Theatres of Minsk

Ex. I. Before reading the text look up in the dictionary and make
sure you know the right pronunciation and meaning of the
following words:
to be on tour
soloist
wounded
to endeavour
lyricism
miraculous
ingenuousness
heroic
to
evacuate
In Minsk, the capital of the Republic of Belarus, there are at
the present time theatres with professional companies,
representing all kinds of theatrical art.
All conditions have been created in the Republic for training
personnel of the national theatre. The Institute of Theatre and Art
trains actors, scene-designers and specialists in theatre science.
The theatres of Minsk are often on tour, not only in Belarus
but also in other countries. Soloists from Belarus are also invited
to take part in concerts and performances abroad.
The Yanka Kupala Belarusian State Academic Theatre is
the oldest national theatre in the Republic. It opened on
September 14, 1920. Its first performances included the plays
dedicated to history of the nation and inspired by Belarusian
folklore. "The Ruined Nest" by Y.Kupala, "On Kupala Night" by M.
Charot, "Masheka", "Kastus Kalinovsky" and "The Blacksmith
Voevoda" by Y. Mirovich, "Ganka" by V. Galibok were staged in the
20th. In the 20th and 30th the repertory was largely made up of
plays which reflected social remaking of urban and country life.
During this period "The End of the Friendship" by K. Krapiva and
"Death of a Wolf by E. Samuylonak were staged. A great
achievement of the theatre was the production of "The Last" by
M. Gorky and "Who Laughs Last" by K. Krapiva. During the Great
Patriotic War the theatre was evacuated to Tomsk. The artists of
the theatre often gave concerts for wounded soldiers and at the
front. In the war years "Paulinka", a comedy by Y. Kupala was
staged; the comedy is one of the best works of the national
playwright and became a regular feature of the repertory. In 1944
the theatre returned to Minsk. Here "Kanstantin Zaslonau" by A.
Mauzon was staged; the play is a real masterpiece, describing the
struggle of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War.
In the 50th many performances reflecting post-war life were

staged. The Yanka Kupala Theatre is rightly considered to be the

laboratory of national drama. It strives for depth and passion in
art, to express the social theme. The theatre group endeavours to
keep up with the times, promptly responding to all important
events in the life of the people. Some plays by playwrights of the
other countries and dramatic works of foreign writers have also
been staged. Works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Lope de Vega,
Shaw, Goldoni and so on have been produced.
The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and
Ballet of the Belarus was opened on May 25, 1933. Its
inauguration was a very important event for the development of
musical culture in the Republic.
From the very start the new artistic company concentrated all
its efforts on the creation of a valuable repertory. The best operas
and ballets of Russian, European composers were staged at the
theatre. The creative activity of Belarusian composers also
increased, they set themselves the task of creating a national
opera and national ballet. In 1939 operas by E. Tsikotsky, A.
Turankou, A. Bagatyrou and the ballet "The Nightingale" by M.
Kroshneu were produced.
In the autumn of 1944 the theatre returned to Minsk, where
the cast worked to revive the productions of classic works and to
stage new national productions the first of which was "Alesya", an
opera by E. Tsikotsky about the partisan movement in Belarus. It
was followed by the opera "Kastus Kalinovsky" and the ballet "The
Prince-Lake", both by U. Zalatarou. In the 50 th the repertory of the
theatre was enriched by Russian and foreign musical classics. At
the same time works of Belarusian composers were staged as the
operas "Nadezhda Durova" by A. Bagatyrou, "The Bright Dawn" by
A. Turankou, children opera "Marinka" by B. Pukst, and "the
Dummy Bride" by G. Vagner.
The M. Gorky State Russian Drama Theatre of the
Republic of Belarus was organized in 1932. The creative
element was gradually built up in the company. A number of good
actors joined it.
A considerable place in the repertory of the theatre has been
and is occupied by plays of M. Gorky. The theatre has produced
"Yegor Bulychov and others", " The Philistines", "The Enemies", "
Children of the Sun". The theatre also stages plays of other
playwrights- A. Arbuzov, V. Vishnevskij A. Korneychuk, and V.
Rosov etc. Works of the Russian classic drama have also been
staged and among them plays by A. Ostrovsky, L. Tolstoy, and A.
Chekhov. The theatre stages Belarusian playwrights, among them
are K. Gubarevich, U. Palessky, A. Mauzon and others. Foreign

drama was represented by Shakespeare, Shchiller, Lope de Vega,

and Goldoni.
The Minsk State Musical Comedy Theatre of the
Republic of Belarus is the youngest in the Republic: it opened
on January 17, 1971. However, in a very short time the theatre
has caught the fancy of audience in Minsk and other towns, which
it has visited with bright, lively operettas.
The theatre staged and produced "The Skylark Sings", a
heroical musical comedy by Y. Semyanyaka, a Belarusian
composer, "Violet of Montmatre" by I. Caiman, "Free Wind" by I.
Dunayevsky, "The Bondmaid" by N. Strelnikov, and "The
Caucasian Niece" by R. Gadjiyev. These performances are
different in their themes and styles. This shows the variety of the
operetta as a genre and the wealth of its possibilities. The first
performance of the young troupe has shown that heroic style,
lyricism and romance are close to the theatre. At the same time it
remains true to the main principle of the genre, vitality and
optimism.
In the Republican Young Spectators' Theatre the curtain was
rung up on April 8, 1956. The repertory of the theatre is designed
to interest spectators aged from young children to students. In
addition a number of evening performances may attract adult
audience. But particular attention is paid to the production of
modern plays for children and young people.
Besides national plays the theatre stages works by Russian classic
and other playwrights. On different occasions the theatre has
staged plays by N. Gogol, A. Ostrovsky. V. Mayakovsky etc. The
repertory of the theatre also includes the plays of foreign authors:
G. Rodari, A. Lindgren, M. K. Machado.
The State Puppet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus
opened in 1950. Its task is education of the youngest spectators.
The theatre stages short plays, full of gaiety and miraculous and
unbelievable adventures, and they always find response among
children with their ingenuousness and depth of perception.
The repertory of the theatre is rich and varied: it includes fairy
tales and plays by Belarusian, Russian and foreign authors. A
number of performances for adults are staged.
Ex. II. Find the English equivalents in the text:
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Ex.
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II. Answer the questions:

What kind of theatres are there in Minsk?
What academy trains the specialists in theatre science?
What theatre is the oldest in our republic?
What play (comedy) was staged in the war years?
What characterizes the work of the Yanka Kupala Belarusian
Theatre?
6. What can you say about the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre
of Opera and Ballet of Belarus?
7. Which theatre performs only Russian / Belarusian plays?
Which both?
8. Which theatre have you never been to?