THE FIRE OF THE END

The death of a single child becomes an event that disrupts the life of the entire community. The boy is killed in a traffic accident caused during a police chase, and the only witness to the tragedy is a foreign soldier who has returned from war. However, his testimony does not help uncover the truth. On the contrary—it only further fuels suspicion, fear, and mistrust. In the wake of the tragedy, not only do neighborly relations begin to crumble, but so does people’s trust in one another, and daily life is gradually overtaken by loneliness, guilt, and an inability to come to terms with the loss.

In her play, Dea Loher—one of the most prominent contemporary German playwrights—weaves a polyphonic narrative in which the stories of interconnected people intertwine. A mother, a father, a grandmother, a police officer, a lover, a soldier returning from war—each carries their own burden of guilt, longing, love, or despair. The lives of these characters intersect following a single tragic accident, but the play is not so much about the tragedy itself as it is about what remains after it—the emptiness that quietly permeates people’s everyday lives.

“The Fire at the End” is written like a contemporary tragedy—it has no single main character or clear culprits. Instead, Dea Loher focuses on a community in which everyone becomes both a witness and a participant. The play’s structure resembles that of ancient drama: an event that can no longer be changed becomes the starting point for a multitude of intertwining fates. Personal stories merge into a poignant narrative about human fragility, responsibility, and the desperate desire not to lose hope in life.

Warnings: The performance uses rapidly flashing (strobe) lights, addresses emotionally disturbing topics, and depicts violence.

The author of the play: Dea Loher
Director: Balys Švedas
Producer: Miglė Cirulytė
Scenographers: Balys Švedas, Elena Gelminė Tamošaitytė, Vakaris Montvilas
Composer: Justina Dvarionaitė
The music was originally performed by: Lukrecija Kalinauskaitė, Ovidijus Miežietis, Marija Ambrazaitė
The music was recorded by: Matas Jurkėnas
The following actors appeared in the “Shadows” episodes: Janina Matekonytė
Actors: Dominykas Kazlauskas, Morta Damaševičiūtė, Kristupas Knispelis, Kotryna Ciūnytė, Laura Šilinskaitė, Jurgis Vyrukaitis