{"id":2116,"date":"2026-10-20T10:45:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/?post_type=naujienos&p=2116"},"modified":"2026-10-20T10:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:46:25","slug":"2116","status":"publish","type":"naujienos","link":"https:\/\/www.sirenos.lt\/en\/naujienos\/2116\/","title":{"rendered":"The Drama League\u2019s Artistic Director: Lithuanian Performing Arts Gave Us Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reflecting on his first encounter with Lithuania\u2019s performing arts scene, Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Artistic Director of The Drama League, says that the experience far exceeded his expectations.He visited Lithuania during the SIRENOS International Theatre Festival in Vilnius as part of a delegation of eight American artists and producers. The programme included performances, meetings with Lithuanian artists, workshops, and discussions about the future of the performing arts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 1916, The Drama League has been working with the theatre community for over a century, with a particular focus on the artistic development of directors and expanding their professional opportunities. The organisation aims to help artists develop their practice, build new connections, and create opportunities for collaboration both in the United States and internationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Lithuania, Stelian-Shanks was inspired not only by the quality of the performances he saw, but also by the ways in which artists engage with issues of social significance through their work. He highlighted Lithuanian directors\u2019 conceptual thinking, performers\u2019 versatility and expressive range, and their ability to make creative use of the resources available to them. He was equally impressed by the openness of the local performing arts community and its willingness to share knowledge and experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this interview, we discuss what surprised American theatre professionals about Lithuania, what different theatrical traditions can learn from one another, and how a brief visit can become the starting point for long-term collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gabriel Stelian-Shanks (c) D. Putinas<\/p><\/div>\n

This was The Drama League’s first visit to Lithuania. What overall impression did the Lithuanian performing arts scene leave on you?<\/b><\/p>\n

I had heard wonderful things about the Lithuanian performing arts scene for many years before I arrived, but it vastly exceeded my expectations. The performances we saw during SIRENOS were generally of a very high quality. They engaged in deep questions about our society and our world, with a strong formalist and physical approach to the staging. As someone who specializes in directing, I found the conceptual approach of Lithuanian directors to be remarkable and personally inspiring. I saw a number of productions that will remain in my memory for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the visit, you saw performances, met artists and producers, led workshops and joined discussions. What stood out to you the most?<\/b><\/p>\n

For me, there was a combination of things that stood out. Right away, I noticed the generous and open welcome of Lithuanian artists…their care for their international guests made us feel instantly comfortable and engaged. There was also, in all of the discussions and the workshops, an enthusiasm to share practices and find common understandings. The Lithuanian arts scene is a community focused on people — both artists and the audience. It might be surprising to say, but it is not always the case. Lithuania stands out in that regard.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Drama League\u2019s visit to the SIRENOS Festival (c) D. Putinas<\/p><\/div>\n

Did anything about the Lithuanian performing arts scene surprise you or challenge your expectations?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was surprised, pleasantly, by the role that the arts scene plays in the civic life of Lithuania…how deeply engaged LIthuanian artists are with their fellow citizens about the social system they live in together. It was deeply refreshing to see actors, dancers, directors, writers, designers, and producers have a direct impact on the world they live in, and how much they have accomplished. Art is the energy that exists between the performance and the spectator, and it is truly powerful to witness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which strengths or distinctive qualities of Lithuanian artists and the local performing arts ecosystem stood out to you the most?<\/b><\/p>\n

Coming from the United States of America, which is a performance culture dominated by playwrights where written texts are the foundational element, it was quite refreshing to be in a community that seems more egalitarian. In Lithuania, the directors are deep conceptual thinkers, and often structure the entire performance event. The actors and dancers are strong physically. mentally and vocally; I discovered many I will follow in future years. The designers also took me by surprise, who used space with distinctive elements that rarely overwhelmed the architecture. It was wonderful to see their work.<\/span><\/p>\n

You came with a delegation of eight US artists and producers. What kind of reactions or conversations emerged within the group during the visit?<\/b><\/p>\n

For the American directors and producers, the visit to the SIRENOS Festival was transformative in many ways. Some of which you might expect: they were deeply inspired of course, and we would discuss the performances late into the night with each other and the many international friends we made. But coming from our own culture, where we are often asked to work with limited resources of time, space and money, it was transformative to see artists working at such a high level of creative inquiry, finding beauty and genius inside the resources. It gave all of us, I think, hope for what might be possible in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Drama League\u2019s visit to the SIRENOS Festival (c) D. Putinas<\/p><\/div>\n

Has the visit already sparked any concrete ideas or conversations about possible collaborations between Lithuanian and US artists or organisations?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes! The Drama League is in early conversations with our American, Lithuanian and international partners to bring an edition of our conference, the International Directors Summit, to Vilnius in the future. This would allow us to bring many more directors, from many more countries, to SIRENOS and have a larger contextual conversation about the global practice and discipline of direction, with Lithuania as our home. We are also in early planning for a residency that might allow Lithuanian directors to travel to the United States and meet professionals there, in dialogue with American directors who would also visit Vilnius.<\/span><\/p>\n

What would need to happen next for this visit to become the beginning of a long-term partnership between The Drama League and the Lithuanian performing arts community?<\/b><\/p>\n

Our planet is currently suffering many challenges, including a worldwide challenge of cultural funding. But relationships like the one we are building are also the solution to those challenges. It is only through knowing one another, learning about one another, sharing space with one another, that we realize the value of each other as human beings. These exchanges can exponentially help humanity evolve, as people and as cultures. We must reach across borders and find our common humanity in each other. It is my hope that all of those who care about our world will recognize the vital importance of artists, and support their international dreams. I hope we can make it so!<\/span><\/p>\n

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