Three Sisters

The First International Theatre Festival of Lithuania, organized in May, 1993, presented a unique, international, cultural experience for the artists and audiences of the Baltic nations, thus creating new opportunities for viewing and learning from works heretofore unavailable to them. The second edition of LIFE (1995) will have equally ambitious goals. The Baltic states are still attracting international attention, providing a unique chance for the Festival to attract the finest theatre companies in the world. Theatre played an important role in Lithuanian society during the last fifty years of oppression, when its coded language united actors and audiences in silent resistance. The theatre replaced both political dialogue and religion. The Baltic audiences are still very much attracted to the theatre and really eager to experience a variety of theatrical ideas unavailable to them until the last years. But, on the other hand, the change in the society has been too rapid and abrupt and confused both artists and the audiences. What is the purpose of theatre, when resistance as it had been formely understood is no longer needed? Lack of exposure to new work, new trends and ideas, absence of contacts with colleagues from other cultures make Baltic artists feel that they are unable to transcend the limits of their experience. The Festival organization itself is a model venture for the comunity. It is one of the first artistic events in the Baltics not funded by the government. It is also the first theatre producer in the country: Eimuntas Nekrosius newest performance Mozart  and Salieri (guest of the festival Theatre´94 in Pilsen – Czech Republic), Don Juan, Plague, Three Sisters were produced by LIFE.