However, another side also emerges in this story. Some theater actors stood up to defend the institution and its director, claiming that the image being formed in the public space is one-sided and misleading. Actors Dainius Jankauskas and Toma Razmilavičiūtė shared open letters on their social media accounts.
„The side complaining about lack of respect itself lacks respect for the theater“
D.Jankauskas, who has been working in the theater for six years, emphasized that he cannot remain silent seeing how the situation is portrayed publicly and denied rumors about a toxic environment.
„Recently, many accusations have appeared in the public space against the theater where I work. I have been working in the theater for six years and during this time I have not experienced psychological violence. My experience is different from what is being attempted to be presented publicly, and I cannot remain silent seeing how a one-sided, misleading image is being formed,“ said the actor.
Although D.Jankauskas stated that he respects others’ right to speak about their experiences, he drew attention to the behavior of the accusers themselves and revealed shocking details about unprofessionalism behind the scenes.
„I have witnessed situations where professional discipline and respect for colleagues and the audience were lacking in individuals who speak about inappropriate behavior of the theater management or disrespect towards actors. Of course, respect must be mutual, but the side complaining about lack of respect itself lacks respect for the theater and the audience. Colleagues have repeatedly seen delays to performances, forcing the entire troupe and audience to wait for the start of the show for more than half an hour; arrivals at the performance just half an hour before it starts, when it should be otherwise, or leaving the stage before the performance ends. This is disrespectful behavior towards colleagues and the audience,“ D.Jankauskas stated bluntly, adding that accusations should be based on facts, not one-sided stories.
„We asked Venckus to save us“
Actress Toma Razmilavičiūtė supported her colleague. In her post, she looked back at the theater’s past and reminded what a pit the institution was in before Antanas Venckus began leading it.
„When Antanas Venckus was appointed to lead the Theater a few years ago – we all breathed easier. Not just that! To be fair, we asked him to participate in the competition for the director’s position. At that time, Miltinis Theater was in such a deep mess, that Ministry representatives were calling the heads of Lithuanian Theaters and Cultural Centers asking who would agree to participate in the competition for the director of Miltinis Theater. There were even proposals to transfer our Theater from state status to the Panevėžys municipality. But NO ONE WANTED US. With thousands in debts. And, literally – with a broken repertoire. We were just a troupe of hungry actors who loved our Theater madly and asked Venckus to save us,“ the actress wrote openly.
T.Razmilavičiūtė emphasized that it is thanks to the current director that the theater was revived and became a center of attraction for creators across Lithuania:
„Unknown Lithuanian directors became known and nominated in our theater. Directors who had never even been to Panevėžys staged performances in our Theater. International names – who had never been to Lithuania before. There are no empty actor positions in our Theater – artists from major Lithuanian cities want to come work with us. Almost a third of the troupe’s actors commute to work from the capital. Miltinis Theater has become a center of attraction artistically, creatively, and career-wise.“
Responding to the accusations, she did not hide her frustration that the situation is mostly commented on by those who do not even work in the theater. The actress assured that the theater will not engage in public disputes and emphasized the unity of the collective.
„What WE ALL created with the Director at the forefront over the past few years is infinitely precious. And you know what? Finally, I can proudly say – IT IS REAL. Therefore, we will not bark at comments and articles that demean and slander. They lie and hurt. We will do what we are called to do. With our leader at the forefront. A leader we believe in and trust. <…> I wrote in plural. Because WE – are first and foremost a COLLECTIVE. First and foremost – people. Not I,“ T.Razmilavičiūtė concluded her heartfelt post.
