We can be proud of ambitious Polish cultural life in Lithuania. Polish Theatre Studio and Polish Theatre have been playing main roles in the field of theatre in Lithuania for more than 50 years. Both are creating in Vilnius.
Professional content and potential
It has to be noted, that part of the creators of the Polish stage culture in Lithuania do not agree with the opinion that there is no professional Polish theatre in Lithuania. Like for example Edvard Keizik from the Polish Theatre Studio (established in 1960) in Vilnius. According to him, Polish Theatre Studio is much better than just amateur.
‘Theatre Studio stages two or even three plays per season. Moreover, we organize two international festivals, i.e. Vilnius Meeting of Polish Stage and ‘MONOWSchód’, in which mostly professional actors and theatres take part,‘ says Keizik. He adds that nowadays the theatre is somewhere between being amateur and private.
According to Lilija Keizik, manager of the Polish Theatre Studio, Polish society in Lithuania needs professional Polish theatre. And there is a potential for such theatre. ‘Lots of Poles study in Poland and in the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. There are many professionals in our theatre too,‘ claims Lilija Keizik.
When speaking about the reasons of the lack of professional Polish theatre in Lithuania, Lilija Keizik mentions mainly financial issues. Another reason is the emigration of Polish actors. They leave Lithuania because of many causes and go to Poland, London, or even New York.
According to the manager, professional Polish theatre is really necessary in Lithuania. And here Poland can help in different ways, for example by cooperating in inviting theatres and theatre troupes from Poland, with which Polish theatres in Vilnius could co-work and create new troupes here in Vilnius.
‘We aim to be professional. Our actors study a lot, we educate our youth so that it would stay with us for better or for worse,’ says Lilija Keizik, who has been honoured by Poland for her contribution to Polish culture many times; and finally in December 2016 her work was also noticed and honoured in Lithuania.
Mission of the Polish theatre
‘We need to create stable group for stable work. We need to keep the Polish word so that the standard would remain. We want to be a real theatre,‘ says Lilija Keizik. Edvard Keizik adds that the aim of the Theatre Studio is to carry the Polish word for the Poles of Lithuania and spread the Polish culture.
Polish Theatre Studio is also a place where Polish youth is educated. ‘We respond to the needs of young people. They can also try to act in our theatre,‘ says the manager about theatre‘s cooperation with young Poles from Vilnius and the Vilnius region.
Ambitious Polish culture in Lithuania
In general, there is a folk group in every Polish town or village in Lithuania. And this is a necessary form of culture as thanks to it we can reach the roots and the national folk culture. On the other hand, it is namely theatre that leads in the field of the Polish ambitious culture. And ambitious, devoted people work in the Theatre Studio.
Polish cultural activists have no doubts, that there is a need of concept of development of Polish culture in Lithuania. Cultural activists have to sit down and decide what to do in order to make Polish theatre and culture develop and represent high standards.
Hope in the young
Polish Studio Theatre is the theatre of many generations. Actors come to the theatre with their children to help them learn the art of theatre and to make their bond with the Polish language stronger. There are many small theatres for children functioning at the Polish schools in Lithuania. They are mainly managed by people connected with the Studio Theatre.
Plans
When speaking about the short term plans, the theatre is planning to stage Christmas performances in Vilnius and in the Vilnius Region. In spring, the theatre wants to stage ‘The Party‘ of S. Mrożek. There are also plans to stage performances in London, Vienna, Prague, Czech Teschen, Rzeszów, Łódź, and maybe in Wrocław as well as organize another festivals. The Studio is going to invite people to theatre events organized on the occasion of Polish national days, i.e. Armed Forces Day, Day of Constitution of 3rd May, Day of Polonia and Poles Abroad.
Polish Theatre in Vilnius
Polish Theatre in Vilnius was established by professional actress and director Irena Rymovič. Irena Litvinovič, who has been managing the theatre since 1992, says that Rymovič has been a very strict person who did not like amateurishness. Her plays were really professional.
The Polish Theatre in Vilnius can be proud of more than 60 full-size premieres, more than 3 thousand plays, many occasional performances and New Year events for children.
The theatre regularly performs in Lithuania and Poland. It also takes part in many festivals of amateur theatres in Lithuania and Poland. The theatre has visited Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Russia, and Armenia.
The Polish Theatre in Vilnius has been awarded a collective badge of ‘Merit for Polish Culture‘ in 1990.
Polish daisy in Vilnius Pohulanka
When speaking about Polish theatres in Lithuania, we need to mention also the Pohulanka Theatre. It has been built thanks to the Poles‘ contributions. The founders noted in the notary deed that ‘the Polish word must echo in the theatre‘. But the building has been the headquarters of the Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre for thirty years now. It is not in its best state now. What can we do to save it? Do Poles need to care about this Polish daisy in Vilnius?
Polish theatre creators in Lithuania agree that there is need to take care of the Pohulanka Theatre. It cannot be transformed into a casino or a hotel. According to Lilija Keizik, a very important step forwards was the possibility for the Studio Theatre to stage a Polish play in the Pohulanka Theatre once a month for free.
‘At present we cannot afford renting the Pohulanka Theatre, therefore we need to focus on adapting the stage of the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius to theatre needs‘ says Lilija Keizik.
The need to unite
We have two theatres in Vilnius. We also have potential and staff. We have young people educated in school theatres and theatre academies in Lithuania and Poland. We have good will too. Therefore we only need to unite. Is it too much or not?
Beata Nanevič
‘This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.‘
