“I am traveling to Paris very excited – I am extremely curious as to how the work, a piece of my and my nation’s memory, will be received by the French.” I have repeatedly mentioned that “Fossilia” is a very personal performance, so I feel very proud that we will perform it on one of the most important stages in Paris”, says director Eglė Švedkauskaitė.
“Fossilia”, inspired by Dalia Grinkevičiūtė’s work “Lietuviai prie Laptevų jūros”, examines the attitude of the young Lithuanian generation to the stories of the exile of their grandparents, analyzes the trauma passed on from generation to generation. Relying on the personal story and book of Dalia Grinkevičiūtė, the director and dramaturg of the play, Eglė Švedkauskaitė presents a fictional family forced to talk about the family’s painful past. The performance features Rasa Samuolytė, Darius Gumauskas, Vitalija Mockevičiūtė, Povilas Jatkevičius and Ugnė Šiaučiūnaitė.
Virginija Vitkienė, commissioner of the Lithuanian season in France, speaking about why “Fossilia” was chosen to start Focus Lithuania, says: “Besides the evocative artistic form, one of the most important factors was the actual themes of the performance. Directed by Eglė Švedkauskaitė, “Fossilia” is one of those productions that reveal not only the complex traumatic history of Lithuania and the accompanying personal experiences, but also a performance that resonates with the present: the Russian war in Ukraine. Those who started it operate with the same criminal methods as 80 years ago in Lithuania.”
The story of Dalia Grinkevičiūtė’s exile will be revealed during the Lithuanian season in France at several exhibitions in Paris and Blois, student discussions will take place, and the third edition of Dalia Grinkevičiūtė’s memoirs will be presented. “French colleagues expect us to talk about values, they themselves initiate difficult topics and invite the French audience to meetings with these stories,” says V. Vitkienė.
On November 7, 8, 9, Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, a theater located in the suburbs of Paris, will present another LNDT production, Contemplating the Lobster. It is directed by Yana Ross, based on the essay of the same name and other works by American writer David Foster Wallace. According to the director, Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers was already interested in the possibility of presenting her work in Paris. In 2022, Y. Ross’s performance “Brief Conversations with Disgusting Men” presented at the Venice Biennale attracted the attention of many French people, including Anne Goalard, head of international relations at Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers. “Thanks to her, my connection with France lives on. I’m really looking forward to meeting the audience in Paris, it’s my first meeting with a large French audience,” says Yana Ross.
Photo by Martyn Norvaiš/Scene from the play “Thinking about Omar”
Miglė Polikevičiūtė, Martynas Nedzinskas, Salvijus Trepulis and Jūratė Vilūnaitė will play in the performance “Thinking about lobster”.
“Lithuanian Season in France 2024” is organized by the Institute of Lithuanian Culture under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in France. The showcase of Lithuanian performing arts “Focus Lituani” is organized by the Theater Information Center.
After touring in Paris, “Fossilia” will be shown at the Lithuanian National Drama Theater on October 16. and December 5 and “Thinking about the lobster” – October 13. and December 20
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2024-10-03 05:15:23
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