Russian Drama Theater Named After Ch. Aitmatov
In 1935, the Government of the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic adopted a resolution to establish an independent Russian drama theater. Newspaper publications from those years reflect the significant importance attributed to this event. To this day, the State Academic Russian Drama Theater remains the only Russian theater in the Republic.
The core of the troupe consisted of graduates from GITIS (teachers — People's Artist of the USSR N. N. Litovtseva and People's Artist of the USSR V. A. Orlov). The group was led by V. G. Feldman, who became the chief director of the theater.
The theater begins its history on November 6, 1935, with a performance based on E. Yanovsky's play "Capital" (about the builders of the Moscow Metro). Immediately following was the second premiere "Platon Krechet" directed by GITIS graduate V. Vasiliev, who later became a People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR and directed productions in Kyrgyz theaters.
The first performances were in the spirit of the time. All productions had a heroic-revolutionary theme. In 1939, the theater was named after N.K. Krupskaya. That same year, the play by Kyrgyz playwright K. Eshmambetov "Sarynzhy" was staged for the first time.
In 1958, during the Second Decade of Kyrgyz Art in Moscow, the theater was noted for its high professional mastery, coordination, and clarity of the ensemble, which allowed it to be "ranked among the best theatrical collectives in the country" ("Evening Moscow," October 1958), a status it maintained for decades.
In November 1966, the theater had the honor of performing on the stage of the Kremlin Theater.
The best performances of those years were shown:
“Kremlin Chimes” by N. Pogodin,
“Hot Heart” by A. Ostrovsky,
“Earth” by N. Virt,
“My Little Poplar in a Red Scarf” by Ch. Aitmatov, and others.
In 1976, for its contributions to the development of theatrical art, the theater was awarded the newly established "Order of Friendship of Peoples," and in 1988 it was granted the title of Academic. From the 1970s to the early 1990s, the theater actively participated in drama festivals held in the USSR, occupying honorable places and receiving diplomas.
In 1980, Vladislav Pazi was invited to the theater, and he later became the chief director. In 1991, for the first time in the Soviet Union, Swiss director Bechart staged Max Frisch's play "Andorra."
From the 1970s to the early 1990s, the theater actively participated in drama festivals held in the USSR. It is important to note the close cooperation with Russian theatrical figures. In 1976, for its contributions to the development of theatrical art, the theater was awarded the newly established Order of Friendship of Peoples, and in 1988 it was granted the title of Academic.
A special place in the theater's repertoire has always been occupied by performances based on the works of Kyrgyz writers and playwrights:
Ch. Aitmatov,
M. Baidzhiev,
M. Toybaev,
K. Eshmambetov,
T. Abdumunov,
R. Shukurbekov.
In 1980, Vladislav Pazi was invited to the theater, and he later became the chief director. In 1988, during a tour in Moscow, the theater premiered "The Plough and the Stars" based on Ch. Aitmatov. This work was called a unique experiment by critics. For the first time, actors from the Russian Drama Theater and the Kyrgyz Drama Theater came together. In 1988, the performance participated in the International Festival in Frunze dedicated to the anniversary of Ch. Aitmatov.
In 1991, for the first time in the Soviet Union, Swiss director Bechart staged Max Frisch's play "Andorra."
In 1993, at the International Theater Festival in Yoshkar-Ola, the performance "Three Sisters," directed by V. Pazi, was recognized as the best.
A special place in the theater's repertoire has always been occupied by performances based on the works of Kyrgyz writers and playwrights Ch. Aitmatov, M. Baidzhiev, M. Toybaev, K. Eshmambetov, T. Abdumunov, and T. Shukurbekov.
In 2006, a Memorandum "On Joint Activities for the Development of the Russian Drama Theater of the KR" was signed between the ministries of culture of Russia and Kyrgyzstan. The status of National Theater was granted on August 2, 2007, by the decree of the President of the KR K.S. Bakiyev, and it was renamed the State National Russian Drama Theater.
In 2008, the State National Russian Drama Theater was named after the master of world literature Chinghiz Aitmatov.
The Russian National Theater cannot be imagined without such theatrical figures and actors as People's Artists of Kyrgyzstan Maria Striapkina, Emmanuel Prag, Leonid Yasinovsky, Alexander Kuleshov, Tamara Varnavskikh, Klavdiya Guryeva, Anatoly Adali, Sergey Borisov. During the theater's existence, performances have been staged by directors: Georgy Ivanov, Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Honored Artist of Kyrgyzstan Mark Malamud, Honored Artist of the RSFSR V. Panov, and artists: A. Svistunov, N. Belyakov, A. Golovin, A. Birulya.
Considering the significant contribution to the development of theatrical art in the Kyrgyz Republic and special merits in strengthening friendship between peoples, by the decree of the President of the KR on August 2, 2007, No. 353, the State Academic Russian Drama Theater of the Kyrgyz Republic was granted National status and became known as the State National Russian Drama Theater of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On December 10, 2008, by the decree of the President of the KR, the State National Russian Drama Theater of the Kyrgyz Republic was named after the Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic, Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic Chinghiz Torokulovich Aitmatov.
In 2015, the Russian Drama Theater named after Chinghiz Aitmatov celebrated its 80th anniversary. The 80th jubilee season of the Russian Drama Theater is dedicated to the memory of Vyacheslav Kazakov and Vladislav Pazi.
Currently, the theater actively participates in international theater festivals and occupies honorable places, as well as tours.
Today, the theater's troupe includes People's Artists of Kyrgyzstan: A.K. Adali, T.D. Streltzova, Z.M. Petrenko, and L.M. Lyubomudrova; Honored Artist of Kyrgyzstan: Bolot Tentimyshev and a whole host of young talents.
The theater has makeup, decoration, costume, props, mounting, sound, and lighting workshops. These people are not seen by the audience, but their coordinated work helps in the birth and life of the performance.
Phone: +996 (312) 66-20-32
Fax: +996 (312) 66-41-40
E-mail: [email protected]
Bishkek, Tynystanova St., 120