Robert Wilson’s Premiere Seven Solitudes: A Dedication to the Artist’s Memory

The National Kaunas Drama Theatre, together with the creative team of world-renowned director Robert Wilson (1941–2025), is approaching the realisation of his final dramatic theatre staging – Seven Solitudes, based on the texts by Oskar Miłosz. The premiere will take place on 20–22 March 2026. In accordance with the artistic principles of the director’s work, a Bauprobe (technical rehearsal) was held at the end of October, during which the scenography designed by Robert Wilson and produced by NKDT, as well as other elements of the performance, were tested.

One Step Closer to the Premiere

In preparation for the premiere based on the works of the Lithuanian-born French poet Oskar Miłosz, Robert Wilson visited the National Kaunas Drama Theatre twice. Earlier this year, he conducted auditions and, together with his collaborators, refined the dramaturgy, scenography, costumes, and lighting design, thereby creating the visual project book for the performance. In June, the director implemented the visual concept (Stage A) of the forthcoming premiere.

The late artist, who passed away in July, developed a unique rehearsal technique founded on the principle of the body rather than the word. “Actors always begin with voice and language. That is a mistake. They should begin with the body. The body is the most important instrument of the actor,” he used to say. For this reason, actors in Wilson’s productions rehearse from the very first day in full costume, make-up, and set design – all of which enables them to experience the stage as a complete artistic whole from the outset.

In June, while shaping the structural draft of the performance and defining its central motifs, Robert Wilson was already aware of his diagnosis. Despite this, he remained composed, stoic, and filled with creative energy and humour. The team understood that each of his decisions might be his last, and therefore carefully documented the director’s ideas and notes – the final strokes of a unique artistic eye and hand.

During the Bauprobe rehearsal held in October, the late director’s work was carried forward by his creative team: Charles Chemin, co-author of the direction and text adaptation, Stephanie Engeln, co-author of the scenography, Marcello Lumaca, co-author of the lighting design, Flavia Ruggeri, costume designer, Manuela Halligan, make-up and wig designer, Tomasz Jeziorski, video artist, together with the theatre’s actors and the extensive NKDT technical and artistic staff. This rehearsal provided an opportunity to test the functioning of the scenography and lighting on the actual stage and to make the necessary adjustments.

Robert Wilson’s work at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre will be continued and brought to completion by his long-time creative collaborator Charles Chemin. He has contributed to the creation of several of Wilson’s productions, including Mary Said What She Said (2019), I Was Sitting on My Patio This Guy Appeared I Thought I Was Hallucinating (2021), UBU (2022), Three Tall Women (2023), and Pessoa: Since I’ve Been Me (2024). Accepting this important responsibility, Charles Chemin remarked, “After the director’s passing, we all worked intensely, reflecting on how we should continue and complete the production. Of course, none of us is Bob Wilson, so from now on we will work as his team of trustees as he would have wished. I believe we will succeed in carrying forward his creative impulses.”

Egidijus Stancikas, CEO of the National Kaunas Drama Theatre, emphasised that the loss of the director has become a profound source of inspiration: “Robert Wilson succeeded in shaping the entire visual and artistic concept of the premiere. He greatly appreciated the actors’ dedication, the craftsmanship of the theatre’s departments, and the production efforts and was eager to continue rehearsals. We now feel a moral obligation to uphold the values he taught us: focus, attentiveness, and teamwork. The world premiere will take place according to the highest artistic standards and will be dedicated to his memory.”

The rehearsal was attended by Christof Belka, trustee of Robert Wilson’s intellectual property rights, representatives of the Wilam Horzyca Theatre from Toruń, and Olga Spirewska, Artistic Director of the Toruń Festival. Together with Wilson’s co-authors, the team is developing the Polish version of Seven Solitudes, which will premiere at the end of May 2026.

The Continuation of Robert Wilson’s Artistic Legacy

In accordance with the artist’s wishes, his work, ideas, and inspiration will continue to flourish through the activities of the “Watermill Centre” in New York, including creative laboratories, educational programmes, international summer residencies, and artistic exchanges. Together with his team and collaborators, the director initiated a profoundly significant platform for international artistic dissemination, through which Wilson’s vision and philosophy – emphasising not belonging to closed communities, but rather the free flow of creative energy – reach diverse regions and cities around the world. Numerous international art initiatives were born at the Centre, featuring artists from across the globe, among them Lithuanian creators Gintarė Minelgaitė (Dr. GoraParasit), Lina Lapelytė, Jokūbas Nosovas, Ana Ablamonova, Inga Galinytė, and Dovydas Strimaitis.

Art as Poetry

“My work should be perceived as poetry,” Robert Wilson once said. It is therefore symbolic that his final theatre piece was inspired by the personality and writings of Oskar Miłosz, a French poet of Lithuanian origin. Dramaturg Charles Chemin highlighted that the performance reveals the multifaceted nature of Miłosz’s work: encompassing poetry, plays, metaphysical essays, aphorisms, tales, and fables. He also highlighted a new parallel within the production: “Oskar Miłosz is a poet of literature, while Robert Wilson is a poet of the stage. Their visions converge in a single character –the Poet. Both artists have dispersed like atoms in the cosmos and now exist on a spiritual plane,” said the dramaturge. The creative team will return to Kaunas in February 2026. The cast features Martyna Gedvilaitė, Kęstutis Jakštas, Gytis Laskovas, Miglė Navasaitytė, Agnieszka Ravdo, and Dainius Svobonas.

The production is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, with Wilam Horzyca Theatre (Poland) serving as the co-producer.

NKTD information

Photos by P. Gagaitė and S. Batura