Musical performance for children: “Drūlija the owl”

Drūlija the owl is a character created by Inga Narijauskienė, a storyteller specializing in therapeutic narratives. Only much later, after becoming an early childhood education specialist and a grandmother, did she begin writing down the stories she told at home—stories that have now taken on their own independent and authentic life in print.

This musical performance for the whole family is based on one of Narijauskienė’s tales, “How Drūlija the owl searched for patience.” One morning, Drūlija tastes peas and decides she wants to grow them herself. However, once she plants them, she realizes that for peas to grow big and juicy, patience is required. Unaware of what patience is or where to find it, Drūlija embarks on a journey into the forest to search for it.

Throughout the performance, Drūlija encounters familiar characters—a caterpillar, little woodpeckers, Taputapas the elephant, and Umba the squirrel. Each of them is waiting for something, and they all have different ways to pass the time without getting bored – “When you play while waiting,/ Waiting is fun,/ Time flies quickly,/ Like a motor run!”.

The creator of Drūlija, Inga Narijauskienė, has spent years studying early childhood development. Through Drūlija, she personifies both the playful and complex world of children. This witty and multilayered narrative allows children to relate to the character, while also helping both kids and parents navigate developmental challenges in a fun and creative way. The author provides playful and imaginative tools to solve problems together.

The forest where Drūlija discovers patience will come alive with authentic Lithuanian musical traditions. The performance will incorporate traditional instruments such as the birbynė, kanklės, and skrabalai, as well as Lithuanian folk games, polyphonic songs (sutartinės), and a deep, magical connection to nature. By preserving Lithuanian folk art on stage, we strive to inspire and strengthen the cultural identity of the younger generation—an identity shaped by the experiences of our grandparents, parents, and now, our children.

Creative Team:

Book author – Inga Narijauskienė
Director – Giedrė Kriaučionytė-Vosylienė
Libretto author – Daiva Čepauskaitė
Composers – Silvija Miliūnaitė, Pijus Narijauskas
Choreographer – Aušra Krasauskaitė
Set and costume designer – Antanas Dubra
Conductors – Egidijus Kaveckas / Giedrius Svilainis

Cast:

Drūlija the owl – Gintarė Kulikauskytė / Jovita Jankelaitytė

Performers from the State ensemble “Lietuva” – including members of the choir, orchestra, and dance group, as well as soloists:
Clock – Albertas Švelginas / Martynas Žukauskas
Umba the squirrel – Ilona Pliavgo / Paulius Klangauskas
Caterpillar – Ieva Granickienė / Viktorija Šedbaraitė
Taputapas the elephant – Saulius Vasiliauskis / Zenius Sakalauskas
Woodpeckers – Vaidas Bartušas, Jevgenijus Kovalčukas, Laura Stančikaitė-Tichonovė, Aušra Kiuraitė-Svilainienė, Justina Kaminskaitė, Albertas Toločka.

Recommended for preschool and early elementary school children.