Mantas Jankavičius returns to the theatre stage to star in a drama directed by D. Kazlauskas

After a long break, actor and singer Mantas Jankavičius returns to the theatre stage. As he says himself, he is returning as part of a "success duo" - Mantas will play the lead role in the musical play "Two on the Roof" by actor, director and long-time friend Dainius Kazlauskas.

Mantas will play the lead role in a romantic drama full of comic situations, "Two on the Roof", together with actress Adele Šuminskaite. The play, based on the play "Two in a Swing" by the American writer W. Gibson, will tell the story of the impossible love, longing and expectations of two young people, and will remind them of the values that are not subject to time.

Dainius Kazlauskas, the director of the play, says that there are not many stories that are interesting and at the same time touching, but the play "Two in the Swing" is one of them.

"When I read this play for the first time, it shocked me a lot. I wanted to touch it for a long time, and I couldn't, but finally I sat down and... rewrote it. Today, the play is completely different, only the fable remains, but the miracle and paradox is that the rewriting of the play to the present day has not changed it at all," says Dainius Kazlauskas. - I'm curious to see how the play will work in today's context, but I also have an interesting professional interest - to see if I can capture the feeling I had 30 years ago, when I first picked up "Two Swings"."

Mantas says that he and Dainius Kazlauskas have known each other for many years, but that they became closer friends in the wake of the film "Tadas Blinda.

"After this film, Dainius offered me a role in the play "Free Butterflies", which ended up being an incredible success, running for almost 8 years. So the choice to work together was not accidental - I would call us a "lucky duo"," says Mantas. - With Dainius, I could go to the edge of the world, to intelligence and everywhere else. I believe in him and I believe in the success of this new performance."

The actor and singer admits that the genre of theatre is dear and close to his heart, that he is a frequent visitor of performances, and that the dark and uncommon space allows him to be with himself, to identify with the characters, and leads to a reflection on existential questions, which is very important and necessary."

"I love the theatre and I'm happy to have the trust of talented directors. Sometimes it's fun to change the profile, to take a break from performing, to meet and create a relationship with the audience in a different way - theatre. This autumn we have a wonderful premiere coming up and I'm happy to be a part of it," says Mantas.

Two on the Roof will premiere in Lithuania from 24 October.