Yury Petrovich Kiselev
Significant performances
Theater's Old Stagers

The Theater’s History

Saratov Kiselev Academic Youth Theater is a unique phenomenon in Russian culture. This was the world’s first theater for children opened on October 4, 1918. The fairytale “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck was performed at that time. The theater was born in the country pained by war ruin, poverty and starvation to support children internally, children who were kept out their childhood to help them to survive.

The names of Abram Room, Leonid Dashkovsky, Leonid Brausevich, Alexandr Solomarsky are kept in the course of the theater history – the names of sincere followers of theater art for children, people who dedicated their creative activity to the most challenging, complicated, untiring and the most grateful audience.

Then the theater for children in Saratov worked on different stages and under the supervision of different people but there was one permanent and happy circumstance: Saratov city has always supported its theater for children, helped its development, surrounded with attention and care. Since 1930 the Saratov Theater for children as well as other children’s theaters in this country has got its official name – Saratov Youth theater. In 1937 the Saratov Youth Theatre has found its permanent home according to the following address: 83 Volskaya str, where exists at present.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the work of the Saratov Youth Theatre was interrupted, but in the summer of 1943 the working process was weighed the anchor again. At that time Yury Petrovich Kiselev moved to Saratov and connected all his further life with Saratov city. A new the most glorious period of the theater’s life began.

The Saratov Youth Theater consistently embraces the concepts of benevolence and human dignity, bringing them into everyday life through highly artistic performances, capturing the audience through their persuasiveness and sincerity. The Kiselev Youth Theater builds its repertoire on the best examples of classic Russian and world literature. This is truly a family oriented theater, since parents and children, as well as teachers and students attend performances together. The Saratov Youth Theater holds dear these precious moments of togetherness of the souls of its spectators.

In 1946 according to the results of All-Russian competition among theaters for children Saratov Youth Theater was mentioned in the list of the best theaters. The theater was accorded a true wide recognition during the theater season of 1950-1951 right after the opening night for the performance “Alesha Peshkov” (the play by O. Forsh and I. Gruzdev). During the tour to Moscow that work was presented on the stage of the Chamber Theater and got high appreciations of the spectators. In 1952 the performance’s project team led by Yu.P. Kiselev got USSR State Award.

The 1960-ies in the history of Saratov Youth theater are the years of the triumph for the plays by V. Rozov (“On a Way”, “On the Wedding Day”, “They are For Ever And Aye Alive”, etc.) Since that time the plays written by V. Rozov were on the theater’s stage brining the theater a great success, wining hearts and views of new audience. In 1968 the theater got the RSFSR State Award for the performance “The Tale About Distant and Near Future” (the play by G. Akulov); and in 1969 the theater was awarded the medal “Order of Badge of Honor”.
 The significant moment in the theatre’s recent history was the performance on the play of Larisa Zakoshanskaya “Sausage, Botsman and the Others”. (The interpretation of the story written by Astrid Lindgren “Sea Crow Island”). Staged in 1978, that show was successfully perceived by the capital’s audience during the theatre’s tour in Moscow in 1979. In the same year the theatre got the official invitation to participate in the International Festival of theatres for children organized by ASSITEZH in Lyon (France) where more than decently represented the civil theatre art for children on the international level.

In 1970-es – 1980-es Yury Petrovich Kiselev actively worked in the system of ASSITEZH and generously shared his rich director’s experience with creative collaborators from Cuba (1974-1975), and Czechoslovakia (1982). In 1984 for great services in the development process of theater for children and youth Yu. P. Kiselev was awarded with the medal “Lenin’s Order”. In 1981 the Leningrad’ s audience met with warmth and great interest the performances of the theater during the theater’s tour into the northern capital. The Saratov theater visited Moscow with tours in 1984 and in 1986 with great success.

In 1987 the actress of the theater Svetlana Vasilievna Osherova (Lavrentieva) became the K. S. Stanislavsky RSFSR State Prize Laureate.

During various years of the theater’s history the audiences of different cities and countries: Samara, Ivanovo, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Ekaterinburg, Zagreb, Shibenik, etc., perceived the theater’s performances with great success.

The performance on the play by W. Gibson “She, who Created a Miracle” (the director - RF People’s Artist Yu. Osherov) became an important event on the International Festival of Theatres for Children, which was held in Warsaw in 1996. (Dedicated to the Memory of Yanush Korchak). The show was performed twice during the Festival, was recorded and broadcasted on the National TV. The chairman of ASSITEZH A. Fitzgerald highly estimated it.

In 1995 according to the initiative of Yu. P. Kiselev who was the permanent head of the theatre for 53 years and was always seriously concerned about the matter of succession of theatre’s artistic and moral tradition initiated the appointment of Yu. P. Osherov, RF People’s Artist for the post of the main theatre director. From July 1995 Honored Worker of Culture of RF, Chairman of the Saratov Department of Russian Public Organization “Union of Theatre Figures of the Russian Federation”, Chairman of the Saratov Department of Consortium of Creative Unions
V. N. Raykov has been successfully working as the producer of the theatre. For years of work V. Raykov has proved to be a skillful professionally prepared manager, who has outstanding administrative abilities, a huge reservoir of business energy. The theater managed to make rapid strides during the years of his direction and due to his efforts.

The Saratov Youth Theater has taken part and become the laureate of numerous prestigious international festivals.

In 1996 and in 2001 the theater visited Latvia with tours, the performances were successfully accepted by Riga audience.

In 2002 the performance “The Eternal Husband” was invited to the international festival in Bulgaria (Burgas), where was highly appreciated by the audience.

In 2003 the theater was the participant of the 1st All-Russia Festival “Postefremov Space”. The performance “The Eternal Husband” presented at that festival got a high appreciation of the capital leading theater critics.

In 2003 the theater participated in the festival “The Golden Knight” where the performance “The Italian Marriage” got the title “the festival’s laureate”. The RF Meritorious actress Elena Vovnenko was awarded with the RF State Prize for the part of Philomena Morturano in 2003.

During the summer of 2003 the First Open Festival of theaters for children “From A to Z” took place in the Saratov theater, the second festival took place in September-October of 2008 dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the theater.

In May of 2004 the theater became the laureate of the International Theater Festival “Russian Classics. Lobnya 2004.” The Lobnya’s audience met the performance “The Eternal Husband” (on F. M. Dostoevsky) with great interest. In 2004 the theater got the Prize of Rolan Bykov Foundation “For Faithfulness to Great Art and Little Spectators”, as the best children’s theater in Russia.

In the International Festival “Rome Summer”, which took place in Italy’s capital during the summer of 2004, the theater was presented by the performance “A Servant to Two Masters”, the play written by a famous Italian playwright C. Goldoni. The performance got a lot of enthusiastic comments and the theater got the invitation to participate in the next festival with not one but several performances.

In 2005 the performance “The Eternal Husband” participated in the VIII Russian Festival “Real Theater” (Ekaterinburg). In the same year the performance “Just a Simple Story” on the play by M. Lado took part in the theater forum “The Golden Knight” which was conducted in the Belorussia’s capital Minsk. The performance according to the decision of the Forum’s jury got a special diploma “For Bright Actor Ensemble”.

In 2006 the II-nd International Theater Festival of Sister Cities “Podmoskovnye Nights” was conducted. According to the decision of judges of a contest the grand prize got the performance “The Italian Marriage” of Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater.

It was a real honor for the theater’s team to get a high prize according to the results of the First “All-Russia Competition of the Performances Propagandizing the Ideas of Patriotism, and Love to Motherland.” The results were summed up in December of 2006 in Moscow. The diploma winner of the competition became the performance “They are For Ever and Aye Alive” on the play by V. Rozov. The performance was staged by the theater to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory in 2005. On the 10th of November the Expert Council and the Council of Charity Foundation of the award “The Victor Rozov’s Chrystal Rose” (Moscow) awarded the title “Laureate of VI All-Russia competition of the prize The Victor Rozov’s Chrystal Rose” to RF People’s actor, the stage director of Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater A. Ya. Solovyev for his staging work of the play by V. Rozov “They are For Ever and Aye Alive” on the stage of Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater in the nomination “Performance on the V. Rozov’s Dramaturgy”.

In 2007, Yu. P. Osherov, People’s Actor of the Russian Federation, became the Artistic Director of the theater, and G. S. Tsinman, People’s Actor of the Russian Federation, took over as Stage Director.

The Artistic Director of the Saratov Kiselev Youth Theater has been involved in extensive teaching work. Since 1969 he has been instructing “Actor’s Skills” – first in the theater studio, subsequently in the I. A. Slonov Theater College, and at present in the Theater Department of Saratov State Sobinov Conservatory. Five levels of his graduates comprise the foundation – the backbone of the theater troupe – the result of his painstaking and selfless teaching efforts. In 2006, as supervising professor, he gathered together a new class of students.

The slogan “A Big Youth Theater to Young Spectators!” is widely known among Saratov citizens. During the spring of 1999 the TV-radio fundraising marathon to support the building of a new Youth Theater took place in Saratov. The marathon’s culmination on the 17th of April 1999 – a great cultural program- took place right on the stage of a building theater. Two performances were presented to the audience’s attention- “The Golden Key”, the play by A. Tolstoy and “Hello there, Gentlemen!” the play by D. Fonvizin. Ten years have passed since then. Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater does not have the opportunity to use its great artistic educational potential fully due to the fact that it is still in the same old building, which is more than 100 years old with a tiny spectator hall and antique equipment. This authentically family oriented theater is still incapable to embrace and to accept all city’s children with their parents who are eager to visit it.

The biggest part of building and constructing works were completed during the years of Osherov’s and Raykov’s administration: the first starting complex of a new building with fully equipped theater workshops, storages, the small stage where more than 120 performances are held. Saratov audience has known the small stage of the theater for more than 5 years. The opening of the small stage took place on October 24, 2003. On that day the legendary performance “The Eternal Husband” was shown to the Saratov audience. (on F. Dostoevsky’s novel, directed by Yu. P. Kiselev, USSR People’s Actor.) Performances for children and adults were created specially for this stage during these years.

Theater department students of Sobinov Saratov State Conservatoire successfully work on the new theater’s stage. The diploma performances “Summer Visitors” based on Chekhov’s play (the course of Professor A.G. Galko – RF People’s Actor) and “A Way to Yourself” based on works of contemporary playwrights (the course of Professor R. I. Belyakova – RF People’s Actress) were warmly accepted by Saratov audience. The course of theater department Sobinov Saratov State Conservatoire under the supervision of Yu. Osherov and A. Solovyev has been successfully working for the third year on this stage.
The students and professors of this course produced their first diploma performance “The Sleeve, the Shoe, the Moses Beard and…” based on Koltysheva’s play in 2008.

The creative laboratory “The Fourth Height. Contemporary Dramaturgy”, has taken place on the small stage of the building theater since 2006. V.N. Raykov is the main initiator and executive producer of this project. RF President Culture and Art Council made a decision to support this creative project with a President’s Grant. Five laboratories of this kind have already been held on the stage of Kiselev TUZ. The fifth one was in 2009, the sixth is scheduled in summer 2010. These artistic workshops explore and analyze contemporary teenage dramaturgy.

As the result of these laboratories the theater’s repertoire has been enriched with the following performances: Olshansky’s “There Will Be No Winter”, MacDonakh’s “The Beauty Queen from Leenane”, Pulinovich’s “Natasha’s Dream”.

The performance “The Cold Heart” under Osherov’s direction was presented on the IVth All-Russia Festival of Theatrical Art for Children “Harlequin” (St. Petersburg) in April 2007.

The All-Russian Forum “Art of Russia for Children” was held in Saratov October 5-6, 2007. Within the framework of the Forum the theater presented the performance “There Will Be No Winter” and conducted “roundtable” discussions concerning the issues of theater art development for children and young people, with the participation of the Chairman of the Theater Figures Union of the Russian Federation, Alexandr Kalyagin, as well as with leading playwrights, directors, and critics.

2007-2008 marks the anniversary season for the Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater. On the eve of its 90th anniversary, the theater is according creative opportunity for children and parents with “The Return of the Blue Bird”, based on Meterlink’s extravaganza “The Blue Bird”. The Saratov Youth Theater has got the Governor’s grant to fulfill the project.

Within the scope of its creative activities, in collaboration with the Association of Creative Unions of the Saratov Region: “The Return of ‘The Blue Bird’ for Disabled Children Suffering from Cerebral Infantile Paralysis”. (Social and intellectual rehabilitation of disabled children with motor-skill disabilities through the perception of the world of Art). The Saratov Region Department of All-Russia Social Organization “Theater Figures Union of the Russian Federation” (All-Russia Theater Society) is the winner of the Open Competition for providing grants for projects in the sphere of education, culture, art and social diplomacy, conducted according to the order of the RF President № 367-rp dated 30/06/2007. In the frames of creative action “The Return of the Blue Bird” the performance “The Blue Bird” based on Meterlink’s extravaganza “The Blue Bird” was staged by the theater. (Director A. Ponomarev, Moscow). Ever since its inception, the Kiselev Youth Theater has carefully preserved traditions of pedagogic theater and has conducted various events based on literary and pedagogic elements, with a focus on the history of creation, production, and origin of performances derived from the plot of “The Bluebird”, the history of the theater, meetings with the theater creative staff, which has made possible the performance of “The Blue Bird” in the Saratov Youth Theater today. The performance became the important event in theater life not only within Saratov, but also all over Russia. It is highly appreciated by Saratov and Moscow theater critics. (Galakhova O.I., Dmitrievskaya E. R., Myagkova I.G., Inyakhin A.B., etc.)

In May 2008 the theater participated in the IX-th International Theater Festival “The Rainbow”, which took place in St. Petersburg Youth Theater (named after A.A. Bryantsev). The premieres of “The Sprout” (the show for the junior spectators directed by Gorokhovskaya), “Galiera” (a columbian story based on Bartenev’s play, directed by Praudin, RF State Prize laureate from St. Petersburg) and Eugene Ionesco’s “The Chairs and the Bald Soprano” (tragedy-farce under P.Em. Landi’s (Italy) direction) took place in the time period of August-September 2008.

Saratov Kiselev Youth Theater took part in the VIII-th International Youth Theater Laboratory-Festival “The Golden Turnip” (Samara) in September 2008.

Furthermore, in September 2008 Saratov Kiselev TUZ participated in the 2nd International Youth Theater Festival “The Guttersnipe” (“Gavrosh”), (Moscow).

The Second Yu. P. Kiselev Povolzhie Festival of theaters for children – “From A to Z” – dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the world’s first professional theater for children was held in Saratov from the 26th of September until the 4th of October 2008. Among the founders of the festival are: the Ministry of Culture of Saratov Region, the State Institute of Culture – “Saratov Academic Yu. P. Kiselev Youth Theater”, the Russian Public Organization “Union of Theater Figures of the Russian Federation” (Russian Theater Society), the Saratov Department of Russian Public Organization – “Union of Theater Figures of the Russian Federation” (Russian Theater Society). Among the participants of the festival are: professional theaters for children, drama theaters with performances for youth from various Russian cities: Yaroslavl, Kazan, Volgograd, Elista, Ufa, Glazov, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod. The A.P. Chekhov MKhT (Moscow Art Theater) presents the play by B. Lavrentiev, “Forty First OPUS. POSHT.” The performance “Play, Toy!” features the Buratto Theater from Milan (Italy). In our own city, performances were unveiled by the Saratov Puppet Theater “Teremok” and the Saratov Kiselev Youth Theater.

October 2008 – tours onto USA (Virginia) with the performances “The Humpbacked Horse”, the play by P. Ershov and “The Uncle’s Dream”, the play based on the novel by F. Dostoevsky.
October 2008 - participation in the Moscow International Televisional-Theater Festival "Good luck! Young Force of Art(Moscow-Volga region)".

Within the framework of the jubilee theater season Kiselev TUZ joined the RF Theater Doers Union (TDU) Theatrical Centre “On the Strastnoy Boulevard” (Moscow) project “Saratov on the Strastnoy Boulevard” with the performances “The Glass Menagerie” (written by T. Williams) and Olshansky’s “There Will Be No Winter”.

The main aim and objective of the Theatrical Centre is the preservation and recovery of Russia’s global theatre space, support of those who are talented, and strengthening of stage art’s public prestige. Many Moscow prominent playwrights, leading theater journalists and critics were invited to the Festival. They held a discussion with the participants. There was an exhibition dedicated to the world’s first children’s theater – Saratov Kiselev TUZ – 90 year old jubilee in the Centre’s hall.

1399th performance “The Scarlet Flower” took place on the stage of the theater on December 17th, 2008. The opening night for the performance was in 1948. Director - RSFSR Artist of Merit Vladimir Davydov, production-designer - RSFSR Artist of Merit, recipient of the USSR State Prize N. A. Arkhangelsky, composer - E. Kamenogradsky. Then Alenushka was played by legendary Valentina Ermakova and inspirational Nadezhda Shlyapnikova.

In different periods in the performance the actors who are the pride and glory of Saratov and Russian theatre played: Zoya Spirina, Alexei Bystryakov, Oleg Balakin, Valentine Nemtsova, Valentina Stroganova, Svetlana Lavrentjeva, Tamara Lykova, Elena Vovnenko and many others.
Saratov Kiselev Youth Theatre does not want to part with "The Scarlet Flower". The play has been restored few times in our theater by the directors RF People's Actors V. Krasnov and Y.P. Osherov. Actors participating in the performance are younger, scenery and costumes are renewed, reconstructed from sketches by N. Arkhangelsky.

For 60 years this performance has been carefully and lovingly preserved; it continues to enslave the hearts of the spectators by power of good and nobility, by his poetic charm, always colorful, magical and picturesque scenery and beautiful music.

From the 18th to 23rd of March 2009 VI Fairy Festival "Ya-mal, Hello!" was held in Novy Urengoy, where the most interesting performances from professional theaters from Russia and other countries for children aged from 3 to 10 were presented. Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater took part in the festival with the performance "A Sprout" (director - Ekaterina Gorohovskaya). The Children Jury of the Festival praised "A Sprout" with a diploma in nomination "The Magical Rainbow" for the most bright and colorful performance.

Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater recently has been initiating various international projects. One of the examples - the  premiere of “Cyrano de Bergerac” by E. Rostand is coming soon, its production is going with the great support of French Cultural Centre and Alliance Francaise Saratov and is part of the Year “Russia-France 2010”. The production team is from France – director Jean-Claude Fall, production designer Gerard Didier.

From the 18th to 20th if May, 2009 the famous American director Lee Breuer together with actress Maude Mitchell was in Saratov Kiselev Theater. They took part in the work of Volga Theater Forum in Nizhny Novgorod in May 2009. V.N. Raykov, a merit worker of culture of the Russian Federation, managing director of the theater also took part in the Forum. Lee Breuer with Maude Mitchell watched theater’s performances and led a master-class with actors. Lee Breuer took a great interest in the theater, its life and work. Lee Breuer mentioned the possibility of creating a performance on the stage of Saratov Kiselev Theater in October 2010.

In November 2009 a delegation from the Dresden Theatre for the Young Generation (Germany) - managing director Felicitas Loewe and artistic director’s assistant Anna Schmidt -visited Saratov Youth Theater. The 3 years collaboration creative project for children was developed together with German guests.
On the 18th of May 2009 the Moscow City Organization of Russia Writers Union, the Union of the Translators and Writers awarded Saratov Academic Youth Theater with the Literature Award of S. Ya. Marshak and Literature Award of A.P. Chekhov for theater’s contribution in children’s literature development and rising of the young generation.   

In September 2009 Saratov Youth Theater took part in the X All-Russian Festival “The Real Theater” with the performance “Natasha’s Dream”.  In March 2010 the performance “Natasha’s Dream” by Ya. Pulinovich has won the Grand Prix of the VII Fairy Festival "Ya-mal, Hello!" (Novy Urengoy) and was praised by critics at the "Mask plus" project at XVI "The Golden Mask" Festival (Moscow).

In April 2010 Saratov Youth Theater was awarded with the special prize of Harlequin Award (St. Petersburg) – the diploma “For the significant contribution into Russian theaters for children development” and received “the Golden Badge” from Theater Union.
The cultural campaign “A Week of France in Saratov Kiselev Youth Theater” will take place from 4th to 8th July 2010 under the patronage and with the participation of  French Cultural Centre in Moscow, The Embassy of France in Russian Federation and «Alliance Francaise Saratov» as part of the «Russia-France Year 2010». The culmination of the campaign will be the opening night for the “Cyrano de Bergerac” by E. Rostand. The production team is from France – director Jean-Claude Fall, production designer Gerard Didier.

From the 9th to 13th of July 2010 the creative laboratory “The Forth Height. Children in the Adult’s World” will take place.

At the very beginning of the 2010-2011 theater season a unique event awaits all Saratov theater-goers. The Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater will launch a performance production of the play by the famous American playwright Sam Shepard “The Curse of the Starving Class.” The leader of the project is the famed American director Lee Breuer – one of the founders and artistic director of the New York avant-garde theater Mabou Mines. Production designer – Emil Kapelush (St. Petersburg).

At present, the theater occupies three stages situated in two separate buildings. In the theater playbill there are thirty shows, and each year audiences view no fewer than five premiers. Performances based on the works of Chekhov, Gorky, Pushkin, Fonvizin, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Shakespeare, Gauf, Meterlink, and Williams are very popular among all spectators, adults and children alike. Each year the Kiselev Youth Theater offers up to 400 performances, which are attended by more than 150,000 spectators. Each month children from boarding schools, orphanages, low-income families, as well as abandoned and disabled children attend the theater free of charge.

Today the Kiselev Youth Theater strives to continue and support an intimate dialogue with its young viewer, to awaken “kind feelings”, to boost self-esteem, to preserve light and hope in the hearts and souls of those people who are at the very beginning of life’s journey.

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