Gargantua and Pantagruel is one of the longest-running plays of the theatre, which has been part of our repertoire since 1993. The novel Gargantua and Pantagruel, written by a major Renaissance writer François Rabelais (1494 –1553), provides readers with a vast amount of knowledge in philosophy, philology, law and natural sciences. Because of their biting humour and admiration for human body and sensual pleasures, Rabelais' books were banned by the Catholic Church, condemned to burning, and later placed on the Index of Forbidden Books. Still, this work of art, the extracts of which became the literary background of the play, is full of vitality, enjoyment of life, unbridled imagination, unrestrained humour and a wealth of other colours, typical of the Renaissance. Instead of a traditional theatre stage, the performance takes place in a cramped café, where the actors and the audience sit at the same table, enjoying the feast of wine and rich texts. At the International Theatre Festival ‘Baltijsky Dom’ in St. Petersburg, this performance was named ‘a pocket play’ because of its extremely enclosed space, able to seat only 15-18 spectators. The atmosphere of the play is created by imitating a secret meeting of people who share the same interests, a ‘feast in time of plague’. Rather than watching the action passively, the spectators are also involved – they may have to answer a character’s question or read out a given phrase, until everyone gradually becomes a participant of the ‘plot’. Gargantua and Pantagruel is the play which asserts wordly pleasures and a ‘joie de vivre’ “The theatre has surprised us all not only with their interesting interpretation of the novel, but also with their high level of performance.” “Lietuvos aidas” 11 May 1995 “The performance “Gargantua and Pantagruel” is unique and, undoubtedly, handicraft (as well as those nice, strangely formed glasses of wine poured generously). The handicraft is at the fingertips here.” “Peterburgskij teatralnij žurnal” 1996 (9) “The performance has created perfect conditions for the interactive theatre.” “Helsingin Sanomat” 2 February 2000
Premiere in June 1993
A diploma for the original interpretation of F.Rabelais’ novel
Festival of Lithuanian Theatres "Kelias". Panevėžys (Lithuania) 1995
Lithuanian Theatre Festival LIFE. Vilnius (Lithuania) 1997
International Theatre Festival "Baltic Circle". Helsinki (Finland) 2000
International Theatre Festival "Midwinter Night’s Dream". Tallinn (Estonia) 2000
