ConTempo Festival Takes Over Industrial Sites and Historic Buildings

Every year, the “ConTempo” festival expands its map – bringing contemporary circus, dance and theatre performances to unexpected locations across Kaunas – from rarely visited spaces to industrial sites. This year is no exception: audiences will soon discover contemporary performing arts in places rarely seen as performance venues. We recommend five unexpected “ConTempo” sites where the festival programme will unfold. 

A performance in the shadow of a mill and industrial hangars 

The “ConTempo” festival will open at the cinematic, more than a century-old industrial complex of “Kauno grūdai”. In the factory’s inner courtyard, the festival will begin with the performance “RoZéO” by the French troupe “Gratte Ciel”.

For two days, the performance will invite audiences to look upwards – towards the factory’s mill and the arches of its hangars. The troupe’s acrobats will perform high above the ground, creating a meditative experience that brings viewers back to the very essence of being human.

Some of the buildings within the “Kauno grūdai” complex date back 150 years, making this setting a particularly special backdrop for a performance dedicated to slowing down and discovering the beauty of nature.

The performance will take place in the inner courtyard of “Kauno grūdai” (H. and O. Minkovskių St. 63) on 1–2 August.

More than a century of history – through the art of bouffon

The history of the “Drobė Factory” is marked by countless transformations and turning points. Established at the beginning of the 20th century, the factory produced wool fabrics for the Lithuanian army and later grew into a major textile hub, employing more than 500 people.

Today, the revitalised factory brings together startups, innovators and creative industries. Within its more than century-old walls, authentic architectural details remain – vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, a terrace and many other features. Here, the industrial character of the space naturally blends with contemporary interior design.

During the “ConTempo” festival, the inner courtyard of the “Drobė Factory” will host the bouffon solo performance “Zero”. This innovative performing arts project introduces a genre still relatively unfamiliar in Lithuania and Europe. In this solo piece, the audience becomes part of the stage action – the course of the performance evolves in response to viewers’ moods, reactions and comments.

The performance will take place in the inner courtyard of the “Drobė Factory” ( Drobės St. 62) on 1–2 August.

Four hours of endurance in a legendary building

Another early 20th-century landmark that has become one of Kaunas’ signature buildings is the Palace of the Bank of Lithuania. Built in the historicist style, the building impresses not only with its exterior but also its interiors – luxurious spaces are decorated with natural and artificial marble, granite and painted ornamental details.

During the “ConTempo” Festival, two performances will temporarily take over the building: the show “Our Marik”, created for teenagers, and the series of performative installations “For As Long As We’re Here”. The latter will last for four hours, as audiences arriving and leaving throughout the performance observe how time and fading physical strength gradually affect acrobats and performers demonstrating circus skills.

The performances will take place at the Building of the Bank of Lithuania (Maironio St. 25) on 7–8 August.

Picnic, greenery and breathtaking heights 

The “ConTempo” festival will also make its way to Santaka Park, one of Kaunas’ favourite green spaces. Surrounded by nature, the festival organisers will invite audiences to discover two performances.

The first is “PLAY(ces)” – a family-friendly contemporary street circus performance by Marko Liberman, taking place on Nemunas Island. The performance invites audiences to explore children’s playgrounds as performative spaces adapted for circus.

The second performance will bring the “ConTempo” Festival to an end on the banks of the Nemunas River. Against a backdrop of water and greenery, a Belgian acrobat troupe will take to the air at a height of five metres. Their performance “Épiphytes” is a dance with objects – an act of balance requiring strength, precision and coordinated movement.

With this performance, the festival organisers will also introduce a new format: at 2 PM, audiences will be invited to gather for a large picnic on the banks of the Neris River, followed by the “Épiphytes” performance at 4 PM.

On Nemunas Island, “PLAY(ces)” will take place on 4 and 7 August, while “Épiphytes” will be presented in Santaka Park by the Nemunas river on 8 and 9 August.

Where the spirit of basketball victories meets the art of karaoke 

During the “ConTempo” festival, audiences will also have the opportunity to visit the Basketball House of Lithuania. In its modern spaces, the history of Lithuanian basketball continues to unfold every day – legendary victories, famous players and inspiring moments come to life through exhibitions and displays.

This time, the Basketball House will become the setting for director Davis Freeman’s “Karaoke (ART)”. Combining contemporary art and karaoke culture into a unique experience, the project features the audience themselves as the only performers. The artwork comes to life only when someone chooses a song and performs it.

The performance will be presented at the Lithuanian Basketball House on August 2 and 8.