Mama Cat

The creators of the 2012 production “Mama Cat” were nominated for the Golden Stage Cross as Best Production for Children.

Directed by Evaldas Jaras and based on the book “The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly” by Chilean writer Luis Sepúlveda, “Mama Cat” has drawn great interest ever since its 2011 premiere, with every performance filling the hall of the State Small Theatre of Vilnius. Intended for children aged five and up, the production introduces young audiences to a bona fide mafia—or, more precisely, a wild gang of cats. They are like prototypes of characters from the best-known mafia films, living by rules and codes of their own; each has a status and duties. Most importantly, none of them lacks a sense of humour.

In what at first looks like an ordinary apartment-block courtyard, beside a tall brick wall, completely unbelievable things happen: a gang of fat cats, lazy and spoiled by their “mafioso” way of life, finds a young seagull, and suddenly their whole world is turned upside down... What should you do when confronted with an unfamiliar environment and outlook? Should you change and adapt to a different way of life, or try to change others? Or perhaps strive to ensure that everyone has the chance to remain unique and individual? How can a seagull learn to fly when her mother is Zorbas, a fat cat who likes nothing better than lying on the balcony and basking in the sun? How will Zorbas respond to this challenge? How will the other courtyard cats react to his decision? Will the young seagull learn to fly? And, finally, how does sharing your life with someone else change you inside? What wonderful qualities of character might you discover in yourself, even though until recently you had no idea they were there?