Lithuanian National Drama Theatre

Lithuanian National Drama Theatre (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinis dramos teatras), located on Gediminas Avenue in Vilnius, is one of Lithuania’s most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues and cultural institutions. Founded as a Vilnius State Theatre in 1940, it became Lithuanian National Drama Theatre in 1998. The theatre’s façade featuring the Three Muses sculpture has become a landmark of Vilnius city.

The story of the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre began on the 6th of October, 1940, when the play "Hope" by Dutch playwright Herman Heijermans was performed in the then Vilnius State Theatre on Basanaviciaus St. 13. The main visual motif of the play – a fisher’s boat – has become the emblem of the National Theatre.

During the Second World War, the theatre operated as the Vilnius City Theatre, throughout 1944-1947 – as the Vilnius State Drama Theatre, in 1947-1955 it was called the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, until 1998 – the Lithuanian State Academic Drama Theatre, and since the 3rd of August 1998 it has been known as the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre (LNDT).

The theatre has been operating in the current premises on Gedimino Avenue 4 since 1951. This place has a rich theatrical tradition – in the beginning of the twentieth century it hosted events of the theatrical Polish Cultural Society "Liutnia". In 1981, a major reconstruction of the theatre (the architects – brothers Algimantas and Vytautas Nasvytis) was completed. Then the Big Hall, which can accommodate 660 spectators, was opened. The Small Hall (171 seats) opened the door a few years later. The Studio (former rehearsal space) is used for small and experimental productions. The Main Lobby is often used as a venue for set design, theatre costumes and posters exhibitions.

The sculpture "Three Muses" (by sculptor Stanislovas Kuzma) crowning the main entrance to the theatre has become the symbol of the LNDT. The muses of Drama (Calliope), Comedy (Thalia) and Tragedy (Melpomene) are patrons of the theatre’s wide and diverse repertoire, and the sculpture "The Fount" decorating the lobby symbolizes the course that the theatre has taken: to cherish tradition, but remain vigorous and open to innovation and change.

In the summer of 2007 the ticket office and the Big Hall were renovated (new audience chairs and carpeting). In the Small Hall the audience chairs were also replaced and the cafeteria on the second floor was renovated.

The LNDT presents a wide variety of genres; its repertoire comprises the classical, modern and Lithuanian playwriting. The theatre acts as an umbrella organisation commissioning shows to the most prominent Lithuanian and European artists and young professionals. Such directors as Kirsten Dehlholm (Denmark), Krystian Lupa (Poland), Yana Ross (USA), Árpad Schilling (Hungary), Valters Sīlis have directed their works here. Lithuanian theatre directors Oskaras Koršunovas, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Jonas Vaitkus, Gintaras Varnas, Cezaris Graužinis as well as Agnius Jankevičius, Paulius Ignatavičius have also presented their shows here.

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Wikipedia