Behind the scenes of children’s theatre: A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater Day held at the National Centre RUSSIA
Have you ever wondered how theatrical magic is created, how
actors bring their characters to life and how scenery opens the door to new
worlds? On 19 September, A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater Day was held at the
National Centre RUSSIA as part of the cultural and educational programme of the
"Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition. Guests learned how stage
magic is created at one of Russia's oldest children's theatres. The programme
for the themed day included lectures, guided tours, creative meetings with
leading theatre professionals, and workshops on scenery, costumes, make-up and
acting.
The history of the St. Petersburg State A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater began in
1922. In April 1980, it was named after its founder, director and teacher
Alexander Bryantsev, who headed the theatre for around four decades. The Youth
Theater's repertoire includes more than 50 productions for children, young
people and adults: traditional and experimental performances based on Russian
and foreign classics, as well as works by contemporary playwrights.
At the "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition, the A.A. Bryantsev
Youth Theater presents 40 items across different thematic sections. Many of the
items are genuine rarities telling the story of the first production of
"The Little Humpbacked Horse" in 1922. It was therefore fitting that
the introduction to the theatre began with interactive guided tours of the
exposition led personally by its curator, Yelena Kravets.
"This theatre season is rich in anniversaries. The Theatre Union is
celebrating its 150th anniversary — the Union of Happy People, as we call it.
And the Bryantsev Youth Theater will soon celebrate its 105th anniversary. That
is why our esteemed colleagues have travelled here from St. Petersburg
especially today to spend the whole day with you, talk about theatre
professions, hold workshops and immerse you in an amazing world that is fascinating
for both children and adults. Theatre is first and foremost about feelings and
emotions," Yelena Kravets, curator of the "Legacy. Theatre. The
Greats" exposition, told the audience.
Like a journey through theatre workshops, the programme took participants
through all the thematic sections of the exposition. They followed a production
from the first lines of the script to the final applause, discovered the
secrets of professions usually hidden from the audience and became involved
themselves in achieving theatre's main creative goal — creating a performance.
"The wonderful backstage world we are introducing you to today is always
fascinating, but as a rule it remains inaccessible to the audience. And even if
you do not plan to become actors or work in the theatre, the creative skills
developed in our workshops will be useful in any other profession," noted
Svetlana Lavretsova, Director of the A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater and Honoured
Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation.
Leading theatre professionals generously shared the secrets of their trades in the exposition's themed workshops. Anastasia Glebova, scenographer, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Head of the Scenography Department at GITIS and Chief Designer of the A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater, revealed the secrets of creating soft scenery. Leonid Melnichenko, Head of the Stage Machinery and Scenery Workshop, spoke about stage machinery; Anna Vidineyeva, Deputy Head of the Costume and Tailoring Workshop, discussed work with theatrical costumes; Anna Barashkova, Head of the Make-up Workshop, talked about make-up and wig-making; and Olga Vilinskaya, Head of the Props Workshop, explained the art of creating stage props. Each offered an inside look at a unique craft exactly as it appears in real theatrical life. The programme concluded with a creative acting workshop led by A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater actor Konstantin Fedin, a laureate of the St. Petersburg Youth Award for Culture and Art.
The themed day was especially valuable for future backstage theatre professionals and for those who have not yet made their final choice but would like to build a career in theatre. Many participants saw for the first time just how much work, imagination and skill lies behind what audiences usually see on stage. Both groups left with a warm sense of belonging to a large, creative and hard-working family — several generations of professionals united by the name of the A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater.
The "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA is a major project marking the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Union of Russia, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
The exposition is held under the motto "Union of Happy People". Visitors can see unique objects and discover the world behind the scenes until 25 September. Admission to the exposition is free. Advance registration on the russia.ru website is required to join a guided tour or take part in the cultural and educational programme.
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