{"id":1650,"date":"2025-06-26T19:18:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T21:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/?post_type=naujienos&p=1650"},"modified":"2025-07-06T19:36:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T21:36:01","slug":"how-much-pride-is-on-lithuanias-stages-sirenos-presents-its-lithuanian-theatre-program","status":"publish","type":"naujienos","link":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/naujienos\/how-much-pride-is-on-lithuanias-stages-sirenos-presents-its-lithuanian-theatre-program\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much \u201cPride\u201d Is on Lithuania\u2019s Stages? SIRENOS Presents Its Lithuanian Theatre Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Focus on the LGBTQ+ community won\u2019t be limited to June\u2019s Baltic Pride<\/em> events\u2014this year, it will also extend into September, as the international theatre festival Sirenos<\/em> dedicates its Lithuanian program to queer themes and issues. Festival Artistic Director Krist\u0117 Agota Sav\u0117 entrusted director Naubertas Jasinskas with curating performances that best reflect these themes on stage. He says he\u2019s fascinated by the opportunity to examine how equality is represented in Lithuania\u2019s professional theatre and dance scenes\u2014and to explore what the term queer<\/em> truly means. The selected performances will be presented at Sirenos<\/em> from September 25 to 28 to both local audiences and international theatre professionals.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe term queer<\/em> can be interpreted from several perspectives\u2014as an identity term that questions gender binaries, and also as a mindset that seeks to free us from patriarchal views and traditional approaches to creating theatre.
This program itself becomes a kind of liberation from the conventional understanding of a festival lineup\u2014half of it features contemporary dance works and stage projects created in collaboration with non-professional artists. This expands not only the forms of theatrical expression but also the very idea of what a festival program can be,\u201d says curator Naubertas Jasinskas.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The program includes ten works across drama, dance, and performance, created in Vilnius, Klaip\u0117da, Kaunas, and Panev\u0117\u017eys. According to Jasinskas, the selected pieces fall into three categories: dramatic theatre and performative events, contemporary dance, and community-centered performances.<\/p>\n

Drama & Performativity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Included in the first category is \u201cAnatomy of a Suicide\u201d<\/strong> by Ur\u0161ul\u0117 Barto\u0161evi\u010di\u016bt\u0117, staged at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre. Based on the play by British playwright Alice Birch, it explores generational trauma and mental health issues.
Also featured is \u201cThe Saint\u201d<\/strong>, directed by Oskaras Kor\u0161unovas (OKT \/ Vilnius City Theatre), a powerful portrayal of a woman\u2019s experience in a violent, patriarchal society.
Another selection is \u201cMahamaya Electronic Devices\u201d<\/strong>, a theatrical experience by Iwan Wyrypajev and Mykola Mishyn at the Panev\u0117\u017eys Juozo Miltinis Drama Theatre, which dives into life\u2019s deepest themes\u2014God, love, and the boundaries of personal freedom\u2014posing essential questions about humanity.<\/p>\n

Also part of this category is Naubertas Jasinskas\u2019 own gothic tale \u201cThe Return\u201d<\/strong>, staged at the Klaip\u0117da Drama Theatre, which breaks social taboos through the story of a young couple separating, inspired by a novella by Roberto Bola\u00f1o.
Director Laura Kutkait\u0117\u2019s \u201cTremolo\u201d<\/strong> (MMLAB) is a performative lecture delving into themes of bodily awareness, sexual health, and self-worth\u2014framed through the lens of sexual pleasure.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Contemporary Dance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The program features three dance works. Greta Grinevi\u010di\u016bt\u0117 presents \u201cA Dance for a Cigarette and My Best Friend\u201d<\/strong> (MMLAB), a piece about friendship.
Choreographers Agniet\u0117 Lisi\u010dkinait\u0117 and Ihar Shugaleeu bring \u201cClap and Slap\u201d<\/strong>, which examines the paralyzing tensions in Eastern Europe\u2014particularly between Lithuania and Belarus\u2014following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine (produced by \u201cBe kompanijos\u201d).
Lisi\u010dkinait\u0117 also presents \u201cRave of Riot\u201d<\/strong>, a piece continuing her exploration of protest through movement. Created in collaboration with fourth-year students of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), it seeks to create a continuous, collective journey of movement toward liberation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0Community-Based Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This group includes \u201cThe Rainbow Musical\u201d<\/strong> by Greta \u0160tiormer, presented at the Kaunas Artists\u2019 House. Built on autobiographical documentary theatre and co-creation principles, the work centers on the queer community\u2014its experiences and culture.
Another is \u201cWe Didn’t Agree to This\u201d<\/strong>, an immersive audiovisual performance conceived by Dominykas Vaitiek\u016bnas. The piece unites the Deaf community and hearing professional performers, blending music, video art, sign-language-based creativity, and unique sound experiences (produced by \u201cLi\u016bdni Slibinai\u201d).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Each year, Sirenos<\/em> attracts around fifty international professionals from various festivals, theatres, and cultural organizations who come to explore the latest in Lithuanian theatre. The festival fosters new creative partnerships, expands the Lithuanian arts scene, and helps launch international collaborations.<\/p>\n

As always, a special jury will evaluate the ten selected works. The 2025 jury includes:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Carmen Hornbostel<\/strong> \u2013 Curator at Wiener Festwochen<\/em> (Austria)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Jussi Sorjanen<\/strong> \u2013 Director and Artistic Director at Espoo Theatre<\/em> (Finland)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Aaron Wright<\/strong> \u2013 Head of Theatre and Dance at Southbank Centre<\/em>, London (UK)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Santa Remere<\/strong> \u2013 Artistic Director of New Theatre Institute of Latvia<\/em> and Homo Novus<\/em> festival (Latvia)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Olga Drygas<\/strong> \u2013 Dramaturg and Curator at auawirleben<\/em> festival (Poland\u2013Switzerland)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The jury will select three award-winning performances, and audiences will have the chance to vote for their favorite. The awards ceremony will be hosted by last year\u2019s winners\u2014the \u201cCaf\u00e9 Existans\u201d<\/em> team led by director Paulius Markevi\u010dius.<\/p>\n

    The Sirenos<\/em> International Theatre Festival, organized by the Theatre Information Centre, will be held for the 22nd time from September 25 to October 10. In addition to the Lithuanian and international programs, the festival will feature networking and educational events such as:<\/p>\n

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    • \n

      Baltic Drama Forum<\/strong> (co-organized with MMLAB)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Baltic Drama Think Tank<\/strong> \u2013 a gathering of Finnish and Baltic playwrights<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Concept Touring<\/strong> \u2013 a Nordic network meeting<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      A queer pop-up<\/strong> event with a full day of activities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      And other Club programming.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The festival is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture<\/strong> and supported by the Vilnius City Municipality<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","festivalio_naujienos":[11],"class_list":["post-1650","naujienos","type-naujienos","status-publish","hentry","festivalio_naujienos-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naujienos\/1650"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naujienos"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/naujienos"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"festivalio_naujienos","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/festivalio_naujienos?post=1650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}