Theater "Beyond the Black River" (St. Petersburg) has existed a little more than 30 years. It was founded by director Oleg Mendelssohn. The troupe's repertoire includes performances for both adult viewers and children's audiences.
About the theater
Theater "Beyond the Black River" officially opened in 1983. Prior to this, its founder Oleg Mendelssohn assembled a troupe of lovers in the Yusupov Palace. But there he was crowded, and performances were very rare - once a week.
The director and his actors changed their habitat. They in 1980 moved to the village of Kolomyagi. There, the troupe worked for three years informally, and in 1983 the theater "Beyond the Black River" was officially opened.
Over the 10 years of its existence, the collective staged more than twenty performances. The repertoire included adults, children's plays, classics, and works by contemporary authors.
After 11 years - in 1994 - the theater received the status of a professional and a new building. The troupe moved to Bogatyrsky Avenue, where it lives to this day.
The auditorium of the theater is small, designed for 80 seats.
The troupe works not only on its site, very often artists show their performances on the leading stages of the city of St. Petersburg. As well as actors actively go on tour. They have already visited many cities in Russia and in the countries of the former USSR. The theater toured with great success in Germany.
The troupe of the theater is small, but only talented artists work in it. Celebrities from other theaters are often invited to collaborate. Over the years, on the stage of the theater "Beyond the Black River" shone: Yulia Rudina, Mikhail Matveev, Gennady Vetrov, Era Ziganshina, Alexander Lykov, Andrey Tolubeyev and others.
Until 2004, the theater had its own studio. School children from 10 to 16 years old studied here. They participated in performances and studied various professional disciplines - vocal, acting, choreography, stage movement. Many of the graduates became artists. Most of the troupe left the students.
In 2011, a tragic event occurred in the life of the theater "Beyond the Black River" - a big loss. Oleg Mendelssohn died - the founder, director and director. The troupe now lives by trying to do everything so that the ideas of Oleg Yuryevich do not sink into oblivion, but are realized. For these few years without O. Mendelssohn, several new performances have already been staged.
Three years ago, in 2013, the theater celebrated its thirty-year anniversary. By this date, the team came full of creative energy and with the desire not to stop there, not to stand still, but to develop. Here are searching for new genres, plays, authors. The theater is looking for new forms of communication with the audience that will be in tune with the times and will allow them to talk with the current audience in a language that they understand, touch their souls, excite feelings, but at the same time the troupe tries to remain faithful to the traditions of the Russian drama school and continues to talk with the audience on eternal topics.
In the 2014–2015 season, the “Beyond the Black River” theater presented its premieres with several premiere performances: “The Story of a Panda Bears Told by a Saxophonist Who Has a Girlfriend in Frankfurt”, “My Friend Carlson”, “Love Letters”, “Petty Marital Crimes” , "Two."
This season (2015-2016) four more premieres took place at the theater, two of which are intended for a children's audience. These are the performances: “Teach me to fly”, “Witch from the closet”, “Petty marital crimes” and “The story of one night”.
Actors
Theater "Beyond the Black River" gathered on its stage a small troupe.
Actors:
- Yefim Kamenetsky.
- Rodion Prikhodko.
- Alexey Shishigin.
- Alla Danishevskaya.
- Sergey Byzgu.
- Sergey Barabash.
- Jan Krivulya.
- Ivan Stavissky.
- Sophia Dushkina.
- Alexander Iovlev.
- Roman Rolbin.
- Vadim Franchuk.
- Julia Kaim and others.
Performances for adults
Theater "Beyond the Black River" repertoire offers its viewers the following:
- "The science of love."
- "Dunce."
- "Trick".
- "Lieutenant from Inishmore Island."
- "Notes by a provincial doctor."
- "Roadside Picnic".
- "Lyubka".
- "The story of one night."
- "Date with Capricorn."
- Marble and so on.
Performances for children
The theater "Beyond the Black River" also does not leave young spectators without attention. The poster offers the following productions to boys and girls:
- "Oorfene Deuce, or The Secret of the Three Stones."
- "The leader of the Redskins".
- "Witch from the closet."
- "Hello Mary Poppins."
- "The little man of the clock."
- "My friend Carlson."
- "The Tale of the Priest and of his Worker Balda."
- "The magic lamp of Murson."
- "Mr. Sherlock Holmes."
- Zoki and Bad.
- "Visiting Andersen."
- "Teach me to fly" and others.
Founder
Oleg Mendelssohn created the theater "Beyond the Black River". The director was born in 1946 in Leningrad. From childhood, he studied at the theater studio at the Palace of Pioneers. From the age of 16 he worked in the BDT as a props. Work in the theater and constant presence at rehearsals encouraged him to decide that Oleg would become a director.
At the age of 17, O. Mendelson became the head of the studio at a boarding school. Here he gained his first experience as a director.
Two years later, Oleg entered the directing department at LGITMiK. After graduation, he was appointed director of the Rostov Youth Theater.
Returning to Leningrad in 1975, he began to teach acting at the LGITMiK and the Choreographic School named after A. Vaganova. At the same time, he headed the amateur theater at the Yusupov Palace.
The theater "Beyond the Black River" he founded in 1983. Initially, it was a youth studio working at different sites. Very quickly, she grew into a theater with her own room.
Oleg Yurievich Mendelssohn was the permanent director and artistic director of the troupe until his death. He died in May 2011.
Additional services
In addition to watching performances, the theater "Beyond the Black River" offers various services.
Here you can rent any theatrical or carnival costume, as well as stage shoes. Carlson, Snow Maiden, Santa Claus, The Musketeer, Cinderella, Clown, Pirate - there is an outfit for a theater, concert, photo shoot or just a carnival.
The theater has its own recording studio. Digitization and arrangement of musical material is provided here. In the studio you can record any discs. Sound is being edited. The theater provides the ability to record voice, vocals, instrument, advertising information for broadcasting.
Here you can order fireworks and a pyrotechnic show for any occasion, regardless of where it will be held - on the street, indoors, on land or on water.
In the theater "Behind the Black River" you can also order individual tailoring of any costume.
Natalya Tkachenko
One of the famous actresses of the theater "Beyond the Black River" is Natalya Tkachenko. She is known to viewers for her many roles in films and TV shows. The artist was born in Leningrad in 1972. Graduated from SPbGATI. She worked in theaters: "Youth" on the Fontanka, "Shelter of the Comedian", "Comedy" named after N.P. Akimova.
Played in more than 80 films and series.
Natalia starred in the following films:
- The Martha Line.
- Agitation Brigade “Beat the Enemy!”.
- "Protection of Krasin."
- "Mine".
- "First of May" and others.
Sophia Dushkina
One of the theater actresses is Sofia Dushkina. Since childhood, she studied music. In 1999, she graduated from the Gnesins School with a degree in musical theater actor, and then the directing department of St. Petersburg State Academic Technical University.
The first years she worked in Moscow. Then she came to the theater "Beyond the Black River". Here she works not only as an actress, but also as a director. The troupe's repertoire includes several performances staged by Sophia.
S. Dushkina participates in various musical projects of other theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
She has played roles in musicals such as Vampire Ball, Nord-Ost, Tomorrowland, Ordinary Miracle and 12 Chairs.
Reviews
The "Behind the Black River" theater receives various reviews from the audience. Not all productions are popular with the public.
One of the favorite performances by the audience is the Notes of a Provincial Doctor. This is a mixture of reality surrounding us and black humor. The work is delivered talented, interesting and modern.
Another play that is one of the most popular is Mr. Sherlock Holmes. The production is filled with unexpected twists, adventures, fictions, fun and real pyrotechnics.
No less popular with the public and the play "Picnic on the sidelines." Here, viewers are indirectly involved in the action.
Among the performances, which can be found negative reviews, includes "Lieutenant from the island of Inishmore." Many viewers write that this is one of the worst productions they have ever seen. The performance is mediocre, there is a lot of noise on the stage, which spoils the impression, and a huge amount of curses.
Among children's productions, the most beloved are “Oorfene Djus, or The Secret of Three Stones” and “The Witch of the closet”. These are interesting, funny, instructive, good tales for boys and girls. But the parents of young viewers in their reviews write that not only the children, but they themselves watched these performances with great pleasure, were delighted and did not get bored at all. Boys and girls, even toddlers, watch these tales without stopping. In the production of “The Witch of the closet”, according to the audience, there are very beautiful scenery that are not just like that - the artists beat them all wonderfully. Also in the play there are a lot of various interesting, original directorial finds.
Actors of the theater "Beyond the Black River" are loved by the public. Viewers consider them masters, talents, brilliantly playing any roles and getting the most out of their images.
In general, the theater is quite popular in St. Petersburg, it has its own constant loyal fans who visit it for many years, and then bring their children and grandchildren.
Where is it and how to get there
Near the historical site is the theater "Beyond the Black River". Its address: Bogatyrsky Prospekt, house number 4. The nearest metro station is Pionerskaya. Around the theater there are streets: Aerodromnaya, Kolomyazhsky prospekt, Serebryany Boulevard and others.
The historical place near which Bogatyrsky Prospekt is located is the square where A.S. Pushkin with Dantes. A commemorative sign is installed here.