Theatre of signs of time

ENThe year 1990 was a turning point in the artistic, social and political life of Lithuania. It was the eve of new historical events and the rebirth of independent Lithuania. Patriotism, nationality and faith: these three words were pronounced with pride and hope. The commotion took place not on the stage but in life, on the street, in everyone’s home, and on television screens. The fate of the nation and future generations was being decided. “Lithuania will be free!” chanted old people and children alike. Lithuania became independent. This happened slightly later, through the blood of 1991, spilt in defending what was of utmost importance. After the 1980-1987 plays of the best directors of the older generation (Dalia Tamulevičiūtė, Gytis Padegimas, Jonas Vaitkus, Eimuntas Nekrošius and Rimas Tuminas), who seemed to have felt the approaching changes, the next three years were a desperate reproduction of a single form and aesthetics, by waving the national identity and ethnic ideas like flags. Life’s theatre found'itself on the stage and lost all artistic value. Artfulness and authorship were sacrificed on the altar of national romanticism; the faces of actors living through the suffering of repressions on the stage grimaced at the reality of the 50 years of Soviet life. The gloomy epitaph to the past that seemed to have become an obligation for every author silenced some artists altogether: creative authenticity now requires a different emotional suggestiveness and another approach to reality.