Teatras

Teatras is the Lithuanian term for theatre, the performing arts form that uses live actors on stage to present scripted or improvised performances before an audience. It encompasses both the art itself and the institutions, venues, and companies that produce and present it. A theatre production combines acting, directing, scenography, costume, lighting and sound design, music, and often dance, working together to tell a story or explore ideas in a live setting.

Productions are typically organized into seasons by theatre companies and funded through a mix of ticket sales, public subsidies, private sponsorship, and grants. A production process generally includes dramaturgy, casting, rehearsals, stage design, lighting and sound planning, and technical runs before the premiere. The audience sits in a hall, auditorium or theatre venue, and performances can be staged in different spatial formats, such as proscenium, thrust, or theatre-in-the-round.

Teatras has a long history dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, evolving through medieval and Renaissance theatre into modern forms. In Europe, formal theatres emerged in the early modern period, with later developments in realism, naturalism, and contemporary experimental theatre. Globally, theatre reflects diverse cultural traditions, including ritual theatre, folk theatre, and modern multidisciplinary performances.

Today, theatres function as cultural hubs, offering productions across genres—drama, comedy, tragedy, opera, musical theatre—and serve educational and community purposes through workshops, youth programmes, and festivals. They may be standalone venues or part of universities, municipalities, or national companies, and their programming often aims to balance classics with contemporary works and new voices.