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"Galaxies" is a performance whose intriguing plot twists, witty dialogues, along with caricatures and sound effects, fill the theater halls with the laughter of young viewers and smiles from adults. Beneath this universally enjoyable lightness of laughter, a serious and highly relevant theme is hidden – the understanding and support of people on the autism spectrum and their loved ones.

Karolis, the main character of the play, portrayed by Artūras Dubaka, has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (Asperger's syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition on the autism spectrum that affects a person's social life. A person with the syndrome may find it difficult to communicate with others, and others may find it difficult to understand them. This syndrome is sometimes called social or communication dyslexia). He struggles to communicate with his classmates and teachers. This creates many challenges not only for the young man himself, but also for his mother.

Relatives and distant family members bombard Karolis’s mother with phone calls and comments about her son’s condition. They try to convince her that it is merely a teenage act of rebellion, and that the only cure for such behaviour is strict discipline and punishment.

In the performance, we see the young man’s mother’s stubborn determination as she tries to persuade her son to make friends, alongside her unconditional love and deep desire to help him. The play also shines a light on the teacher’s authority, her efforts to understand Karolis, her admiration for his complete dedication to his interests, and her sincere support for the boy’s mother.

The performance stands out not only for its sensitive topic, but also for the subtle way it is conveyed through its set design. The meticulous craftsmanship of the scenography is striking — especially the fact that all the main elements are made of paper. From a foldable paper house that transports the audience to different locations in the story, to the paper-knit sweater worn by the mother, which symbolises both fragility and courage, reminiscent of a knight’s armour. Every detail is carefully crafted, allowing even older audience members to rediscover a sense of playful imagination they may have left behind on the school bench.

“The performance was inspired by personal experiences of encountering Asperger’s syndrome: the feeling of being lost, astonishment, society’s lack of understanding, and the absurd, paradoxical situations that leave you speechless at first, but later make you want to talk about them through the artistic language of theatre. Some of these experiences made their way into the play, but they were enriched with stories from other Lithuanian families, as well as research from fiction and scientific literature on the subject,” says actress and author of the idea Kristina Maurusevičiūtė.

It is heartwarming to see real, lived stories come alive on the theatre stage — stories that address not only the problems faced by young audiences, but also the concerns and emotions of adults. Actress Gabija Jaraminaitė is delighted that the performance touched children’s hearts: “One girl came up to me after the show and said: ‘At school, I feel exactly the same as Karolis.’”

Review by student art critic Aistė Narbuntaitė. Photos by Viktorija Lankauskaitė