Russian Actors Anew Recruited into the Tuvan Drama Theatre Company

The Russian company of the Tuvan Drama Theatre is being restored, says chief director Alexei Oorzhak. After over a 10-years' interval they are rehearsing the 'Leningrad Night' play by Konstantin Paustovski. The Tuvan Drama Theatre was founded 70 years ago. In 1943-1944 a big group of Russian specialists came to the republic on the invitation of the Tuvan government. Among them were choreographer of the Bolshoi Theatre Anatolii Shatin, music expert Alexei Axionov (he was one of the first researchers of the Khoomei phenomenon), director Ivan Ispolnev, conductor of the orchestra Rostislav Mironovich, choir director Stepan Bulatov. They were the first teachers of the talented Tuvan actors selected into the company during their tours to the remote districts of Tuva. Several decades later a Russian company of the theatre was also organized. Actors from other regions of the country were invited to the republic. The two companies – Russian and Tuvan – have coexisted peacefully for years till perestroika came and Boris Eltsin declared the 'Parade of Sovereignities'. Then gradually the Russian company has lost its equal with the Tuvan one status, some of the actors left Tuva. No new Russian plays were put on stage. The theatre in spite of the successful activity of the Tuvan company gathering full houses has lost its Russian spectator. The performances of the Tuvan actors which were in the past supplied with the simultaneous translation into Russian did not need it any more. Now the situation is changing. The seats are anew equipped with the earphones. And a new play by the Russian Company is expected in May this year.