere being Fires of St. John by Hermann Sudermann; then it spread its wings as a State Theatre (1925); during the difficult period of German occupation, it was proudly called the Grand Theatre; at one time it was even named the Kaunas State Musical Drama Theatre. Later, the theatre adapted to the title of the State Academic Drama Theatre until, in 2012, it was bestowed with its twelfth title and the current status of the national theatre.

These premises became the home of the theatre in 1959. The first play took place in the City Theatre (the current Kaunas State Musical Theatre) and after a few decades of sharing the stage with the opera and ballet troupe, the drama section managed to settle at the interwar building ‘Metropolitain’ (1928). Having undergone more than one reconstruction process, the building acquired its current facade in 2016. Even with the most modern technologies, it did not lose the spirit of the interwar period as well as the unique Art Deco style.

Here, the national dramaturgy that bloomed during the interwar period was born and the art of scenography matured as well as generations of theatrical directors and composers. During these 100 years, the creative wealth of the theatre was nurtured by several hundreds of actors: personalities making the theatre history of entire Lithuania.

Theatre, the origin of which defined the political sophistication of the young Lithuanian state of those times, unweariedly spoke of freedom and, having lost it, became the core of our silent resistance. It saw the dawn of our restoring state and appreciated its 30 years of independence.

This history of 100 years can be experienced even today by walking through the gallery opened in honour of the centenary of the theatre. It comes into being from here and takes you to the arch leading to the inner courtyards of the theatre. Unknown and never before accessed places of the theatre’s courtyards remind of the backstage of the theatre. They invite you not only to see but also to feel the spirit of theatrical history and creativity.

A play The Forerunners (2020) talks about the first drama. Director Gytis Padegimas