Open the Door: An International Theatre Production Connecting Lithuania and Burkina Faso

Produced by the National Kaunas Drama Theatre (Lithuania) in collaboration with Les Récréâtrales (Burkina Faso) as part of the DECONFINING project, Open the Door is a theatre production created by emerging Lithuanian director Justinas Vinciūnas and an international team of artists.

This performance is based on Aristide Tarnagda’s play Silmiga. Tarnagda, a playwright from Burkina Faso, tells the poignant story of a family raising a foreign boy alongside their son. The country is in turmoil, the village is attacked by terrorists, and the boy has become a stranger in the eyes of the locals – a threat to the village community. The locals declare the boy an enemy and demand that the family betray him, or the terrorists will massacre the entire village. When creating this play, the playwright aimed for universality and reflected on what connects us, which is why he chose the  Greek tragedy format. It is a unique version of the myth of Antigone. Aristide Tarnagda’s play does not shy away from political issues. It reflects the current rampage of terrorism in African countries as well as the war and post-war context in Lithuania.

 The director and his creative team emphasise not so much the political conflict, but rather the family drama through the protagonist’s experiences, his struggle between nihilism and idealism, and the notion of atonement. Is it possible to forgive oneself after taking another person’s life? This performance invites the audience not only to witness the teamwork between the most distant and culturally different countries, but also to observe the universal spiritual struggle of an individual.

• Duration: 1 hour 10 min (without intermission)

Premiere performances and international presentations

Following its premiere in Lithuania, Open the Door continued to reach audiences through performances at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre and an international presentation in Croatia, bringing the Lithuanian–Burkinabè artistic collaboration to new audiences.

 
Lithuania — World premiere and subsequent performances

 
13, 14 and 15 September 2024 — Kaunas, Lithuania

The production premiered at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre, with three performances in the theatre’s Long Hall.

On 14 September, a discussion entitled African Culture. How do we know it? was organised in connection with the production, featuring Dr Karina Simonson, art historian, lecturer at Vilnius University and researcher in African Studies. The discussion was moderated by Edgaras Klivis, Artistic Director of the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.

 
3 and 4 October 2024 — Kaunas, Lithuania

Two additional performances took place at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.

 
18 December 2024 — Kaunas, Lithuania

The production returned to the stage of the National Kaunas Drama Theatre for another performance.

 
20, 21, 23 and 27 February 2025 — Kaunas, Lithuania

Four further performances were presented at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.

 
18 and 20 March 2025 — Kaunas, Lithuania

Two additional performances took place at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.

 
30 May 2025 — Kaunas, Lithuania

The production was presented once again at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.

Croatia — International presentation and Croatian premiere

 
11 April 2025 — Rijeka, Croatia

Open the Door arrived in Croatia for its Croatian premiere at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka.

Performed in Lithuanian with Croatian subtitles, the production introduced Croatian audiences to this international theatre collaboration, bringing together the artistic perspectives of Lithuania and Burkina Faso.

The production’s journey from Kaunas to Rijeka demonstrated how theatre can create connections between different cultural contexts through shared artistic work and universal questions of belonging, fear, betrayal and redemption.

Awards and recognition

Following its Lithuanian premiere, Open the Door received two Golden Stage Crosses, one of Lithuania’s most important theatre awards, recognising the production’s artistic achievements.

About the creative process

For a deeper understanding of the vision behind this performance, be sure to read our interview with  director Justinas Vinciūnas, where he shares insights into the creative process and inspiration behind “Open the Door.”

→ Read the interview

The Crew

• Justinas Vinciūnas: Director
• Povilas Barzdžius: Souley
• Eglė Mikulionytė: Mother
• Robertas Petraitis: Wendyam
• Kęstutis Povilaitis: Uncle
• Sigitas Šidlauskas: Father
• Set Designer: Boubacar Souley Salifou
• Costume Designer and Co-author of Set Design: Patricija Vytytė
• Composer: Mantas Mockus
• Translator: Vytas Kraujelis
• Lighting Artist: Vladimiras Šerstabojevas