As You Like It
State Small Theatre of Vilnius | Dir. Uršulė Bartoševičiūtė
“As You Like It” is a tragicomedy by Shakespeare that explores love, identity, and transformation through the story of Rosalind hiding from her noble relatives in the forest. Written at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, it challenges traditional views of love as suffering, instead presenting it as a source of joy and freedom.
This production, directed by Uršulė Bartoševičiūtė at the Small State Theatre of Vilnius, offers a radical adaptation where the play serves as material for bold self-expression. Blending kitsch, absurdity, and fantasy, it captures the fragmentation and vibrant rhythm of modern urban life, mixing Renaissance and contemporary elements. The performance takes place in the theatre’s basement café, transforming the space into an underground metro station, immersing the audience in a dynamic, phantasmagoric world.
The video component plays a dual role—as an extension of the scenography, depicting metro tunnels, and as narrative scenes where Shakespearean characters appear in contemporary Vilnius, including a symbolic wedding in the iconic Santuokų rūmai. The visuals combine multiple techniques such as stop motion, deformation in post-production, compositing, and live video, enriching the theatrical experience with layered imagery and storytelling.
Director and the author of adaptation – Uršulė Bartoševičiūtė
Set design – Ieva Rojūtė
Music design – Marija Paškevičiūtė
Costume design – Liucija Kvašytė
Video artist – Kristijonas Dirsė
Light design – Julius Kuršys
CAST:
ROSALIND / GANYMEDES – Milda Noreikaitė
ORLANDO – Karolis Kasperavičius
DUKE SENIOR – Edmundas Mikulskis
CELIA – Indrė Patkauskaitė
DUKE FREDERICK – Arvydas Dapšys
TOUCHSTON – Agnė Šataitė
