Hundred years of a ‘certain theatre’ in Pohulanka

‘The history of a certain theatre…’ – this is a title of a new exhibition in the Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum. The exhibition inaugurates ceremonies commemorating 100 years of existence of the first professional theatre in Vilnius, which was opened on October 12, 1913, under the name of Polish Theatre in Vilnius and after the war it used to be the main theatre venue in Lithuania for many years (National Opera and Ballet Theatre). Since the opening of the Russian Drama Theatre in 1986 in Pohulanka district, its historic building became to be associated with multiculturalism of Vilnius. Polish ex-minister of culture Bogdan Zdrojewski, at the same time participating in a meeting of directors of departments of culture from the European Union, as well as vice-minister of culture in Lithuania Edward Trusewicz were the main guests at the opening of the exhibition.

It is commonly known that for the Poles in the Vilnius Region the theatre in Pohulanka means more than a 100 years old building demanding a thorough renovation. It is a relic, already fought for in the tsar period and built with the money collected by the Polish community, mainly squires and a wealthy middle-class of the Vilnius Governorate. It is why it was named ‘Polish Theatre’ (for half a century only Russian theatres had existed) and the style of the building had no Art Nouveau ornaments, as the funders demanded it to be a building Polish in its character. Thus, the synthesis of architectural forms of manor houses and landed gentry houses with ornaments in the style of Polish neo-Renaissance (Attic style).

It was here, when in 1922 the Parliament of Central Lithuania decided to annex the Vilnius territory to the Second Polish Republic, an event after which there was no need to demonstrate Polish identity. Thus, it was now the Grand Theatre who welcomed spectators. However, it was a slack business and the funders decided to hand over building to the city of Vilnius (on condition that it will operate as Polish theatre) and thus in the 1930s it already functioned as Teatr Miejski na Pohulance (Municipal Theatre in Pohulanka). Everything changed in the years 1939-1946, although during the whole course of the war and during the occupation the theatre, as the only Polish theatre on occupied territories of the Second Polish Republic, was open and functioned normally. Only the process of expatriation led to the disappearance of the Polish tongue from the stage of the theatre, but the actors who begun their careers here, became theatre and cinema stars across Poland in the second half of the 20^th

The exhibition, prepared by a well known theatrologist and editor of a quarterly magazine ‘Krantai’ Helmutas Šabasevičius, reminds the viewers that the ‘Polish period’ in Pohulanka lasted for only a quarter-century (25^th anniversary was celebrated in 1939), or for 33 years if the occupation period between 1940-1946 is considered Polish. Few years ago a similar anniversary was celebrated by the Russians (Russian Drama Theatre in Lithuania), whose history begun in 1946, but which only in 1986 moved to Pohulanka. On the other hand, this building was a birthplace of a contemporary Lithuanian drama for almost four decades (1946-1986), today known across Europe and appreciated worldwide. It was here, where the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, founded before the war in Kowno, came into bloom and which only in 1974 moved into a beautiful new building. It was also the place where the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre and Państwowy Teatr Młodzieżowy (National Youth Theatre) were set up and grew (only two theatre institutions in Lithuania have the right to use the word ‘national’ in their name).

Hence, the lifetime achievement of Hipolit Korwin-Milewski, the initiator of building of the theatre, can be considered to be a birthplace of contemporary theatre in this part of Europe. It is closely connected with such individuals as Osterwa, Zelwerowicz, Nekrosius or Vaitkus. This modest exhibition, which can be visited between October 29 and December 15 also in historical interiors of the theatre in Pohulanka, cannot fully show the importance of the past 100 years, but it is an interesting introduction to the anniversary celebrations, embracing the ‘century of theatre’ by the four walls of the venue.

Numerous mementos of the oldest age can be seen here – posters (on a wall-paper from the 1920s, among others), never realised projects of different theatre buildings, photographs, costumes, including Kontush – an old Polish split-sleeve overcoat dating to 1930s with a stamp ‘Municipal Theatres in Vilnius,’ which somehow survived in the dressing room of the Lithuanian Drama Theatre, as well as a chair supposedly from the office of Zelwerowicz…

The opening of the exhibition was graced by the hits from the period and the repertoire of Hanka Ordonówna, beautifully sung by Agnieszka Radwo and Henryk Sokołowksi from the Polish Studio Theatre in Vilnius accompanied by Alicja Tryk.

Anniversary celebrations of the 100-years of the theatre, prepared by the Russian Drama Theatre, current hosts of the venue, will take place between 21 and 26 of October. It will be initiated by ‘Zemsta’ (‘Revenge’), performed by the Polish Theatre in Warsaw and closed with ‘Lilije’ (‘Lilies’) played by…the Polish Theatre in Vilnius of course! (The play ‘Lilije’ is symbolic here, as it was the first play performed in 1913 in the theatre in Pohulanka.)

Photos: Jan Wierbiel

Editing: Artur Kalczewski

Source: http://www.wilnoteka.lt/pl/tresc/sto-lat-pewnego-teatru-na-pohulance

Tłumaczenie by Awa Ratajczak w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Awa Ratajczak within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.