Director Šarūnas Datenis, together with set designer Antanas Dubra and composer Vytautas Leistrumas, returns as a creative team to present their fourth production for children — this time boldly reimagining Gianni Rodari’s classic “The Adventures of Cipollino” through a contemporary lens.

On the occasion of Culture Night, we invite audiences to a unique experience — an interactive mask performance adapted for adults (18+), inspired by Rodari’s timeless tale “The Adventures of Cipollino.”

Gianni Rodari (1920–1980) was an Italian journalist, author, and editor of several children’s newspapers. He is best known for his literary fairy tales, particularly “The Adventures of Cipollino”, written in 1951. In his stories, Rodari explored not only universal values but also dared to critique political and social realities through the lens of nonsense aesthetics and humor — a quality that continues to captivate both children and adults alike. In 1970, his literary contributions were recognized with the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest international honor awarded to children’s authors.

What awaits is an adventure-filled story of liberation and the fight for justice, spilling beyond the confines of a single stage and weaving its way through multiple spaces of the theater. Alongside the brave onion boy Cipollino and his fellow vegetables, you’ll journey toward a freer, more open life — one that dares to reflect on our shared history and imagine new futures. In the words of director Šarūnas Datenis:
“With this performance, we hope to encourage independent thinking and a touch of rebellion. To remind ourselves that we live in a democratic society, where we are not bound to blindly follow orders. We have the right to question, to share ideas, and to challenge decisions made by those in power.”