Press-release. Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater presents two performances for children based on the Russian folk fairytales «Once upon a time» and «The Little Bunny’s Hut».

Saratov Academic Kiselev Youth Theater presents two performances for children based on the Russian folk fairytales «Once upon a time» and «The Little Bunny’s Hut». Playwright - Elena Krasnova, directors - Elena Krasnova and Victoria Samokhina, music, choirmaster - Victoria Samokhina, production designer - Yulia Sokolova, choreographer - Elena Krasnova, musician playing on all instruments - A. Zhivaikin, music recording - A. Lapshin.

Funny and sad, scary, didactic and magical fairytales are known to us since our childhood. Our fist ideas of what is good and what is bad are based on them, fairytales teach us to be honest, fair, forgiving and not to lose hope in any situation, even in the one that seems desperate.  

«The Little Bunny’s Hut» is a story familiar to anyone who loves Russian fairytales. «Once upon a time there lived the Fox and the Little Bunny. The Fox had an ice hut, and the Bunny - a bast hut…» - spring comes, Fox’s hut is melting and by deceit she begins to live in the Little Bunny’s home. By hook or by crook and with the help of other fairytale characters the Bunny returns his hut and the embarrassed Fox asks to forgive her… until the next tale.

The «Once upon a time» tale combines the plots of several well-known fairytales, they were interestingly braided into one bright canvas by the playwright Elena Krasnova. On the same stage - or in the one big house to be specific - very different characters live together: the Grandfather, the Grandmother with the Speckled Hen, the White Goose and the Grey Goose, and the characters from the tale about the big turnip - the Dog, the Cat, the Mouse and the Granddaughter.

This tales were staged by young gaining experience production team - directors Elena Krasnova and Viktoria Samokhina, production designer - Yulia Sokolova. Among their previous works in the theater - the graduation performance of the students of the theater department of the Sobinov Saratov State Conservatory «The Lady with a Dog» by A.P. Chekhov, made in a rare form of literature theater, «Tomorrow Was the War» by B. Vasiliev dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. Students (master of the course - Yu.P. Osherov) participating in the performances were accepted to the theater troupe and performances staged on the Chamber and Small Stage became part of the theater’s repertoire. Staging of the performances «The Little Bunny’s Hut» and «Once upon a time» was the first experience of work on the Big Stage of Saratov Youth Theater.

The performances «The Little Bunny’s Hut» and «Once upon a time» are examples of the lubok theater, actors build the space of the stage for themselves in front of the audience’s eyes, creating “winter” atmosphere by imitating the sound of snow under one’s feet, howling of the blizzard, imitating the weather conditions - sound of rain and other natural phenomenon. All the action in «Once upon a time» is supported by rhythms of musical instruments. In both performances actors sing folk songs and dance, play musical instruments, creating a real festival on the stage for the youngest audience.