This book explores the fascinating migratory world of Jewish theatre in the first half of the twentieth century, focusing on Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Tracing the movements of theatre artists, companies, and performances across borders, it reveals how migration shaped Jewish theatrical life.

Combining historical research with geopolitical and socio-philosophical perspectives, the book shows that migration was not merely a response to political upheaval or social change, but a defining feature of Jewish theatre itself. Its networks of artists and agents connected cities and countries, creating a dynamic, transnational cultural space.

Remarkably, Jewish theatre in the Baltic states developed ways of working across borders that anticipated organizational models in today’s globalized world. Despite the absence of modern communication technologies, theatre practitioners exchanged ideas and sustained professional networks across vast distances. Their story offers a compelling perspective on how culture travels, adapts, and flourishes beyond national boundaries—and how a mobile theatrical community helped shape a more interconnected world.

Ina Pukelytė is a theatre researcher at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, specializing in the multicultural history of Lithuanian theatre in the first half of the twentieth century. She is the author of the monographs Jewish Theatre in Lithuania During the Interwar Period (2017) and War and Culture: Lithuanian Theatre during the Nazi Occupation (2024), both published in Lithuanian. Her research explores the cultural diversity of Lithuania’s theatrical past and how theatre reflects broader historical, political, and social transformations.