National Theater of Karelia: address, repertoire, management

On the shore of the White Sea, in the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation there is a unique corner of our Motherland - Karelia. For a long time this land was considered wild and severe at the very edge of the country, but in recent decades the Republic has been opening up for tourists from our country and all over the world. Here there was a special culture, the creation of which was influenced by the customs of the ancient Karelians, the Finns, and also by Russian national traditions.

The Republic of Karelia

Today, this region is an important strategic entity of the Russian Federation as the main outpost on the border with Finland, and also as one of the richest areas for natural resources and minerals. There is water, air and transport communication with the countries of Europe and America, besides the Republic enters into several international economic projects: Euroregion "Karelia" and "Northern Dimension".

Equally important is the region's multinational culture. The government pays much attention to the problem of the preservation of indigenous peoples, of which there are about a hundred. Karelia is often called the territory of consent, in spite of the fact that the official language is Russian, and the schools teach the local languages of different peoples.

The meaning of Petrozavodsk

Such a unique cohesion of cultures is reflected in art. So, books and magazines are published in Karelian, Vepsian, Finnish and Russian languages, there is a Union of Writers, music and dance clubs with local color. But the most vivid example of the coexistence of different cultures is the national theater of Karelia. It is located in the capital of the region of the city of Petrozavodsk and is the only one in the world where performances are simultaneously conducted in several languages.

In addition to the national one, there is also a youth, non-state and puppet theater in the main city of Karelia. Petrozavodsk has become the cultural center of the Republic, a reflection of the national unity of this region.

History

The emergence of such a phenomenon was possible only here, where such diverse and vibrant cultures co-existed and closely co-existed. In 1920, the decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee established the Karelian labor commune, which included the Arkhangelsk gubernia and the Olonets area. But only after the end of the Civil War, the newly formed region was able to begin a full-fledged life.

In 1921, several emigrants from Finland led by Viktor Linden formed a troupe in the building of the National Drama, from which the history of such a unique cultural phenomenon as the Karelian National Theater originates. Petrozavodsk was already a regional center at that time, and the government needed such spiritual recharge to strengthen the status of Soviet power. The idea of combining different nationalities on the stage appealed to the new leadership, so enthusiasts in all supported.

The official date, when the national theater of Karelia was established, can be considered October 15, 1931. By this time, the graduates of the drama technique and other talented actors, gathered by the directors in the villages and villages, joined the troupe of emigrants from Finland, the USA and Canada, who came to build socialism. The leader was Kuuno Sevander, a well-known composer and musician in America. And the first play had a very significant meaning - "The Rift" by Boris Lavrenov, at the premiere it was attended by the author himself.

During the war

In 1937-1938 the national theater of the Republic of Karelia is going through not the best period of its history. Political events in the country affected the multinational troupe, 10 of 15 men were repressed, art director Ragnar Nyström was arrested, none of them returned. Many argue that one of the reasons was the production of Chekhov's vaudevilles in the Karelian language, the authorities considered such an attempt to be a manifestation of bourgeois nationalism. The theater itself was closed, and a little later, during the Soviet-Finnish war, the actors were taken to Leningrad.

Resume work was only possible in 1940, when the Karelian ASSR was transformed into the Karelo-Finnish Socialist Republic. The first work, put after the hard years of repression, was Maxim Gorky's play "Egor Bulychev." Practically from the very beginning of the war, this territory was under the occupation of Finland, and the whole group of actors was evacuated to Siberia, and later to the Arkhangelsk region. The troupe did not stop appearing in difficult conditions of crossings, and under the leadership of NV Demidov, even received the recognition of Moscow cultural figures for staging the play "Doll House" by G. Ibsen.

Famous actors and directors

The National Theater of Karelia began its work with a bunch of enthusiasts and activists, a new Soviet ideology was for them an impetus for the creation of such an international cultural event. During the years of existence, many well-known and recognized actors of Russia, Finland and the USA worked there.

The organizer of the first national troupe Victor Landen in his homeland was a recognized art figure, a deserved director and actor. Subsequent leaders Ragnar Nustrem and Kuuno Sevander were able to create a remarkable team of actors from young students of the drama college, many of whom later became folk and deserved artists: Elizaveta Tomberg, Toivo Romppainen, Daria Karpova, Toivo Lankinen, Alexander Shelin, Orvo Bierinin, Leonid Vladimirov and others. .

Uniqueness

The main task for the stage attendants was to familiarize the audience with the world drama, and all the performances were in different languages. Soviet works were also translated into Karelian and Finnish: "Enemies" by M. Gorky, "Platon Krechet" by A. Korneichuk, and others, and even remained for a while in the lead in the shows. The policy of the leadership was aimed at overcoming the language barrier, so here for the first time in the USSR began to use headphones for simultaneous interpretation.

A great contribution to the possibility of the existence of such a multilingual culture was made by the Finnish Drama Theater, the manner of playing and filing there was markedly different from that of the Russian, that's why the directors always strived to harmoniously combine two different cultures on the same stage. Here the famous directors of this country worked constantly: I. Olshvanger, L. Heivets, F. Bermman, Kurto Nuotio, the latter staged here "Witch Hunt" by A. Miller. In 1951 the troupe successfully performed in Moscow, where the play included the play "Vassa Zheleznova" by M. Gorky, performed with Finnish color.

Currently

Today the National Theater of Karelia is considered one of the main sights of the region, the most important cultural point. So far, performances here are in Finnish, Karelian and Russian languages, and young and already well-known directors of Europe and America come for productions. Quite often this scene became a place for conducting various kinds of cultural experiments, here bold and audacious plays of modern authors were embodied.

In 2003 there was a significant event for the theater, after several years of reconstruction a large stage was opened, equipped with the very latest light and sound technologies. The first production in the renovated room was the comedy of the Finnish playwright Alexis Kivi "Shoemakers Nummi."

Education of actors

Since 2005, at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and local authorities, the International Festival of Ethnic Theaters has been held annually, bringing together the countries of the Barents Sea, the Arctic region and the Finno-Ugric world "The Northern Star". And since 2006, on the basis of the Karelian school of culture, the national drama is being recruited for the course, in 2010 the first graduates made a debut on the stage.

Initially, the troupe was formed at the expense of enthusiasts or random people, by the will of fate who got into the national theater of Karelia. Petrozavodsk has now developed its traditions of educating actors. After all, playing in national plays requires not only talent, but also knowledge of the language and culture of a particular people.

Leaders

In 2012, the theater celebrated the eightieth anniversary, during this time several generations of actors have changed. During the period of its creation, the whole activity of the new cultural institution was based on the initiative of strong charismatic leaders, which in different years were: the actor of the amateur scaffold of Finland Victor Linden, the poet Ragnar Nystrem, the emigrant Kuuno Sevander, the director Tippo Kotsalainen, N. V. Demidov, T.S. .Haymi, E.P. Alatalo, People's Artist P.U. Rinne.

All these people were able to preserve the original direction, continue the tradition of combining on the stage the culture and individual characteristics of different peoples. Many of them were awarded State Prizes both in Russia and in Finland. Since 2010, the head of the national theater has become the honored worker of culture of the Republic of Karelia IP Shumskaya, and the post of the main director is occupied by Andrey Dezhonov. He is also a teacher of acting courses at the local school of drama.

Repertoire of recent years

The Ministry of Culture Affairs of the Republic of Karelia continues close and fruitful cooperation with foreign directors and artists, all theaters of Petrozavodsk participate in the creation of international contacts. Today the playbill is full of performances of very different kinds, in this city experiments and bold scenic decisions are welcomed. So, in 2011, a joint project with German filmmakers successfully took place, in which the premiere of a new reading of the famous Shakespearean drama "Romeo & Juliet" was held on the stage of Petrozavodsk and some German cities.

The permanent repertoire for today includes plays in four languages, a variety of genres are represented:

In Russian:

• "The Scarlet Flower" (according to the tale of Sergei Aksakov);
• "Trouble from a tender heart";
• "Merry Chimneysweep" (G.-H. Anderson);
• "Cameo";
• "King Lear";
• "The doctor is involuntarily";
• "Farewell in June" (A. Vampilov);
• "Turandot";
• "And the dawns here are quiet";
• "Twelfth Night, or Anything" (V. Shakespeare).

In Finnish:

• "Illusionists" (in Russian, but with simultaneous translation into Finnish);
• "Kalevala. Episodes "(in Karelian and Finnish).
• "Sheets of the Stone Book";
• "Songs of the blue sky" (in Finnish and Russian);
• «Frocken Julie v3.0».

In Karelian:

• "The Holy Affair" (in Russian and Karelian);
• "She-wolf";
• "Khodari" (in Russian and Karelian).
• "White dreams" - a play based on the Veppsian poets.

Thus, the traditions and language of several ancient peoples coexist in the national theater of Karelia, one can see the customs of the Finns, the way of life of the Karelians and hear the poetry of the Veps, which makes this place unique and unlike all other institutions of this kind.

Practical information

People who come to this region are most often interested in unique nature and ancient history. But in this region is actively developing and cultural tourism, residents of other countries are attracted by the unusual synthesis of the arts of different peoples, which is famous for the national theater of Karelia. The address of the institution is indicated in many guidebooks and information sheets for visitors to Petrozavodsk. The theater is located on Karl Marx Avenue, 19, a large and majestic building is easy to find even a beginner in the city.

For the guests of the republic will be important information about how the cash desk of the National Theater of Karelia works. It is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00 to 16.00, and on Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 to 18.00, tickets cost from 500 rubles, you can book a place in advance by calling the phone indicated on the theater's official website. Performances for children begin at 12.00, evening - at 19.00. You can reach the place by trolleybus № 2 and 4 to the stop "Kirov Square".

In addition to theaters, there are many interesting places in the capital of the region that will surprise even the experienced tourist. Petrozavodsk is awarded the title of the historic city of Russia, many streets and squares bear the names of those who lived or worked here in different years of our country's history. On the official site of the city you can see how museums, exhibitions, and all theaters of Petrozavodsk work. The poster also includes information about other events taking place in the city.