TAXI

There’s no glass wall in the taxis of Lithuania separating us from the drivers, like in the cabs of the UK. And yet, there is an invisible wall—a distance between us and them. We sit close, sometimes we talk, but these conversations often slip out of memory the moment the trip ends. It’s a reflection of our times: hyper-connected, yet increasingly isolated in worlds tailored to our preferences and routines.

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Taxis offer a unique space—both public and private, fleeting and intimate. It’s a space where stories can unfold, where worlds collide for just a few minutes. But can this space also be a stage? Can a taxi become a vehicle for theatre?

In our performance "Taksai", the taxi drivers are the storytellers, their lives and experiences forming the backbone of the performance. Each ride is a journey through the streets of the city and into the layered realities of the people who navigate it every day. The audience doesn’t just observe the city; they experience it from the perspective of those who know its rhythms best.

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The project first premiered in 2022 in Kaunas, produced by Artscape as part of the Kaunas – European Capital of Culture program. It returned in 2023, with Kaunas Artists House partnering new iterations of extended rides with individual drivers. Now, in 2025, Taksai moves to Vilnius, co-produced by the Old Theatre and PASAK, reimagining the project for a new city, new drivers, and new stories.

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The Vilnius taxis will take audiences into unseen corners of the city and into conversations that explore migration, identity, work, and belonging. The intimacy of the car becomes the perfect stage for these stories. Its audio system, screens, and small interior details are transformed into storytelling tools, creating a layered, immersive experience. Each taxi ride is a glimpse into lives we rarely stop to consider, a chance to hear voices that are often ignored or forgotten.

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Through this network of moving cars, we map the stories of a city. As the audience looks out at the streets through the car windows, they might just catch a reflection of their own face—reminding us that the stories we encounter are not so different from our own.

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TAKSAI invites you to sit closer, listen deeper, and see the city anew. Step into the car, and let the journey take you.