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Theater festival “Hemp”
Intoxicating “Hemp” festival in Trakai
In February 1992, Trakai Royal Theater organized the first Lithuanian comedy festival called “Hemp”, after that it was decided to hold this festival in Trakai once every two years. The first director and founder of the theater Vytautas Mikalauskas remembers that in comparison with the royal name of the theater, which was invented quite quickly, the theater group had a harder time coming up with the name for the festival. There were a few options, however, “Hemp” suited perfectly. According to the bright memory Lithuanian actress, the first professional female director, the godmother of the festival Kazimiera Kymantaitė, theater really is a drug, once you tasted it, you fall into its trap for life.
The first “Hemp” lasted for two days. At the festival, Trakai Royal Theater performed two performances: P. Petliukas-Pundzevičius the '"Unbreakable Knot" and J. Gurauskas' "Šalaputris". Two years later, the festival has become international – in addition to Lithuanian theater groups from various cities, theaters from Poland, Estonia and Latvia also took part. After the impressive opening of the festival in Trakai island Castle, the premiere night of the Trakai Royal Theater took place – B. Dauguvietis "Žaldokynė". The newspaper "Galvė" described the culmination of the festival opening as follows: "The performance ended after two nights, but everyone endured this theatrical show marathon.” The most revered legend of Lithuanian theater Kazimiera Kymantaitė jumped off her chair and shouted to the hall: “Trakai is for culture! It is culture!”
Trakai keeps carrying culture. Every day, with days changing for weeks, and weeks changing for months. During the theater festival "Hemp" (and not only), the locals and guests of the city gather in the hall of Trakai palace of culture to fill their hearts and souls with positive emotions. Shouts of admiration, wonder and applause accompany each performance. Could there be a better mutual exchange for the creator, actor and spectator?
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