The Lithuanian National Drama Theatre began on 6 October 1940, when the drama "Hope" by Dutch playwright Herman Heijermans was staged at the then Vilnius State Theatre on Basanavičiaus Street. The play about the life of fishermen - a boat - became the emblem of the National Drama Theatre.
During the Second World War, the Vilnius State Theatre operated as the Vilnius City Theatre, in 1944-1947 - as the Vilnius State Drama Theatre, in 1947-1955 it was called the Lithuanian State Drama Theatre, until 1998 - the Lithuanian State Academic Drama Theatre, and on August 3, 1998, it was legalised as the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre.
In its current premises on the Gediminas Avenue (No. 4), the theatre has been operating since 1951. The venue has a deep theatrical tradition, having been the venue of the theatrical events of the Polish cultural association "Liutnia" in the early 20th century. A major reconstruction of the theatre was completed in 1981 (architects - Algimantas and Vytautas Nasvyčiai). In 2018, a second major reconstruction was started, which included the construction of a new New Hall, a new Small Hall, the renovation of the Great Hall and the refurbishment of the auditorium and the audience service areas.
The "Feast of the Muses", which crowns the main entrance of the theatre and was created by the sculptor Stanislovas Kuzma, has become a symbol of the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre. The Muses of Drama (Kaliope), Comedy (Thalia) and Tragedy (Melpomene) are the patron saints of the theatre's wide and genre-diverse repertoire, and the Versme sculpture, which adorns the theatre's lobby, represents the theatre's tradition-keeping, yet energetic, direction of activity, which is open to innovations and change.
The Lithuanian National Drama Theatre presents plays of various genres, introducing the audience to classical, contemporary and national dramaturgy. The repertoire is created taking into account the tastes of different audiences, as well as the theatre's regulations and goals. The repertoire is shaped by the theatre's Artistic Council, elected every second year. The theatre tries to give the opportunity to different theatre makers to create, and both experienced, well-known in the world of theatre, and young and promising directors, artists, composers are invited to stage plays. Often, directors from other countries are invited to direct productions. Eimuntas Nekrošius, Oskaras Koršunovas, Krystian Lupa, Arpad Schilling, Grzegorz Jarzyna, Jo Stromgren, Kirsten Dehlholm, Yana Ross, Lukasz Twarkowski have all presented their works at the LNDT. Originally a national festival, it now aims to establish an annual exchange of plays with a different country. The aim is to promote the development of Lithuanian dramaturgy, to interest both theatre professionals and audiences in national works.
The Lithuanian National Drama Theatre cooperates with theatres in other cities, performs not only in the capital, but also for audiences in other Lithuanian cities, and participates in theatre festivals in Lithuania and abroad. Recently, performances have been staged in Avignon, Lyon, Paris, Warsaw, Madrid, Shanghai, Beijing, Oslo, St. Petersburg, Turin, Malaga, Lviv and other cities of the world.
