Despite public discontent, audiences rarely attend performances
A recent decision to hold Pilates classes at the Abdykalyk Maldybaev Opera and Ballet Theater has sparked dissatisfaction among some segments of Kyrgyz society. Citizens are actively discussing this topic on social media, which has caught the attention of the Ministry of Culture, which promised to investigate how fitness found its way into a cultural institution.
Sociologist and writer Alexander Katsev shared his opinion in a conversation with Vesti.kg: “Why did no one protest when the theater's workshops, where costumes and sets are created, were moved? This looks like a ‘circus of the Ministry of Culture,’ as it no longer reports to the department. Now I have tigers roaring outside my window, but they are no longer as cultured,” he noted.
Alexander also emphasized that theaters in Bishkek used to be places where all of Kyrgyz intelligentsia gathered.
“Back then, people sewed outfits specifically for going to the theater, sought out well-known critics, and followed their opinions in the press. But what about now? Pilates in the opera and ballet theater indicates that the establishment is trying to find ways to earn money. People lack the habit of attending theaters. Perhaps we should consider having theaters come to schools, offer subscriptions for regular viewers, and make this process fashionable. Then, perhaps through fitness, people will return to high art,” the writer reflects.
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