Kaunas State Musical Theatre

The building dates back to 1892, when a small theatre designed by Kaunas province architect Justinas Golinevičius was built next to what is now known as the City Garden.

Kaunas became the temporary capital during the period of the First Republic after World War I, and the building became one of the main stages of the State.

[1] However the 450-seat theatre, with two-storey uncomfortable balconies, was considered too small to accommodate the country's main performing arts centre, but the economy did not allow for a complete reconstruction.

After the Nazi occupation of Lithuania during World War II, many opera and ballet troupes left Kaunas.

[3][further explanation needed][citation needed] in 1959, the drama and musical theatre companies separated,[1] and the Kaunas State Drama Theatre moved to its present location at Laisvės alėja 71, in the refurbished former "Metropolitan" (also spelt "Metropolitain") cinema[4][1] In 1980–1984, a major renovation was completed by the Institute for the Restoration of Monuments, and in 2008, yet another major reconstruction and modernisation was again carried out.