The lecture-discussion “Censorship in the Shadow of Theatre” invites audiences to examine the relationship between theatre and censorship in both historical and contemporary contexts. The event delves into questions such as how censorship has influenced and continues to influence theatre makers, whether creative freedom truly exists without compromise, and what it means to create art under constant scrutiny and control.
The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Goda Dapšytė, a theatre scholar and researcher at the Centre for Performing Arts Studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She will explore the complexity of censorship as a phenomenon and its impact on the theatrical arts, with particular focus on the mechanisms of Soviet-era censorship. These mechanisms, often unwritten, significantly shaped artistic expression. The lecture will also examine the phenomenon of Aesopian language—used by artists to subtly resist censorship—as well as the language of censorship itself: how it is constructed, how it influences artistic expression, and how it can distort meaning.
The lecture will not be limited to a historical perspective. Contemporary forms of censorship and the phenomenon of content being censored will also be discussed, supported by recent examples.
An open discussion with theatre and cultural professionals will follow the lecture, offering a broader perspective on how censorship manifests in today’s cultural landscape. Participants in the discussion will include:
- Violeta Tapinienė – educator and arts education expert
- Vaidas Jauniškis – theatre critic
- Oskaras Koršunovas – theatre director
- Saulius Sipaitis – actor
The discussion will be moderated by Laisvė Radzevičienė, a cultural journalist.
