November of this year was generous with good and extremely important news and events for the Vilnius Small Theater. November 11 In Timisoara (Romania), VVMT became a member of the ETC (European Theater Convention). This membership is an exceptional event, significant both for the theater and for the entire Lithuanian professional performing arts sector. November 27 During the closing of the XII international theater festival COM•MEDIA in the Alytus City Theater, young director Greta Štiormer for the play "L. YRA S." (playwright Gabrielė Labanauskaitė, VVMT, 2023) was awarded the "Best Director" award.
"I personally took this award as a pat on the head. The first tours and the first evaluation of the performance with nominations and winnings elevate the piece and its team to move forward. The fact that he was nominated means that he was seen. Now I feel it as a part of my specialty: you rehearse, think, evaluate, observe which relationship you have with the actors, the creative team and the theater institution, and then with the work itself. When a performance is born, the baton is passed to the audience - they watch, think, evaluate. It's nice to be noticed. I wish the show and the creative team to live and grow - to understand themselves better and better. I believe that by introducing myself, the themes in the play become more and more unlocked. I believe that a large part of the success depends on the choice of the creative team and the actors at the very beginning of the creation of the play - in this case I am calm. I know that I have chosen a great team, creative and warm people", says director Greta Štiormer, winner of the "Best Director" award.
Also the play "L. YRA S." was nominated in four categories of the "COM•MEDIA" festival: Best artistic decision - costume designer Valdemara Jasulaitytė; The best actress - Eglė Mikulionytė; Best actor - Matas Sigliukas; The best COM•MEDIA performance - "L. IS S.". The closest to the play "L. THERE IS S.” showing – December 21. in the small theater of Vilnius.
In November, the Alytus City Theater becomes the epicenter of performing arts. Theater festival COM•MEDIA is the biggest autumn cultural event in the Southern Lithuania region. Its main program consists of a dozen competitive performances. Understanding the special importance of impeccable program content at the festival, as it creates a favorable relationship between the audience, the organizer and the participant, COM•MEDIA has not only been expanding the boundaries of the comedy genre for some time, not avoiding tragicomedies, farce or even "uncomfortable" theater with surrealism and absurdity elements, but looks for and invites performances from foreign countries that have already won recognition at European theater festivals.
Admission to ETC is an important stage of VVMT
ETC (European Theater Convention) is the largest professional network uniting European theaters, with 64 members in 31 countries. This network also includes various initiatives and support programs funded by the organization itself and the European Union, for both organizations and individual artists and creative teams.
According to the manager of the Vilnius State Small Theater Simon Kebl, membership in ETC opens up new opportunities: VVMT will now be able to participate in programs and initiatives co-financed by various organizations and the European Union, which open the way to initiate, create and develop international theater projects and joint creative processes. This not only allows maintaining close relations with other European theaters and artists, but also contributes to the development and promotion of theater diversity. Thus, this membership will undoubtedly help to attract interesting and talented European creators from the theaters of various European countries, as well as develop and present the creative potential of VVMT and Lithuanian theater art in general.
"Belonging to the largest network uniting professional European theaters, i.e. being among other European theaters, today is not only a necessity, but also a great challenge, maintaining contacts and achieving versatile creative cooperation with the most interesting and talented creators. This is an important step forward for VVMT on the road where, I believe, interesting and big challenges await, and the most important thing is creative inspiration, which encourages us to continue researching, creating, experiencing and sharing it with you!" - says Simonas Keblas, manager of the Vilnius Small Theater.
Christmas is approaching - VMT gifts
The Vilnius Small Theater, pulsating with theatrical life, strong and long-lasting memories and smelling of Christmas, invites its beloved and loyal viewers to come and buy tickets with a Christmas promotion. After all, the best Christmas gift found under the tree is a ticket to the theater! Until December 23 20-25% discount applies to five VMT performances: December 21 "L. THERE IS S." (dir. Greta Štiormer) - 20%, December 22. "Scilė wants to be human" (dir. Gabriele Tuminaitė) - 25%, January 19. "As you like it" (dir. Uršulė Bartoševičiūtė) - 25%, January 26. Ein Elefant (dir. Tad Montrim) - 25%, January 27. "Sasha, take out the trash" (dir. Stas Žyrkov (Ukraine) – 25%.
