The book Contemporary Lithuanian Theater. Names and Performances is dedicated to the modern history of the Lithuanian theater and its present. It introduces Lithuanian theater makers and theater phenomena from different perspectives and viewpoints, talks about the recognized theater directors who formed the auteur theater phenomenon in Lithuania, and discusses the strategic innovations of young theater artists and collectives as well as changes in contemporary performing arts practices. The book presents the Lithuanian theater as it is today as a live and interactive network of individuals and events involving the most diverse aesthetic, cultural, historical and ideological discourses.
The book consists of two parts. The first part of the book comprises an introduction which gives an overview of the theater situation at the turn of the 21st century and six chapters dedicated to six well-known theater directors and their work. Among them: Jonas Vaitkus, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Rimas Tuminas, Gintaras Varnas, Oskaras Koršunovas and Yana Ross. The introduction in the second part of the book discusses the tendencies of the last decade regarding the change of generations in Lithuanian theater as well as the changes in the expression of performing arts forms. The second part presents four contemporary theater phenomena: the work of young Lithuanian theater artists, the new drama, contemporary dance theater and latest tendencies in the theater for children and young people. The authors of the articles are acclaimed theater critics, historians and scholars of different generations Dr. Ramunė Balevičiūtė, Alma Braškytė, Dr. Goda Dapšytė, Ingrida Gerbutavičiūtė, Vaidas Jauniškis, Audronis Liuga, Dr. Ramunė Marcinkevičiūtė, Dr. Aušra Martišiūtė, Dr. Daiva Šabasevičienė, and Dr. Rasa Vasinauskaitė.
In addition to presenting a survey of works by such outstanding stage masters as Eimuntas Nekrošius, Rimas Tuminas and Oskaras Koršunovas, and also the new names of young theatre artists and their creative initiatives, this book, published by Tyto alba, also contains some video materials showing fragments of celebrated performances.
