“I believe in God, I have to feed four children myself and I am doing this to help my brothers in need. I’m doing this because the world is messed up, and I want to give a little bit of a future to those who were born in a worse part of the messed up world… Well, let’s swim!” – these are the words guides on the coast of North Africa greet the illegal migrants who board their boats and embark on a crazy journey across the Mediterranean Sea to reach the shores of Italy’s dream – the island of Lampedusa. Crowded into small boats by the hundreds, they begin the journey of their lives, none of whom can be sure if they will reach Europe. What makes them decide to take such a fatal step and leave their homes and families for the sake of “Europe flowing with milk and honey”? Some of their countries are ravaged by wars, others by famine, others by unemployment and disease, or simply by the desire for a better life, at any cost. Sometimes even their lives. This unprecedented migration has been going on for years, but has recently gained tremendous momentum, leading Europe to draw “perimeter boundaries”, erect barbed wire fences, change domestic laws and adopt “global solutions” to address illegal migration.
Lithuania, like other European countries, is also experiencing a migrant crisis. Maybe our “migrant quotas” are not as huge as those of Germany, France, Italy or our neighboring Poland, but every passer-by on the street will find something to say on the subject, will have his own opinion, and, most of the time, it will be quite categorically directed against black migrants from Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and other sub-Saharan African countries. The premiere of the ARTYN theater “There are too many of us on this fucking ship” will not seek to change the opinion of Lithuanians about migration in its production, but will invite a detailed review of it from all sides. Without judging or blaming anyone, but seeing the whole as it is. Quoting theater expert Audra Žukaitytė, we can say that “The theater is a meeting place where we try to talk about important things.” That’s what we will do. We will talk about important things that affect not only our present, but step by step, imperceptibly transform the face of society and change our future.
“Too many of us on this fucking ship” – the title of the play may seem sharp or even repulsive, but there are too many sweetened themes in life anyway: we long for truth and authenticity, without embellishments and lies. That will be the case with this premiere, where every viewer will be able to choose: which part of the world do you live in – a worse, poorly organized part of the world, or a better, well-organized part of the world?
Important information
To purchase more than 10 tickets, please contact [email protected]
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Duration of the event: 2 hours.
Breaks: None
Children admitted for free: no
Age limit: 16 years
Discounts:
20% for students, seniors, disabled
25% for Pola card holders and their companions
