Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theatre named after T. Abdumomunov

National Academic Drama Theater named after Toktobolot Abdumomunov

By the decision of the Central Committee of the Kyrgyz Regional Committee of the Bolshevik Party of the Kyrgyz Autonomous Region, for the purpose of agitation and propaganda of Soviet power among the mountain people, on October 11, 1926, a decision was made to create a musical-drama studio in the city of Pishpek. November 2, 1926, is considered the birthday of the theater.

The first head of the studio was the actor of the Russian theater in Tashkent, N. Yelenin.

In its more than 80 years of existence, the Kyrgyz Drama Theater has staged about 500 performances based on works by authors of world drama and Kyrgyz national authors.

During 1926-1929, about 15 performances were prepared and shown in the theater studio.

By decree No. 798 of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated August 20, 1941, the State Drama Theater, the State Opera and Ballet Theater, and the Drama Theater became independent artistic collectives.

In 1941, in Frunze (now Bishkek), the core of the drama theater troupe consisted of actors N. Kitaev, S. Dzhamanov, D. Kuyukova, B. Kydykeeva, K. Eshimbekov, M. Ryskulov, Sh. Tyumenbaev, and others, who had previously worked in the Youth Theater and the musical-drama theater.

Diploma performances by graduates of GITIS ("King Lear" by Shakespeare, "Poverty is No Vice" by Ostrovsky) were included in the theater's repertoire.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, heroic-patriotic performances were created: "Oath" by Tokombaev (1942), "Kurmanbek" by Djantoshev, "Revenge" by Shukurbekov (both in 1944), "Janyl" by Kuttubaev and Malikov (1945).

In the late 1940s and 1950s, the theater staged performances on contemporary themes: "Sandy Slope" (1947), "Narrow Gorge" (1953), "Daughter of Atabek" (1955) by Abdumomunov, "We Are Not Who We Were" by Malikov and Kuttubaev (1951), and others. In 1953-57, the theater troupe sharply increased in quality and quantity. In 1957, graduates of the Kyrgyz studio of GITIS joined the troupe, and in the early 1960s, Kyrgyz directors D. Abdykadyrov and M. Nazaraliev, who graduated from the Tashkent Theater Institute, were invited to work.

Since the mid-1960s, a new generation of playwrights appeared in the theater.

Many performances of the 1960s and early 1970s were dedicated to the life of the Kyrgyz people: "Fate of the Father" by Dzhakiev (1960), "Kychan" (1961) and "Flowers in the Mountains" (1962) by Beishenaliev, "Father's Word is Honor" by Omuraliev (1963), "Conscience Does Not Forgive" ("Not Subject to Appeal", 1964), "Love and Hope" (1965), "Who Laughs Last" (1969) by Abdumomunov, "Matured" (1965) and "Four People" (1968) by Baidzhiev, "Living Water" by Dykambaev (1970).

A special place in the repertoire was occupied by adaptations of works by Aitmatov: "Face to Face" (1961), "Mother's Field" (1964), "Jamila" (1965), "My First Teacher" (1966), "My Little Poplar in a Red Scarf" (1967). The historical-revolutionary theme was embodied in performances: "On High Land" by Malikov (1956), "Kanybek" by Djantoshev (1956), "Ashirbay" by Abdumomunov (1957), "Dream of the Akyn" by Shukurbekov (1962), "Grain of Immortality" by Tokombaev (1964; 2nd edition 1971), "Dzhukejev-Pudovkin" by Sadikov (1966). In the repertoire of classical drama works: "The Government Inspector" by Gogol (1945), "Othello" by Shakespeare (1950), "The Dowry" (1951) and "The Storm" (1958) by Ostrovsky, "Woe from Wit" by Griboedov (1966), "Vassa Zheleznova" by Gorky (1968), and others.

The theater staged the best works of Soviet, as well as classical and modern foreign drama.

The theater was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1958) and was granted the title of academic (1971).

In the 1970s, the theater troupe included: People's Artists of the USSR D. Kuyukova, B. Kydykeeva, M. Ryskulov, People's Artists of the Kyrgyz SSR S. Balkybekova, A. Botaliev, S. Dzhamanov, N. Kitaev, A. Kobegenov, S. Kumushalieva, A. Kuttubaeva.

The chief director is the honored figure of arts of the Kyrgyz SSR D. Abdykadyrov, the chief artist is the honored figure of arts of the Kyrgyz SSR A. M. Toropov.

The current building of the Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theater named after T. Abdumomunov was created in the late 1960s, and the construction of the building was completed at the beginning of the new decade.

In 1997, the theater was named after T. Abdumomunov.

In 2008, the theater was closed for major renovations.

In 2011, the theater reopened its doors after a three-year major renovation.

Phone: +996 (312) 66-57-17, 66-06-71
Bishkek, Abdumomunov Street, 222