Laura Kutkaitė: Teach Me

Director Laura Kutkaitė, who created the productions “The Silence of the Sirens” and “Teiresias’ Breast” at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, presents her new production, “Teach Me.” Kutkaitė is creating a provocative work about school and says that theatre is a valuable place to rethink our approach to education. As in her previous work, she combines a philosophical perspective with humour, drawing on social criticism, dramaturgy developed using the devised-theatre approach*, and tragicomic images that emerge during improvisations with the actors.

Before rehearsals began, Kutkaitė visited several gymnasiums around Lithuania and spent a day in lessons with students in grades 9–11. The creators also draw inspiration from thoughts and stories sent in by teachers and students. They say everyone will recognise their own school experiences—both the painful ones and the most idiotic.

“Teach Me” asks what kind of society today’s school is shaping. What do school and a factory have in common? Can we think of ourselves as factory-made products? Where should we draw the line between education and indoctrination? Do we, as a society, want to entrench a culture of obedience and subordination, or do we dare to imagine a future in which education truly liberates?

“Teach Me” invites audiences to spend an unusual “day at school” together. The production is dedicated to the memory of Gabrielė Skiriūtė.

*Devised dramaturgy is a collaborative approach in which the script is not written in advance but created collectively during rehearsals.

The production features works or excerpts from works by:

Thank you: