Red Theatre Culture House, Lithuania

The Red Theatre Culture House is an abandoned community hub in a small town in Lithuania. I explored this location during my 2019 Baltics Tour.

This stop was originally cut from the itinerary because it was too far from the main route. As the trip was drawing to a close, I spotted an opening to alter the route slightly and visit this spot. A late-night drive and some foregone sleep were all that was required.

Inside the abandoned Red Theatre Culture House

Sadly, I have been unable to unearth any information regarding this location’s history. Very disappointing, however if I find out anything else, I will update this post. Instead, I will give you a brief description of what I found inside. The large building was originally used as a local cultural centre. As well as hosting cultural and community events, there are also administrative and municipal offices here.

The blood red sloping ceiling of the huge theatre really stands out. Lights are inserted into deep parallel grooves. A group of wooden chairs arranged in rows with a central aisle sits in the middle of the space. Extra rows of chairs line the outer walls of this roomy area. On one side of the stage is a piano. Behind the curtain are some wooden standees and props, making it appear that the last performance here was for Christmas.

Adjacent to this room is another large public entertainment space. Disco lights lining the corridor suggest this space once served as a nightclub.

The upper floors, which I explored next, are actually in a separate structure that is connected to this one via hallways. I didn’t bother with the downstairs because it was too dark and full of random furniture and rubbish. I found some more intriguing rooms and smaller halls on the second floor, which were probably utilised for community discussions and meetings. The ceilings of both of these halls are sloped and blocky like those that of the larger red theatre. The smallest hall has rows of matching fold-up wooden seats facing a table or podium. The second space is sizable, but forlornly unoccupied.