Professionalism and independence (1920-1940)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Vilnius; Kaunas; Teatras; Mėgėjų teatras; Valstybės teatras; Organizavimas; Profesionalumas; Režisieriai; Menininkai; Teatro menas; Kultūra; Lithuania; Vilnius; Kaunas; Theater; Amateur theater; State Theater; Organization; Professionalism; Directors; Artists; Theater art; Culture.

ENProfessional Lithuanian theater was born at the same time as the modern national state. The symbolic date considered to be the beginning is December 19th, 1920, when Sudermann's Johannesfeuer, directed by Vaickus, was performed in Kaunas. At first sight, it may seem that the Lithuanian government did not rush to look after stage art following the declaration of independence on February 16th, 1918. Yet keeping in mind that the Constituent Parliament was elected in April 1920, and that the most influential states at that time recognized Lithuania's independence only in 1922, it can be said that Lithuanian stage art developed tremendously fast from the very beginning, as did the rest of the cultural and economic life in the new nation. The difficulties in the creation of professional theater by and large reflected the struggles encountered in the strengthening of the state. In the years 1918-1919 rudimentary organizational trails of professional Lithuanian theater were found in two main towns, Vilnius and Kaunas. The majority of Lithuanian theater creators who were settled in Russia returned to the traditional capital. When the Lithuanian government, being pushed by red Russian troops, retreated to Kaunas, a great number of these theater people stayed behind in Vilnius. [Extract, p. 56]