Further Paths for the Development of Kyrgyz Theater. Document No. 108 (December 1936)

RESOLUTION OF THE KIRGIZ REGIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE VKP (b) "ON THE FURTHER PATHS OF DEVELOPMENT OF KIRGOSTEAR"

Frunze, December 7, 1936

I.

1. The Kyrgyz theater has made some progress in recent years: a number of artists (Kuttubaeva, Botaliev) have reached significant maturity in their creativity; original plays of satisfactory artistic and ideological value ("Ajal orduna", "Karachach") have firmly entered the theater's repertoire; the theater has begun to take shape as a musical-dramatic theater in its form: it has established a strong connection with folk creativity by including masters of folk art among its staff (Musa Bayetov, Atai Ogombayev, Moldobasan Musulmanqulov, Murataly Kurunkeev, etc.); the theater has nurtured a talented composer from the people, Maldybaev, and has managed to create, for the first time in Kyrgyzstan, an orchestra of folk instruments and a choir; a choreographic school has also been initiated at the theater.

However, this growth lags behind the pace of socialist construction in the Republic and the increased cultural demands of the working masses. Therefore, it is now necessary to give a clear direction to all the theater's activities, to separate those branches that acquire independent significance, and to take all measures to accelerate the creative growth of the theater.

2. The Kyrgyz theater should develop in the near future as a musical-dramatic theater, i.e., its repertoire should primarily include plays rich in music, singing, dancing, and folk games. Through joint work with playwrights, the theater should strive to create exemplary plays that are national in form and socialist in content. The artistic and creative staff of the theater should aim to improve their qualifications based on the principles of the work of the Maxim Gorky Artistic Theater and under the banner of socialist realism. The foundation of music and dance should be the richest Kyrgyz folk music and games.

The Kyrgyz theater can achieve a level comparable to exemplary theaters of the USSR under two conditions: first, if it draws its material from the depths of folk creativity, and second, if it builds its mastery on the basis of the remarkable and best theater in the world - the theater of the USSR.

3. In terms of expanding the repertoire, the theater should be guided by the creation of fully polished artistic works, resolutely avoiding the pursuit of quantity in productions and easy victories.

The methods for further development of the theater should include raising its overall cultural level and mastering high theatrical culture, based on the organization of education for the entire acting and directing staff of the theater and practical work on classical and contemporary plays, both original and translated. Education should be organized and directed so that within two years (by the 1938-1939 season), all existing actors and directors achieve high qualifications.

II.

To achieve these objectives, the following practical measures should be implemented:
1. Organize theoretical education for actors in disciplines such as: actor's mastery, history of theater and contemporary theatrical trends, literature - Kyrgyz, Russian, of fraternal peoples, and Western European, speech technique, voice production, musical literacy, stage movement and dance, Kyrgyz and Russian languages. The education program for the main artistic and creative staff should be designed for two years. The acting staff should be increased to 60 people, organizing a three-year training program for newly admitted students at the theater studio, involving them in the theater's production work.

2. Organize a directing group with the involvement of more prepared actors so that they can undergo the main course of theoretical education during practical work on plays. The duration of the training should be set at 3 years.

The following composition of the directing group is approved:
1. Botaliev,
2. Kupuabaeva,
3. Djantoshev,
4. Shukurbekov,
5. Aibashev.

The leader and instructor of the directing group is approved as Comrade Samarin-Volzhsky.

3. Organize a choir at the theater involving the entire acting staff, a symphony orchestra consisting of 30 people, and a ballet group.

4. Organize apprenticeships in all artistic and technical workshops (costume, hairdressing, props, lighting, and crafts) with the involvement of capable and interested Kyrgyz individuals as apprentices, ensuring stability and creating favorable conditions for their education.

5. Propose that the theater's administration create a group of consultants tasked with providing practical assistance to the theater's directors and artists in the field of art history in the USSR and abroad, as well as Kyrgyz folk creativity and the history of Kyrgyz theater. For these purposes, assign this group the collection and scientific development of materials for the creation of a museum and the history of Kyrgyz theater, organization of translations of classical plays, etc.

6. Propose that Kirgostear invite a qualified linguist to organize training for artists in proper literary Kyrgyz language. It is categorically proposed that Kirgostear eliminate the use of various dialects of the Kyrgyz language and pay significant attention to literacy when recruiting artists and in the work of artists.

7. Approve the main repertoire plan for the theater for 1936-37:
1. "Ajal orduna" by Turusbekov,
2. "Altysh-kiz" by Bokonbaev,
3. "Japalak Jatpasov" by Shukurbekov,
4. "Sheep's Spring" by Lope de Vega.

Identify the plays "Ajal orduna" and "Aychurek" (after final approval of the text) as plays that the theater should work particularly intensively on and which can be shown on the capital's stage. The main resources for staging should be focused on these plays.

8. Propose that Kirgostear create its own costume workshop for sewing accurate, historically correct costumes, with the prospect of servicing regional and collective farm theaters.

9. Approve the artistic and creative leadership of the theater: artistic director Samarin-Volzhsky A.M., directors: Urmambetov A. and Vasiliev V.A., musical directors composers Comrades Vlasov and Fere, choir leader Comrade Kotsyka I.V.

10. Propose that the Arts Affairs Administration carefully consider and approve the candidates for head of the choreographic department, artist, and head of the studio.

11. Propose that the Arts Affairs Administration approve the acting staff and publish it in a special poster.

12. Establish, as a rule, that the artistic and musical directors of the theater and leading actors are appointed and dismissed by the Regional Committee upon the recommendation of the Arts Affairs Administration.

13. The Bureau particularly notes that normal material and living conditions have not yet been created for the artistic and creative workers of the theater, and that securing managerial personnel is crucial for strengthening and developing the theater. Oblige the City Council to fully provide managerial personnel and artists with housing within a month, as well as a space for the studio and laboratory of the theater.

Propose that the Arts Affairs Administration and the director of Kirgostear prepare a budget for the implementation of the measures outlined in this resolution within two weeks and submit it for approval to the Council of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.

III.

1. It is deemed necessary to separate the existing Kyrgyz national orchestra of folk instruments from the theater, in order to expand its scope of work and enhance its significance as an independent organization, and to organize the Kyrgyz State Orchestra under the Arts Affairs Administration. The composer Shubin is approved as the head of this orchestra.

Organize a concert sector under the Arts Affairs Administration, tasked with introducing broad circles of the working population of the Republic to examples of classical and contemporary music, by inviting artistic forces from the center and fraternal Soviet Republics, organizing performances of the Kyrgyz national orchestra and all musical-artistic forces of the Republic (both professional and amateur). Comrades Fere and Vlasov are approved as consultants on musical issues under the Arts Affairs Administration.

Assign composer Comrade Fere to develop the issue of organizing a philharmonic. Comrade Fere's report on this issue will be heard in January 1937.

2. Propose Comrade Ailchinov and the Culture and Enlightenment Department of the Regional Committee to present the composition of the repertoire commission for approval by the Bureau of the Regional Committee. The responsibilities of the chairman of the repertoire committee will be assigned to Comrade Ailchinov. Establish that the repertoire for the Kyrgyz theater is approved by the decision of the Bureau of the Regional Committee.

IV.

The Bureau emphasizes the complexity and responsibility of these tasks and believes that their implementation requires a serious and thoughtful attitude from theater workers towards their work, education, and the elevation of the cultural level of each worker individually.

Secretary of the Kirgiz Regional Committee of the VKP (b) Belotsky

Central State Archive of the Kyrgyz Republic. F. 10. On. D. 714. L. 120-122. Copy.

Letter to Stalin. Document No. 107 (November 1936)