Remembering Lithuanian theatre director Eimuntas Nekrošius

Eimuntas Nekrošius, the Lithuanian theatre director (Pažobris, 1952 – Vilnius, 2018), passed away unexpectedly while preparing for an Oedipus at Colonus production for the Naples festival. A pivotal figure in breathing new life into classical literature, his theatrical approach emphasized physical performance and narrative through objects. With a deep affinity for Italy, he directed adaptations of works by literary giants such as Shakespeare, Gogol, Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Camus. Between 2011 and 2013, he led Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza. Valentina Valentini, a scholar, praised his groundbreaking 1995 interpretation of Chekhov's Three Sisters and later published a monograph that introduced the term "classical modernity." Nekrošius prioritized distinct voices over naturalism, considering theatre ephemeral, with only Chaplin's creations enduring. He regarded Lithuania as his primary muse.