The Island That Does Not Exist

For the first time in the history of Panevėžys theatre, Juozas Miltinis Drama Theatre and Panevėžys Musical Theatre have joined forces to tell the story of the legendary theatre figure Juozas Miltinis and the beginnings of the theatre he created. The performance at Juozas Miltinis Drama Theatre features live music performed by the Panevėžys Musical Theatre Orchestra.

Today, the names of Juozas Miltinis, Donatas Banionis, Vaclovas Blėdis, Eugenija Šulgaitė, Regina Zdanavičiūtė and other legends of Panevėžys theatre are part of Lithuania’s cultural golden treasury. Yet few know how it all began: how the founders of Panevėžys Theatre lived in their early years of creative work, how they became actors, how they endured the Second World War, and how the theatre they cherished took shape. They regarded it as a sanctuary of art and an island where they could find refuge from external political pressure, cultural barrenness and financial hardship.

The story of Panevėžys Theatre’s very beginnings is wrapped in many myths and legends. It is said that the young actors who came to Panevėžys, together with their teacher Juozas Miltinis, were housed in a monastery on Marijonų Street. There, they began living like true monks of art: devoting themselves entirely to art and constant study, and forbidden to start families, socialise with the outside world or have fun. Everything was shared—their living quarters, food and money, as well as all their hardships and joys. Not everyone could endure it, but those who did became legends.

The creators of the performance decided to look back at those difficult years when the theatre was being formed and invite audiences to explore the myth of young, passionate idealists ready to sacrifice their lives for the great art they considered an island of the world’s essence. An island that does not exist. An island they created through sacrifice so they would not perish or drown in the reality of everyday life that weighed on and suffocated them.

The performance features live music performed by the Panevėžys Musical Theatre Orchestra. The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

In 2022, Albinas Kėleris was nominated for a Golden Stage Cross in the Actor category for his role as Maestro in the performance “The Island That Does Not Exist”. In 2022, composer Mantvydas Leonas Pranulis received a Golden Stage Cross for the music for “The Island That Does Not Exist”.

Reviews of the performance: Aušra Kaminskaitė, “A Play About Miltinis Masterfully Avoids Taking a More Explicit Position” – LRT; “Sacred Magic in Contemporary Theatre” (7md.lt); “Only Miltinis Can Drive Miltinis Out” – Menų faktūra (menufaktura.lt); Jūratė Visockaitė, “The Island That Was” (literaturairmenas.lt); Daiva Šabasevičienė, “The Island That Is. Miltinis at the Miltinis Theatre” – Vilniaus galerija.

About the performance: “My Struggle” – Menų faktūra (menufaktura.lt); “My Struggle” – Menų faktūra (menufaktura.lt) (in English).