On the shore of the White Sea, in the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation, there is a unique corner of our Motherland - Karelia. For a long time this land at the very edge of the country was considered wild and harsh, but in recent decades, the Republic has been re-opened for tourists from our country and from around the world. It has developed its own special culture, the creation of which was influenced by the customs of ancient Karelians, Finns, as well as Russian national traditions.
Republic of Karelia
Today this region is an important strategic subject of the Russian Federation as the main outpost on the border with Finland, as well as one of the richest areas in natural resources and minerals. Water, air and transport links with the countries of Europe and America are carried out here. Moreover, the Republic is part of several international economic projects: the Euroregion Karelia and the Northern Dimension.
No less valuable is the multinational culture. The government pays great attention to the problem of preserving indigenous peoples, of which there are about a hundred. Karelia is often called the territory of consent, despite the fact that the official language is Russian, and schools teach in the local languages ​​of different nations.
The value of Petrozavodsk
This unique cohesion of cultures was reflected in art. So, books and magazines are published in Karelian, Veps, Finnish and Russian, there is its own Writers' Union, music and dance clubs with local flavor. But the most striking example of the coexistence of different cultures is the national theater of Karelia. It is located in the capital of the region, Petrozavodsk, and is the only one in the world where performances are held simultaneously in several languages.
In addition to the national one, the youth, non-state and puppet theater also operate in the main city of Karelia. Petrozavodsk became the cultural center of the Republic, a reflection of the national unity of this region.
History
The emergence of such a phenomenon was possible only here, where such diverse and vibrant cultures closely intertwined and amicably coexisted. In 1920, the decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee created the Karelian labor commune, which included the Arkhangelsk province and the Olonets region. But only after the end of the Civil War, the newly formed region was able to begin a full life.
In 1921, several emigrants from Finland, led by Victor Linden, formed a troupe in the building of the People’s Drama, and this is where the history of such a unique cultural phenomenon as the Karelian National Theater begins. Petrozavodsk at that time was already a regional center, and the government needed such spiritual nourishment to strengthen the status of the Soviet government. The idea of ​​combining different nationalities on the stage impressed the new leadership, therefore enthusiasts were supported in everything.
The official date when the national theater of Karelia was formed can be considered October 15, 1931. By this time, graduates of a dramatic technician and other talented actors gathered by directors from villages and villages joined the troupe of emigrants from Finland, the USA and Canada, who had come to build socialism. Kuuno Sevander, a fairly well-known American composer and musician, became the leader. And the first play had a very significant meaning - “Break” by Boris Lavrenov, the author himself was present at the premiere.
During the war
In 1937-1938 the national theater of the Republic of Karelia is not going through the best period of its history. Political events in the country also affected a multinational troupe, 10 out of 15 men were repressed, the artistic director Ragnar Nyustrom was arrested, and none of them returned back. Many argue that one of the reasons was the production of Chekhov's vaudeville in the Karelian language, the authorities considered such an attempt a manifestation of bourgeois nationalism. The theater itself was closed, and a little later, during the Soviet-Finnish war, the actors were taken to Leningrad.
It was only possible to resume work in 1940, when the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was transformed into the Karelian-Finnish Socialist Republic. The first work to be staged after hard years of repression was the play by Egor Bulychev by Maxim Gorky. Almost from the very beginning of the war, this territory was under the occupation of Finland, and the entire group of actors was evacuated to Siberia, and later to the Arkhangelsk region. The troupe did not stop performing even in difficult travel conditions, and under the leadership of N. V. Demidov it even received recognition from Moscow cultural figures for staging the play “The Doll House” by G. Ibsen.
Famous actors and directors
The National Theater of Karelia began its work with a handful of enthusiasts and activists, the new Soviet ideology turned out to be an impetus for them to create such an international cultural event. Over the years, many well-known and recognized actors from Russia, Finland and the USA worked here.
The organizer of the first national troupe, Victor Landen, in his homeland, was a recognized artist, honored director and actor. Subsequent leaders Ragnar Nyustrem and Kuuno Sevander were able to create a wonderful team of actors from young students of the Drama College, many of whom later became national and honored artists: Elizaveta Tomberg, Toivo Rompainen, Daria Karpova, Toivo Lankinen, Alexander Shelin, Orvo Bierininen, Leonid Vladimirov and others .
Uniqueness
The main task for the ministers of the stage was to familiarize the audience with world drama, and all the performances were in different languages. Soviet works were also translated into Karelian and Finnish: “Enemies” by M. Gorky, “Plato Krechet” by A. Korneychuk and others, and even for some time remained the leading ones in terms of shows. The policy of the leadership was aimed at overcoming the language barrier, so here for the first time in the USSR they began to use headphones for simultaneous translation.
A great contribution to the possibility of such a multilingual culture was made by the Finnish Drama Theater, the manner of playing and presentation there was noticeably different from the Russian one, so the directors always sought to harmoniously combine two different cultures on the same stage. Well-known directors of this country constantly worked here: I. Olshvanger, L. Heyvets, F. Bermman, Kurto Nuotio, the latter staged A. Miller's “Witch Hunt” here. In 1951, the troupe successfully performed in Moscow, where the play “Vassa Zheleznova” by M. Gorky was performed in the program, performed with Finnish flavor.
Currently
Today the national theater of Karelia is considered one of the main attractions of the region, the most important cultural point. Until now, performances here are in Finnish, Karelian and Russian, and young and already well-known directors from Europe and America come to perform. Often this scene has become the venue for various kinds of cultural experiments; bold and daring plays by contemporary authors were embodied here.
In 2003, a significant event took place for the theater, after several years of reconstruction, a large stage opened, equipped with the most modern lighting and sound technologies. The first production in the renovated hall was the comedy of the Finnish playwright Alexis Kivi “Shoemakers Nummi”.
Education of actors
Since 2005, at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and local authorities, the International Festival of Ethnic Theaters annually unites the countries of the Barents Sea, the Arctic region and the Finno-Ugric world “North Star” has been held annually. And since 2006, on the basis of the Karelian College of Culture, a national drama course has been recruited, in 2010 the first graduates made their debut on stage.
At first, the troupe was formed at the expense of enthusiasts or random people who, by the will of fate, fell into the national theater of Karelia. Petrozavodsk has now developed its own traditions of educating actors. Indeed, to play in national plays requires not only talent, but also knowledge of the language and culture of a particular nation.
Executives
In 2012, the theater celebrated its eightieth anniversary, during which time several generations of actors have already changed. During its creation, all the activities of the new cultural institution were based on the initiative of strong charismatic leaders, which in different years were: actor of amateur stage of Finland Victor Linden, poet Ragnar Nyustrem, emigrant Kuuno Sevander, director Tippo Kotsalainen, N.V. Demidov, T. S Haimi, E.P. Alatalo, People's Artist P.W. Rinne.
All these people were able to maintain their original direction, continue the tradition of combining the culture and individual characteristics of different peoples on the stage. Many of them were awarded State Prizes both in Russia and in Finland. Since 2010, I.P. Shumskaya, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Karelia, became the head of the national theater, and Andrey Dezhonov takes the post of chief director. He is also a teacher of acting at the local drama school.
The repertoire of recent years
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karelia continues close and fruitful cooperation with foreign directors and artists, all theaters of Petrozavodsk participate in the creation of international contacts. The poster today is full of performances of various kinds, in this city experiments and bold stage decisions are welcome. So, in 2011, a joint project with German directors was successfully held, within the framework of which the premieres of a new reading of the famous Shakespearean drama “Romeo & Juliet” were held on the stage of Petrozavodsk and some cities in Germany.
The permanent repertoire for today includes plays in four languages, the most diverse genres are presented:
In Russian:
- “The Scarlet Flower” (based on the tale of Sergei Aksakov);
- "Trouble from a tender heart";
- “Merry chimney sweep” (G.-H. Anderson);
- "Cameo";
- "King Lear";
- "The doctor involuntarily";
- “Farewell in June” (A. Vampilov);
- Turandot;
- “And the dawns here are quiet”;
- “Twelfth Night, or whatever” (W. Shakespeare).
In Finnish:
- "Illusionists" (in Russian, but with simultaneous translation into Finnish);
- “Kalevala. Episodes ”(in Karelian and Finnish).
- "Sheets of a stone book";
- Songs of the Blue Sky (in Finnish and Russian);
- "Froken Julie v3.0."
In Karelian:
- “The holy cause” (in Russian and Karelian);
- “Wolf”;
- “Khodari” (in Russian and Karelian).
- “White Dreams” is a play based on the Vepsian poets.
Thus, traditions and language of several ancient peoples coexist in the national theater of Karelia, here you can see the customs of the Finns, the lifestyle of the Karelians and hear the poetry of the Veps, which makes this place unique and unlike all other institutions of this kind.
Practical information
People who come to this region are most often interested in unique nature and ancient history. But cultural tourism is also actively developing in this region; residents of other countries are attracted by the unusual synthesis of the arts of different peoples, which the national theater of Karelia is famous for. The address of the institution is indicated in many guides and information sheets for visitors to Petrozavodsk. The theater is located on Karl Marx Avenue, 19, a large and magnificent building is easy to detect even for a novice in the city.
Information about how the box office of the national theater of Karelia will be important for guests of the republic. It is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00 to 16.00, and Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 to 18.00, tickets cost from 500 rubles, you can book a seat in advance by calling the telephone number indicated on the theater’s official website. Performances for children begin at 12.00, evening - at 19.00. You can get to the place by trolleybus No. 2 and 4 to the stop "Ploshchad Kirova".
In addition to theaters, in the capital of the region there are many more interesting places that will surprise even an experienced tourist. Petrozavodsk was awarded the title of the historical city of Russia, many streets and squares bear the names of those who lived or worked here in different years of the history of our country. On the official website of the city you can get acquainted with how museums, exhibitions, and all theaters of Petrozavodsk work. The poster also includes information on other events taking place in the city.