THE KAUNAS PAPERS
At the end of August 2025, Michael Chekhov's "Lessons at the Lithuanian State Theatre" (1932) will be published for the first time in English and German.
Per Brahe's words in the book, placed at the last pages of the whole published material describes the heroic journey that 9 students and Per Brahe undertook together in 1989, which brought them, as the first students and teachers ever from the West, right into the arms of one of the world's most dedicated theatre schools, GITIS in Moscow.
We brought 18 masks from Bali, artistically shaped by the Balinese mask maker Ida Bagus Anom, and specially designed by Per Brahe as an exchange for Russian theatre knowledge. We had the masks - they had a treasure trove of unique artistic theatre experiences and expertise to share.
When Per Brahe left Moscow after three weeks of mask teaching, he received a gift, a newly published book by GITIS (1989) with a collection of notes and exercises from Michael Chekhov's time at the Lithuanian State Theatre, now Kaunas Drama Theatre. It was privately translated for Per Brahe and remained unpublished-
This private translation and its retention of Chekhov's soul became the direct reason why this script is now finally translated into English and German. These Kaunas exercises have been Per Brahe's fundamental foundation for all his teaching with Michael Chekhov and the special masks from Bali. It was the material that founded the Michael Chekhov Studio in Denmark from 1990 – 1997. The majority of Michael Chekhov's exercise material can be extracted from the Bali masks and Balinese dance, and thus from all Asian dances and theatres. This combination led to numerous trips to Bali and Russia, where we developed content and clarified unknown materials that emerged through the combined use of masks and the Kaunas exercises.
There is a unique spirit that the exercise descriptions have between the lines. It is the intelligence of the heart, the love between those involved through the exercises, the theatre rehearsals, and with the audience as the highest priority. The material gives birth to many more exercises and inspiration for the INSPIRED ACTOR.
It opens up the ICON effect that is inherent in Michael Chekhov himself, and that shines through between the lines. Michael Chekhov lived 37 years in Russia, and that must be maintained and acknowledged. Otherwise, we continue a lie that ultimately harms the audience.The icon is placed in the easternmost corner of the house, and from a painterly technical point of view, it is such that no matter where you are in the room, the icon looks at you. It symbolizes the presence of God. You are not alone. This effect of uniting the spectator and the actor on a higher level is built into the material and is a necessary incorporation and enrichment for the theatre in the future. It lies in the exercises, the Balinese Masks, Barong, the lion, and the icon masks.
We offer this to interested actors over several different ongoing workshops starting from September 2025:
We call our workshop THE KAUNAS PAPERS.
The teaching and study are dedicated to the individual theatre person, but can also be dedicated to the Theatre Ensembles and other aspects of the theatre art.
Since we have our facilities and are located in a harmonious and loving village, we are also able to organize stays in Bali according to the needs and financial capabilities of our guests.
Hear about what the material contains, how our schedules are composed, and descriptions of the outstanding Balinese faculty associated with this specific material. Contact us:
Write an email to the CEO, I Wayan Erik Wahyudi, at email:
With heartfelt pleasure
I Wayan Erik Wahyudi.
