VU Drama theatre play „Žadėtoji“ (dir. Felicija Feiferė)

In 2024, the world marks the 460th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth.

The close proximity between the birth of one of the greatest playwrights of all time and the establishment of Vilnius university drama theatre theatre in Lithuania inspires the pursuit of new dialogues with university youth, who preserve historical memory, and challenges creators of Shakespearean interpretations in Lithuania.

The play "Žadėtoji" (eng.: The Promised One) is an in-depth analysis of the legendary playwright's "Romeo and Juliet." Through this production, the Vilnius University (VU) Drama Theater seeks to uncover new, previously unexplored facets and perspectives of the tragedy.

What else can be said about the play Romeo and Juliet but that it is a hymn to Love?

The longstanding feud between two families, originating from an unknown but irresponsible initial act, disrupted an age-old harmony. No matter how much effort is made to conceal or deny past sins, they demand resolution. Through the faults of its characters and the inevitable birth of tragedy, "Žadėtoji" (eng.: The Promised One) tells Juliet’s story as a Promise meant to disperse the families' enmity. The play explores relationships between parents and children, the influence of friends, trust in authority and its significance, the process of young love, the dilemma of understanding love, questions of trust, the sudden onset of maturity in young people, the signs of fate ignored in the heat of love—all within the context of action-based drama that conveys the theme of responsibility. The characters' dramatic stories are intertwined so tightly that tragedy becomes inevitable, and each person’s guilt becomes apparent.

CAST:

• Juliet – Gerda Dapkūnaitė / Ieva Kazokaitė
• Lord Capulet – Rokas Žvirblis
• Lady Capulet – Monika Wolyniec
• Nurse – Gerda Papartytė
• Tybalt – Konradas Pukinskas
• Rosaline – Silvija Šilobritaitė / Beatričė Balaišytė
• Romeo – Kipras Šivickas
• Lord Montague – Rokas Bertašius
• Lady Montague – Vakarė Mozuraitė / Monika Kviecinskaitė
• Benvolio – Titas Masys
• Mercutio – Kristupas Sterbavičius / Arnas Barišauskas
• Friar Lawrence – Jokūbas Naglinskas
• Paris – Marius Simonavičius
• Mab – Imelda Žutautaitė

Citizens: Miglė Brazytė, Viktorija Maneikytė, Medeina Čėsnaitė, Eglė Jaraitė, Nėja Babaliauskaitė, Augustas Jasevičius, Modestas Gurauskas, Justas Kregždys

CREATIVE TEAM:

• Director: Felicija Feiferė
• Set Designer: Nadežda Gultiajeva
• Choreographer: Agnė Rickevičienė
• Fight Scene Coordinator: Vilen (Moreno) Arutiunian
• Video Projection Artist: Linartas Urniežis
• Lighting Designer: Santautas Kabelka
• Sound Designer: Juozas Sakalis
• Video Operator: Andrius Kavaliauskas

The event is organized by the Vilnius University Culture Center.

Vilnius University Drama Theater

The Vilnius University (VU) Drama Theater was established along with Vilnius University, thanks to the Jesuit Order, and since then has become an integral part of the university. Having undergone numerous transformations, four years ago it entered a new phase under the direction of Felicija Feiferė.

Today, it has become a theater grounded in the creative exploration of literary works. It stages both classical and contemporary plays, infused with the youthful energy of the present day, as well as adaptations of prose and poetry. In recent years, the drama theater has also participated in projects aimed at popularizing science.