On September 5–6, the Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace at the National Museum of Lithuania (LNM) invites you to the Suduva Amateur Theater Festival “Atžalynas” Marking the beginning of autumn in Ožkabaliai, the festival has already become a tradition that brings together regional communities, amateur theaters, and audiences from all over Lithuania. The barn theater space blends living history, humor, folklore, and contemporary drama, reviving both stories from the past and experiences from the present.

Atžalynas is not only a series of amateur theater performances, but also a unique cultural phenomenon that has become an integral part of the region’s annual calendar. Organized since 1997 in the birthplace of Jonas Basanavičius, the festival reminds us that theater is born wherever the curious eyes of the audience and creative imagination meet.

Children’s and Youth Theater Day

On September 5, at 10:00 a.m., the festival will begin with Children’s and Youth Theater Day, “Atžalynas” dedicated to the youngest theatergoers and their families. The stage will feature a cheerful performance of Grybų karas (The War of the Mushrooms) (directed by Jolanta Puskunigienė) and the children’s and youth theater studio “Ku-Kū” from the Skapiškis branch of the Kupiškis Cultural Center with the play “O, kalnas!” (directed by Vita Vadoklytė).

The Little Theatre Day will be accompanied by games, prizes, and, of course, ice cream, which will be provided to all participants by the sponsor Artglacio. Families will enjoy the festive atmosphere together, rejoice in the creativity of their children, and end the first week of the school year in a light, cheerful, and delicious way.

The program includes comedies, folklore improvisations, and sensitive contemporary drama

This year’s festival program offers a wide variety of performances, ranging from comical stories to moving dramas.

The Kalvarija theater Titnagas will present Edmundas Untulis’ comedy Duok mums ramybę (Give Us Peace, directed by Kęstutis Krasnickas), a humorous interpretation of the realities of the COVID-19 period, intertwining intrigue and the search for love.

The Vilkaviškis Cultural Center’s street theater performance “Apie oranžus ir visa kita…” (About Oranges and Everything Else…) (directed by Daiva Kasulaitienė) will recall the stories of smuggling in the Suvalkija region during the interwar period, which will be brought to life on stage with dances and songs.

The Kaunas Cultural Center’s Kazio Binkio Theater invites you to a performance based on folk tales, “Spooky Events at the Pabališkiai Inn” (directed by Nida Vita Žilinskienė), which will be full of devils, fairies, and unexpected twists and turns.

The Veiveriai Cultural and Leisure Center’s amateur theater Vaivora will present the comedy Kaip senis meilės ieškojo (How the Old Man Sought Love, directed by Virginija Samuolienė), which tells a story of longing for love, showing that the desire for this feeling does not depend on age or social status.

The Liudvinavas Theater Žalias sodas of the Marijampolė Cultural Center, directed by Vita Gvazdaitienė, will “bring to life” the writer Kazys Boruta on stage, recreating a vivid portrait of him and highlighting the most colorful episodes of his life.

The highlight of the evening will be the performance “Terapijos” (Therapies) by guests from the Klaipėda theater “Artyn”. Based on a play by playwright Birutė Kapustinskaitė, the performance sensitively and boldly addresses the everyday lives of people affected by cancer: there is no shortage of laughter and tears, but most importantly, there is a sense of authenticity that leaves no one indifferent.

Music, market, and community

The festival day will be filled with the youthful energy of the live music group Apvynys, and the event will be hosted by the witty Rima Rauktenienė.

Alongside the hustle and bustle of the theater, there will be a fair featuring folk artists, craftsmen, and culinary heritage, as well as a trunk market, where everyone will be able to take home a piece of Sūduva.

Practical information

September 5 (Friday), 10:00 a.m. – Children’s and Youth Theater Day “Atžalynas.” Ticket price – €3.

September 6 (Saturday), 1:00 p.m. – Suduva Amateur Theater Festival “Atžalynas.” Ticket price – €5, €3 for schoolchildren, students, and seniors.

Both events will take place at the LNM Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace in Ožkabaliai.

Registration and information for participants in the trade fair and flea market: tel. +370 342 69365.