In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Vilnius-based Russian Drama Theatre of Lithuania will have its name changed to the Old Theatre of Vilnius, the Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday.
Having received proposals from a working group of experts this week, Culture Minister Simonas Kairys will change the name of the institution by his own decree after the majority of experts favoured the new name, the ministry said.
Read more: 'I hope we don’t make a mistake': Lithuania looks to rename its Russian Drama Theatre
The experts believe the new name is both a reference to the building’s long history and is in line with the theatre’s current regulations and artistic direction.
The move will be “both a symbolic and at the same time a very real change”, Kairys said, adding that the new name is much more in line with the current guidelines, reflects the history of the building and opens up a wider range of possibilities for multicultural initiatives.
Calls within the culture community to change the existing name of the Russian Drama Theatre of Lithuania followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.
The theatre’s representatives say they support Ukraine and organise aid for Ukrainians fleeing the war.
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