Minsk theatres

Minsk is the largest cultural centre in Belarus. It’s famous for its theatres, picture galleries and the circus. There are not very many theatres in Minsk, only six at the present time with professional companies representing all kinds of theatrical art and being popular with theatre-goers.Good conditions have been created in the republic for training talented actors for the national theatre.

The Institute of Theatre and Art trains actors, scene-designers andspecialists in theatrescience. Sigers and musicians are trained at the Conservatory. The Collage of Choreography trains ballet dancers.

The National Academic Yanka Kupala Theatre is the oldest theatre in Belarus. The history of Belarussian art goes back to the 11^th century. At that time the first actors appeared on the territory of Belarus. Their art was based on folklore, folk poetry, round dances, popular games and plays. The first actors were musicians, singers, jugglers, bear tamers, magicians and fools. Time passed but the theatre of streets and squares didn’t die. Later self theatres appeared in Mogilyov, Vitebsk, Grodno, Shklov, Slutsk and other towns. In Shklov, for example, count Zorych had a regular drama company, a ballet and an orchestra. They were sure good professionals that in 1800 the St. Petersburg Theatre asked for 14 best dancers of its company, and they were sent there.

In 1840s Dounin-Martsinkevich organized a theatre in his manor near Minsk, and later Ignat Buynitskiy organized „The First Belorussian Company”. He is in fact the father of Belorussian professional theatre. After his company had played in Belarus, Russia, Poland, the Belorussian theatre became well-known in Europe. Everybody saw that Belorussians were very talented actors.

The Yanka Kupala drama Theatre was started in1920. Its first performances included the plays dedicated to the history of the nation and inspired by Belorussian folklore. Now the repertoire is largely made up of plays by Belorussian playwrights such as Kupala, Kolas, Makayonak, Melezh, Shamyakin. The Yanka Kupala Theatre is rightly considered to be the laboratory of national drama.The theatre group tries to keep up with the time, responding to all important events in the life of the people. Many visitors coming to Minsk go to this theatre to watch Paulinka, a bright and witty play by Yanka Kupala. In fact, Paulinka, is a kind of a visiting card of the theatre.The theatre has got brilliant actors, and its main task is to develop Belorussian national culture and traditions. Each performance at this theatre is a great success with the public.

The National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre was founded in1930 on the basis of the Belarusian opera and ballet school and gave its first performance in 1933. During the Great Patriotic war it was damaged and renewed again in 1949. Today the theatre hall can seat 1200 people. During more than 60 years of its work the theatre has produced many best operas by Russian and foreign composers that are known all over the world. The theatre also stages operas and ballets by Belorussian composers.Many of them are based on nationalthemes or famous literary works.These are Kastus Kalinovskiy by D. Lukas, Wild Hunting of King Stakh byV.Sotlan and others. They are popular with music lovers in our republic and other countries.

The National Academic Drama Theatre named after Gorky in 1920 was a small travelling troupe under the leadership of a wonderful actor Vladimir Kumelsky. Only at the end of the decade, in 1928 the theatre settled down in Mogilyov and got a name- Regional Drama Theatre... The modern period of the theatre is characterized by the constant enrichment of the repertoire by the classical masterpieces.

The Minsk State Musical Comedy Theatre is one of the youngest in our capital, it opened in 1971.But in a very short time it has become popular with the public. The performances of the theatre vary in themes and style. But whatever they stage they remain true to their main principles of the genre: vitality and optimism.

In the Young Spectator’s Theatre the curtain was raised in 1956. The repertory of the theatre is designed to meet the interests of spectators aged from young children to students. In addition, a number of evening performances may be attended by adult audience. But particular attention is paid to the production of modern plays for children and young people.

The history of the State Puppet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus began in Gomel, where in 1938 Republic Puppet Theatre was founded. While forming its repertoire, preference was given to Russian classical plays. The State Puppet Theatre was opened in 1950. Its task is entertaining and education of the youngest spectators. The theatre stages short plays which are full of gaiety and unbelievable adventures. The repertory is rich and varied. It includes fairy tales and play by Belorussian, Russian and foreign authors. A number of performances for adults are also staged.

Ex.5 Describe one of the Minsk theatres.

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