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“In the ConTempo OFF’25 program, we select experimental works that enrich. For us, the word ‘experiment’ is associated with curiosity, authenticity, and originality,” says Darius Vizbaras, head of Kosmos Theatre. On August 7, during the performing arts festival ConTempo, six interdisciplinary works by Lithuanian and international artists will be presented across the spaces of the Kaunas City Chamber Theatre. Creators working at the intersection of contemporary performing arts promise to surprise audiences with works that transcend traditional boundaries of music, theatre, and visual art, as well as conventional festival formats.

Now in its third year, the independent experimental performing arts platform ConTempo OFF, organized by Kaunas City Chamber Theatre and Kosmos Theatre and presented under the umbrella of the ConTempo festival, was curated this year from as many as 21 applying creative teams, involving more than 120 Lithuanian artists.

“Such a high level of interest proves that Lithuania still lacks platforms that truly encourage interdisciplinarity. When shaping the program, we prioritized young creators searching for a stage, as well as experienced artists who lack a platform that allows them to experiment—whose work does not fit into traditional frameworks. The program has no unifying theme or form. Instead, we looked for an interdisciplinary approach in the artists’ proposals. We hope audiences will be surprised by familiar creators and discover emerging Lithuanian talents. We sense that the word ‘experiment’ often carries negative connotations, but to us it means curiosity, authenticity, originality—something unfamiliar yet enriching. For audiences, it is an opportunity to discover new art forms; for creators, it is a chance to find their audience and test new ideas,” says D. Vizbaras.

From exhibition to contemporary oratorio

This year’s ConTempo OFF program features striking, unexpected, yet relevant works presented by creators from Lithuania and Ukraine: composers, photographers, directors, performance artists, and dancers.

Through sound and visual means, the works will explore a variety of themes. Greta Gudelytė’s performance “Woman with a Stone in Her Mouth” invites audiences to acknowledge and remember crimes committed against women in Lithuania from the 19th to the 21st century.

The Ukrainian–Lithuanian duo Beatričė Zaveckaitė and Anna Fedoronchuk will present their ongoing research project “Kasa Kosa Koltūnas”, which uses the language of dance to explore our relationship with what exists behind us and remains unreachable.

Three works in the program will focus on music, presented in the formats of chamber opera, contemporary oratorio, and musical performance. Audiences will hear baroque, electronic, and chamber music, explore the works of Antonio Cesti, Claudio Monteverdi, and Antonio Vivaldi, discover the life story of deportee Algirdas Pūro through Domantas Pūro’s electroacoustic compositions and spatial sound, and experience the opera “The Sailor” by Lukas Butkus and Jonas Kuprevičius, inspired by a play by Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.

During ConTempo OFF, visitors will also be able to see Eglė Jasaitytė’s exhibition “Ephemera”—a biodegradable art project created from used coffee grounds and other organic materials.

According to Darius Vizbaras, around 150 spectators attended the ConTempo OFF program in its first year. In the second year, this number grew significantly to 600 viewers.

This exponential audience growth reflects increasing interest in experimental performing arts. “We are glad that some of the works presented in the program continue to be successfully shown in other formats and find their own audiences. After being presented at ConTempo OFF, several works traveled to performing arts and contemporary art festivals and various cultural events across Lithuania. Some even crossed national borders and toured across Europe,” says D. Vizbaras.

The independent experimental performing arts platform ConTempo OFF will take place on August 7 at the Kaunas City Chamber Theatre. The full festival program is available at: www.contempofestival.lt