XX a. pradžios Vilniaus lietuvių teatras: "dailės vertės" ilgesys

ENThe history of Lithuanian-language theatre in Vilnius began in the early 20th century, when Lithuanian national activities were possible only as illegal cultural forms. Not surprisingly, the theatre functioned as a secret meeting place for the displaced national community back then. This concept of theatre continued to flourish later on as well – even after becoming a legimite practice in the wake of political changes in the middle of the first decade of the 20th century: new organisers of national theatre events – Lithuanian cultural societies – cultivated theatre as a site for the experience of communality (the concept of a theatre event included not only the theatre performance, but also a program of a Lithuanian choir and dances where performers and spectators could unite into one community, being and enjoying their time together). On the other hand, the existence of Lithuanian theatre in the public space of multicultural Vilnius brought another theatre concept into existence – it inspired the search for theatre as a site of aesthetic experience. This new concept was the turning point in Lithuanian-language theatre history – it marked the beginning of the development of our national professional theatre.