At the Crossroads of Cultures was a series of Playback Theatre performances dedicated to Ukrainian–Lithuanian cultural dialogue.
The project responded to the growing presence of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania and the need to build not only humanitarian, but cultural and emotional bridges between communities.
Implemented in cooperation with the National Museum of Lithuania, the project positioned theatre as a space for public memory, shared history, and contemporary reflection.
Objectives
- Create a cultural dialogue between Lithuanian and Ukrainian communities
- Reflect on themes of identity, displacement, belonging, and resilience
- Activate museums as living spaces for contemporary conversation
- Promote inclusive participation in cultural institutions
- Strengthen intercultural empathy through applied theatre
Activities
- 5 professional Playback Theatre performances
- Story collection from Lithuanian and Ukrainian participants
- Public discussions after performances
- Collaboration with museum curators and cultural mediators
- Integration of historical context into contemporary storytelling
Each event connected personal narratives with broader historical themes — allowing audiences to see how individual stories resonate within larger cultural memory.
Methodology
The project combined:
- Playback Theatre methodology
- Site-sensitive performance in museum space
- Facilitated intercultural dialogue
- Participatory audience engagement
- Trauma-informed listening practices
Museum space became not only an exhibition site, but a platform for living testimony.
Impact
- Strengthened cooperation between cultural institutions and refugee communities
- Increased participation of Ukrainians in Lithuanian cultural life
- Demonstrated how applied theatre can activate heritage spaces
- Deepened public conversation around shared European values
The project positioned Prosperis as a mediator between contemporary social realities and institutional cultural platforms.
