Royal Theatre in Trakai (Lithuania)
Cold and dark February morning in 1991. A small group of young, like-minded people came on a stage in a Community Center in Trakai. What they saw in front of them was a room for over 500 seats. There was a small group of viewers in a hall. Almost each of them was hoping that this
evening will be a starting point for the revival of cultural life in Trakai. Apparently, the Creator preferred the theatre to be born here.
Edward Kiejzik – the director of the theatre in Trakai
Just like every living organism, the theatre is alive, it changes events, constantly seeking the audience. During the first year of work the main aim of the theatre was the revival and exposure of national drama. Soon after some Lithuanian authors, not well-known at that time, appeared on the stage. These were, for example, Petliukas-Pundzevičius and F. Gužutis „Šalaputris“ (by V. Mikalauskas). Next was the powerful inter-war period classic: B. Sruogos „Dobilėlis pienkialapis“, B. Dauguviečio „Žaldokynė“ (by V. Mikalauskas). After only five years the directors turned to western literature dramas- P. Merimė „Heaven and hell“ (by A. Naraškevičius) and Dž. Pristlį "Rose and crown" (by A. Naraškevičius).
Years were going by, bringing changes among actors and directors. The theatre was left by one of its founders Vytautas Mikalauskas, A. Naraškevičius passed away. A talented director, S. Dimbelis, presented his work to the audience by putting on Dž. Deriono's play "Man of La Mancha". There were also very popular productions by the directors of this theatre: B. Klevickienė "Barbara Radzwiłówna“ (J. Grušas), I. Jocienė "The Marriage” (based on work by P. Beaumarchais) or „Bank S” (A. Czekhov). Finally, in 2011 there was a premiere of a play directed by current art director of the theatre, Robertas Čuta, "Marriage" (based on work by N. Gogol).
Over the lifetime of the theatre there were over 50 actors engaged in its work. Some of them passed away, some left to to live and work somewhere else, creating new theatre groups or becoming embers of those, that had already existed. The majority of them, however, remained faithful to heir stage.
For over 30 years Royal Theatre in Trakai has been a contestant and the winner of many national and international theatre festivals. Since 1992, every second year, it has been organizing theatre festivals on a native scene. In 1998 it represented Lithuania during European Festival in Norway and undertook the organisation a festival on such scale in Trakai, which successfully happened in 2000.
In 2002–2005, besides its everyday activity, the theatre tested the possibility of performing outside the building, in the open air, by coming to Senieji Trakai with new version of historical play.
Today the theatre activity isn't limited to Trakai only, where the main theatre company works. In Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, "Senior Theatre" works, run by V. Mikalauskas. Mikalauskas is the initiator of the unique and special project which has started in 1991 and transformed into Royal Theatre. Last Autumn the screenwriter and director V. Mikalauskas with the theatre created common initiative of these two theatre companies to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the revival of Lithuania.
Międzynarodowy Festiwal Sztuk TRANS/MISJE zrealizowano dzięki wsparciu:
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