Agnius Jankevičius „REFORM“

Agnius Jankevičius. „Reform“

One-act drama

Running time: 2h

Premiered on: 6 and 8 September 2024

The Small Auditorium

Performed in Lithuanian language

Creative team:

Direction and Set Design by: Agnius Jankevičius

Video Design by: Arvydas Gudas

Lighting Design by: Deividas Janavicus

Music Director: Agnius Jankevičius

Stage Manager: Eglė Kuzienė

Cast:

Edita Gončarova, Božena Aleksandrovič, Gabrielė Baubaitė

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Agnius Jankevičius’ dark satire musical performance Reform, based on the director’s eponymous play, focuses on ongoing processes in Europe, of which Lithuania is an integral part. Migration as a phenomenon is a problem, but an even more pressing and intensifying issue is the propagating global syndrome of irrelevance. This sense of irrelevance, both in a societal and existential context, is destructive and offers no solutions to change the situation. It breeds even greater destruction, absurdity, and even violence.

In the Lithuanian province, the era of abandoned homesteads is arriving – and this is no metaphor. The town of Skakiškis hasn’t been spared either. Once renowned for its bright high school graduates, cheese and butter factory, the town now vegetates, yet the locals haven’t lost hope. Among them remain creative, innovative, and visionary people who won’t allow Skakiškis to become a ghost town. Who are these individuals? They are three teachers from the local school who devise a plan to transform the town into the new Promised Land.

Reform sharply and satirically addresses the complex issue of refugees and the irrelevant people among us. Essentially, all the main characters are written off. Bad actions breed bad actions. Inappropriate behaviour leads to more inappropriate behaviour – and the paradox is that all of this is done in the name of survival.

The play’s themes touch on both global changes occurring in Europe and the aspects of human value, dignity, altruism, and pragmatism. Also, the creative team have been inspired by the aesthetics of the South Park animated series and Roy Andersson’s ‘Living Trilogy’.

Agnius Jankevičius (b. 1979) is a theatre director, actor, and educator, one of the leading figures in Lithuania’s middle generation of theatre directors. Over more than 20 years, he has staged performances in many Lithuanian professional theatres and has acted in both theatre and film.

Cast:

 Stage Manager: Eglė Kuzienė

Music Director: Agnius Jankevičius

Lighting Design by: Deividas Janavicus

Video Design by: Arvydas Gudas

Direction and Set Design by: Agnius Jankevičius

Creative team:

Edita Gončarova, Božena Aleksandrovič, Gabrielė Baubaitė