With the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, the 17th Yerevan Shakespeare International Theater Festival, titled “Shakespeare and Russian Classics,” will take place in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Ashtarak from November 14 to 20.
The opening of the festival will take place on November 14 at 7:00 PM at the H. Paronyan State Theater of Musical Comedy, where the Russian State “Satyricon” Theater, named after A. Raikin, will present the legendary performance “The Seagull.”
A press conference dedicated to the launch of the festival was held today at the H. Paronyan State Theater of Musical Comedy. The speakers at the press conference were Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Daniel Danielyan, Director of the Yerevan Shakespeare International Festival Karo Balyan, Director of the Russian State Satyricon Theater named after A. Raikin Elizaveta Gavrilova, and Director Dorian Rossel (Switzerland).
Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Daniel Danielyan welcomed the audience and noted that the Yerevan Shakespeare Festival is part of the International Shakespeare Festival, with the condition for membership being the high standards set in theatrical art. According to the Deputy Minister, the Yerevan Shakespeare Festival is implemented with the funding of the Ministry of Culture and Sports as a grant. “The main points, thanks to which the program received state funding, are that this festival introduces high-quality, interesting, important processes to Armenia. To become a member of the International Shakespeare Festival, qualitative organizational data and participation from different countries with interesting and highly artistic performances are necessary.”
This year’s festival program features performances from Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Poland. Notable performances include “The Seagull” by the Russian State Satyricon Theater named after A. Raikin (Moscow), “Uncle Vanya” by the National Theater “I. L. Karajale Satirikus” (Moldova), “The Nose” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Bryantsev Theater for Young Spectators (St. Petersburg), “The Living Corpse” by the Szeged Pincesinház and Arad Kamarasinház Theaters (Hungary-Romania), and “Macbeth” by the Szeged Pincesinház Theater (Hungary).”
According to Daniel Danielyan, one of the most essential prerequisites for the development of culture is to recognize it and communicate with it. Through such festivals, theater professionals, art university students, and the general public should be given the opportunity to watch performances by theaters and theater groups from other countries. One of the essential directions of the festival is the cultural education component, as well as regional involvement, which were considered a necessary factor in choosing the festival.”
Master classes, professional discussions, and a special meeting with the USSR People’s Artist, actor, director, and artistic director of the Satyricon Theater, Konstantin Raikin, will be held within the festival’s framework. He is one of the most influential artists of modern Russian theater, having made a significant contribution to the development of theatrical art.
During the press conference, the speakers presented details about the festival and the performances.
Over the years, the Shakespeare International Theater Festival has evolved into a significant cultural platform that unites theater professionals from diverse countries.
