Introduction to the 106th Season: International Tour of the Performance Open the Door

The performance OPEN THE DOOR, based on a play by Aristide Tarnagda and directed by Justinas Vinciūnas, continues its international tour after receiving two Golden Stage Cross awards. On 13 August, the troupe is to visit the Corner Theatre in Bergen, Norway, and on 24 August,they are to perform at the WUK Cultural and Arts Centre in Vienna, Austria.

In April 2025, the performance was presented at the Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre. Bergen, Vienna, Rijeka, and Kaunas have been brought together by the international project ‘Deconfining’, which connects Africa and Europe through the language of art. Over 250 artists, 2,500 representatives of cultural organisations, and 400 cultural interested parties from across two continents participate in ‘Deconfining’ project. More than 30 countries collaborate to create an inclusive platform for African-European cultural cooperation, which will later expand to other regions of the world.

The play was written by the Burkina Faso born playwright Aristide Tarnagda. The set design was created by an African artist Boubacar Souley Salifou, with costume design and co-scenography by Patricija Vytytė. The lighting designer was Vladimiras Šerstabojevas, and the music was composed by Mantas Mockus. The play was translated by Vytas Kraujelis. The cast includes actors Povilas Barzdžius, Eglė Mikulionytė, Robertas Petraitis, Kęstutis Povilaitis, and Sigitas Šidlauskas. Premiering in September 2024, Open the Door received notable attention from the Professional Performing Arts Evaluation Commission. Director Justinas Vinciūnas was awarded the Golden Stage Cross for Best Emerging Artist, while composer Mantas Mockus received the award in the Music category. The performance was warmly received in Croatia. Art critic Gloria Fabijanić Jelović wrote: ‘The performance features extraordinarily talented actors, who, without exaggeration, portray the difficult history of people across continents from ancient times to the present day,ahistory that we witness daily in our streets. Today’s world is defined by mass migration, where foreigners are often unwelcome. Because of their culture and way of life, they are often rejected simply for being different (for having different roots), regardless of their character and efforts to integrate into society.’

The narrative centres on one family’s story, reflecting the terror and violence in the playwright’s native continent, paralleled by ongoing military tensions in Europe. Central themes of the performance include family, war, belonging, and foreignness, which make the story feel uncomfortably close to audiences.Director J. Vinciūnas and his creative team focus less on the political conflict and more on the emotional core of a family drama, expressed through the main character’s inner strugglesbetween nihilism and idealism, and redemption.

Justinas Vinciūnas states that ‘The impact of the performance is created by the harmony of all its elements, but the most vital part is the actors. They are the ones who carry the theme and embody the directional vision. They hold the magic of action, atmosphere, and emotion. Without them, my direction would be just a formality.’

Open the Door is a chamber-style performance originally created for the unique Long Hall of the NKDT. However, its mobility and adaptability for different venues was considered from the beginning. Still, modifications are always required: ‘It is difficult to prepare when performing in venues with entirely different characteristics. I always consider not just the size of the space, but also acoustics, audience sightlines, stage materials, and, of course, the overall atmosphere.’

The Lithuanian communities in Bergen and Vienna have contributed to the dissemination of the performance.

The performance is presented in collaboration with project partner Les Recreatales (Burkina Faso) and is co-funded by the European Union, the Lithuanian Council for Culture, the Lithuanian Culture Institute, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

Information provided by NKTD. Photos Donatas Stankevičius and Ivan Zajc theatre