Pilėnai was a pagan castle in Lithuania that was attacked in the 14th century. After two days of fierce fighting, the Pilėnai realised that the invasion of the attacking crusaders had been successful, and, unwilling to surrender, they embarked on a desperate plan – to turn the guns on themselves and their relatives. This is one of the most famous acts of collective suicide, which has become an important symbol of resistance for Lithuanians, and whose significance was particularly heightened in the context of the Soviet occupation.

As the artists Matas Dirginčius and Naubertas Jasinskas reconsider the history of Pilėnai, the axis of their analysis becomes the constructs of heroic tradition and patriarchy. Historically, in the face of the threat of war and the danger of extinction, the ideas of conservative traditional masculinity become stronger. As modern men’s self-understanding moves away from the standards established by patriarchy, economic and political threats exacerbate the conflict of identity.

Aware of the possibility of a repetition of the history of the Pilėnai and the threat to our nation, the performance deconstructs the rigid notion of masculinity and asks the question, how can we create new models of interactions that emphasize openness, sensitivity and empathy?

Matas Dirginčius is a theater and film actor. The creator’s biography includes several dozen roles on the stages of the State Youth, Panevėžys Juozas Miltinis Drama, Kaunas Chamber, and other theaters. He is accumulating experience on film sets, and has tested his work as a theatredirector. M. Dirginčius is a laureate of the Young Creator Award of the Ministry of Culture, a nominee for the Golden Stage Cross.

Naubertas Jasinskas graduated from the master’s degree in directing in 2020, and works in state and independent theaters. The creator constantly experiments with thought and form, his work is distinguished by intellectuality. His performances raise topics of human rights, sexuality, empathy, and criticism of the patriarchal social order. N.Jasinskas is a laureate of the Golden Stage Cross, the D.Tamulevičiūtė National Drama Competition, the Academy of Sciences Prize, and other awards.

MMLAB (Arts and Science Lab) is professional theatre based in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was founded as a platform for creative projects where artists and scientists collaborated to explore new theatrical forms and subjects. The key MMLAB strategy is experimentation - both in artistic expression and thematic exploration. Now MMLAB supports and presents emerging and established young artists, collaborates with the national and state institutions, and maintains strong international partnerships across Europe and beyond. Each MMLAB project engages a growing number of artists, and the organization has gained recognition among both critics and audiences. Creators are also experimenting by creating installations in unconventional spaces, such as underground passages or old kindergartens. The MMLAB showcase in Riga is the first complex presentation of newest MMLAB productions abroad.