Portal

A play exploring shifts in human consciousness in the digital age and questioning our perception of reality. Audrius, unemployed and caring for his pregnant wife and ailing mother, is drawn into The Portal—a virtual game promising self-discovery and life change. As he withdraws from real life, his commitment to the game’s missions blurs the line between critical thought and dangerous radicalism.

A large part of the performance takes place inside a Second Life–like game world. Without the budget for expensive 3D animation, we effectively built the game by filming scenes in the real Second Life platform. Actors created avatars, and together with director Mantas Jančiauskas, we scouted digital locations, choreographed movements, and planned camera shots—blending theatre and virtual space into one continuous reality.

The filmed sequences inside The Portal depict disturbing and satirical scenarios: an anti-feminist revolution flashmob, a group targeting and harassing a hated woman, and absurd “manly challenges” proudly documented as proof of strength. These moments amplify the game’s unsettling mix of playfulness and toxicity, mirroring the darker currents of online culture.