A Robert Wilson Premiere Based on the Works of Oscar Milosz Takes Shape at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre

The National Kaunas Drama Theatre (NKDT) is poised to unveil its forthcoming season’s premieres. The centrepiece of the lineup is the premiere of Robert Wilson’s Seven Solitudes, to be staged in March 2026 and inspired by the literary work of Oscar Milosz. The theatre has been engaged in preparations for this internationally conceived production for a Lithuanian audience for the past two years. In June, the creative team successfully established the production’s visual concept.

Successful Development of the Upcoming Premiere’s Structure

Director R. Wilson is preparing an original stage adaptation inspired by the works of Oscar Milosz at NKDT. At the beginning of June, the director, together with his extensive creative team, the theatre staff, and actors, actively participated in the initial stage of the production, during which the visual concept for the upcoming premiere was developed. The General Director of the theatre, Egidijus Stancikas, expressed his delight that the outcome exceeded expectations, as all technical tasks were successfully completed and this phase of the production process was carried out with exceptional success. ‘Robert Wilson’s creative process, shaped by his unique way of thinking, is entirely distinctive and begins with the creation of the visual form of the production. During the initial stage, known as Stage A, entering a rehearsal gives the impression that the premiere is imminent: actors appear in costume, their faces are fully made up, stage decorations are in place, music is playing, and precise lighting transforms the scenic images. It is truly impressive that, in such a short time, we managed to construct the structural framework of the production on our stage, and, according to R. Wilson, we have even reached the scope of the next phase – Stage B. Our technical departments will now continue refining the sets and costumes and proceed with the production of props. The next meeting of the theatre’s departments and the creative team is scheduled for October, and the premiere will take place in March,’ said the General Director with evident enthusiasm.

Director Robert Wilson also took away the most positive impressions: ‘I enjoy returning to the National Kaunas Drama Theatre. I have a very close relationship with the entire team, including administrators, technicians, designers, costume and makeup artists, lighting and sound specialists, and actors. It is a pleasure to create a performance together from the very beginning, as everyone feels part of a single ensemble and takes pride in contributing to the creation of the work.’

This stage of rehearsals involved the participation of Charles Chemin, co-director and author of the text adaptation; costume designer Flavia Ruggeri; co-author of the stage design, Stephanie Engeln; co-designer of lighting, Marcello Lumaca; composer Hans-Jörn Brandenburg; and wig and costume master, Manuela Halligan. On stage, the roles, costumes, and makeup were tried out by actors Martyna Gedvilaitė, Gytis Laskovas, Kęstutis Jakštas, Miglė Navasaitytė, Agnieszka Ravdo, and Dainius Svobonas.

A Premiere for Lithuania and the World Based on the Work of a Lithuanian-born Author

The premiere of Seven Solitudes is scheduled for the spring of next year at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre, and a few months later, the production will be staged at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń. Agnė Burovienė, Deputy Director for Marketing at NKDT, highlights the strategic use of the theatre’s potential: ‘Our creative partnership with Robert Wilson and his team is marked by an organically evolving dynamic of artistic collaboration – beginning with the joint production Dorian, created together with the Düsseldorf Theatre, and continuing with the upcoming 2026 world premiere of Seven Solitudes, which we are producing in cooperation with the Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń. These are no longer isolated exchanges but a sustainable international co-production that reinforces our strategic direction to present Lithuanian culture abroad. I feel proud and delighted that director Robert Wilson has taken an interest in a Lithuanian-born author. Both share a deep affinity for metaphor and mysticism, which promises a performance rich in the synthesis of text and imagery. Preparing and perfecting this production requires nearly two years of dedicated work. Such a process would be unimaginable without trust-based team collaboration, creative sensitivity, and mutual learning, which are essential conditions that allow ideas to grow and ultimately come to life on stage.’

A Synthesis of Text and Imagination

At the heart of the upcoming production is Oscar Milosz (Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz Milosz, 1877–1939) – a French poet of Lithuanian origin who wrote in the French language. In Lithuania, he is recognised not only as a poet and playwright but also as a key diplomatic figure, having served as the chargé d’affaires for diplomatic and consular affairs of the First Republic of Lithuania in France. His name has been mentioned on multiple occasions during the presentation of the Lithuanian Season in France. In 2024, the renowned publishing house Gallimard released a new and extensive anthology of his works. According to the publishers, Milosz’s spiritually infused writing constitutes a unique voice in the landscape of French literature.

The script for the performance is being developed by Charles Chemin, a long-time collaborator of Robert Wilson, playwright, and actor. The unified text brings together fragments from Oskar Milosz’s plays, fairy tales, and metaphysical writings. ‘While reading O. Milosz’s multilayered work, a character emerged – the Poet. He is something of an alter ego for O. Milosz himself. This multifaceted figure embodies the artist who never ceased journeying from one place to another, while continually contributing to the creative vision of Lithuania, the land of his ancestors. O. Milosz’s poetics offer rich material to explore in collaboration with director Robert Wilson, as it is composed of a troublingly subjective abstraction wrapped in vivid imagery. The work will feature recognisable figures such as the legendary Don Juan, the dreamer who longs to conquer life, from the author’s first play, as well as a very different Don Juan from Miguel Mañara, who is in search of redemption for his sins. The poet’s fairy tales and fables will serve as living interludes,’ explained Ch. Chemin.

Artistic Director Edgaras Klivis noted that the creative process, beginning with the initial meetings with the director and culminating in the first rehearsals on stage, clearly demonstrated that the relationship between R. Wilson and O. Milosz is far from a conventional one between an author and his interpreter: ‘Although the dramatic text is composed of fragments from plays and various other writings by the poet including fairy tales and alchemical treatises the performance will certainly not be a presentation of Milosz’s most famous verses, themes, imagery, or literary legacy. Nor will it attempt to explain the meaning of the poet-mystic’s symbols, or interpret how biographical facts, the historical period, or his ties to Lithuania are reflected in his work. Interpreting our national literature is, without a doubt, the task of Lithuanian theatre directors. In R. Wilson’s productions, numerous authors from various nations whom he has staged appear momentarily, unexpectedly, in fleeting glimpses, often in surprising and liberating ways. His relationship with classical texts from different literary traditions is respectful, yet he enriches the scope of their meanings. It is only after the performance ends that a unique experience begins to take shape in the viewer’s imagination, an unexpectedly fresh portrait of a well-known author, pieced together from fragments, sounds, and traces of words.’

The General Director of the theatre Egidijus Stancikas is confident that the new premiere will deeply move both long-time admirers of poet and translator O. Milosz and those less familiar with his work: ‘What will emerge on stage is a production of the highest artistic calibre, featuring unexpected transformations by the actors, a harmonious integration of visual elements, and a poetic synergy of movement, light, and music. This artistic miracle will be crowned by the texts of the gifted poet O. Milosz. We discovered this exceptional author relatively recently, on the eve of Lithuania’s regained independence, as he had been considered an undesirable figure for many years. I believe this premiere will offer an intensely personal encounter, one that invites profound reflection and emotional resonance.’

Become Part of a World Premiere

The production Seven Solitudes is a landmark event in national culture – an artistic creation with the potential to become a cultural export and a signature representation of Lithuanian theatre on the international stage. According to Agnė Burovienė, a project of this scale requires not only creative passion but also significant financial support: ‘Contemporary sponsorship strategies are built on mutual benefit: supporters not only gain access to the creative process but also strengthen their image as socially responsible and culturally engaged leaders. The theatre offers various levels of sponsorship and the opportunity to publicly showcase the sponsor’s name across theatre communications, publications, and physical spaces. This partnership is an investment in high-quality artistic work that will reach both Lithuanian and international audiences. The director R. Wilson’s name is synonymous with artistic excellence worldwide, and his return to Kaunas promises not only a profound aesthetic experience for the senses but also a unique opportunity for Lithuania to strengthen its presence on the global cultural map. For this reason, the National Kaunas Drama Theatre invites businesses and private patrons to become part of this significant cultural moment by contributing to the creation of a world premiere,’ the theatre’s representative invited.

NKDT information