Dalia Ibelhauptaitė was born in Vilnius in 1967, and became a director at the age of 15 when she formed the Young Theatre Company in Lithuania. At the Young Theatre Company, Dalia worked as a director and playwright until 1985 when she became assistant director at the Vilnius State Theatre. She trained at the Russian Drama Academy in Moscow with renowned Russian theatre directorMark Zakharov. In 1990, she directed To Damascus at the Moscow Lencom Theatre. In 1991, Ibelhauptaitė was invited to the Royal National Theatre Studio in London, and directed A Lawsuit as well as doing a series of workshops on Russian classical plays. She has been in London ever since. Ibelhauptaitė has also given masterclasses at National Opera Studio and Royal National Theatre Studio in London, and is a popular teacher in China, Israel, the Netherlands, France, Los Angeles and India. In 2005 Ibelhauptaitė directed Svejk at The Duke's on 42nd Street, which was her first show in New York. It was nominated for a Drama League award as distinguished production of the year. In 2006 Dalia with maestro Gintaras Rinkevicius and Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra have founded independent opera company "Bohemians". In 2012 this company became the basis of Vilnius City Opera - alternative, most accomplished and well known independent opera company in Lithuania. By combining Eastern European theatre training with American style method acting and cinematographic style of directing Ibelhauptaite developed new language for Lithuanian opera and helped to bring to international attention young Lithuanian singing talents like Asmik Grigorian, Edgaras Montvidas, Kostas Smoriginas, Justina Gringyte amongst others. Vilnius City Opera has changed the landscape of opera in Lithuania. Ibelhauptaite works as artistic director and producer of Vilnius City Opera. In 2011 Ibelhauptaite has been honoured by President of the Republic of Lithuania who awarded her with the Knight's Cross of the medal "Merits to Lithuania" to celebrate her contribution to culture in Lithuania. Ibelhauptaitė married Dexter Fletcher in Westminster, London, in 1997, after the pair met on the set of one of her stage productions in London.
Directing credits
Theatre productions
Walpurgis Night by Erofeyev and Svejk, London
Gamblers by Gogol, London
Mirandolina by Goldoni, London
Promise, London
The Crucible by Miller
The Lower Depths by Gorky
Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare for the Shi-Wa Charity Gala at the Globe Theatre, London.
