Klaipėda University Student Theatre was officially established on 1 October 2018 on the initiative of the KU Rector, prof. dr. Artūras Razbadauskas, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, prof. dr. Rimantas Balsys.
During the period of five years, the following performances were created in the KU Student Theatre: “The Pit”, “Marathon” (2018) based on the one-act plays by the pioneer of absurdist drama in Lithuania A. Ambras, “Not Such a Little Prince” based on A. Saint-Exupéry’s tale “The Little Prince” (2018), “The Story of a Broken Heart” (2020) based on the play by contemporary Finnish playwright Sara Turunnen, “The Reserve” by G. Grajauskas (2022), “Behind the Doors” by V. Veršulis (2023), “Advent Conversations” based on the play “A Few Conversations about .... (Christ)” by Tekle Kavtaradze (2023). Every year, the Theatre presents excerpts from national or world dramaturgy or literary works to the audience, has prepared poetic/theatrical impressions based on texts of V. Mačernis, G. Grajauskas, S. Geda and other authors.
KU Student Theatre actively participates in various republic and international projects and festivals as well as those of the Western region. Since 2020, KU Student Theatre has joined the ranks of the International Association of University Theatres (AITU – IUTA). Every year it participates in the International Forum of University Theatres with a new play, organised by the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Theatre Studio “Palėpė” (director Oleg Kesmin). In 2021, this forum was held in Klaipėda with participants being university theatre troupes from Romania, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
KU Student Theatre has established international cooperation relations with the Lithuanian Gymnasium in Riga and Grigol Robakidze University Theatre from Sakartvelo (Head Roin Dvali).
For many years the Theatre has been organising and curating the republican festival of KU graduate school theatres “Kites” to win the Transitional Department Cup. As of 2019, the festival has taken off and is flying around Lithuania. Major festivals of children’s and youth school theatres have been already organised in Tauragė, Prienai, Vilnius, Ignalina.
Students from different faculties and specialities participate in the KU Theatre Activities. Theatre is an excellent medium for the development of young people’s self-expression, creativity and communication skills.
