The creative team of the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater took part in the State Theater Festival dedicated to the Akhal-Teke horse. The troupe presented the play “Atdyr Ýigidiň Myrady”, staged after a play by the People’s Writer of Turkmenistan, Govshutgeldi Danatarov.
…It all began when Balybek learned that Gorogly’s strength depended on his horse, Gairat. From that moment, Balybek lost all peace of mind and resolved to obtain the horse by deceit. However, his followers had no idea how one might steal a horse from such a mighty hero as Gorogly. An old woman agreed to undertake the task, on the condition that Balybek would reward her for her services for fifty years. Pretending to be weak and helpless, the old woman asked Gorogly for assistance. He welcomed her into his home, but the following morning discovered that both she and Gairat had vanished.
“You were wrong to take pity on that poor old woman and bring her into our home—it was she who stole your faithful and swift-footed horse,” his wife, Agayunus, reproached him, offering her help.
“I lost my horse myself, and I will recover him myself,” Gorogly replied. He then set off for Balybek’s palace. Balybek received his guest with great courtesy. Yet when Gorogly asked for the return of his horse, Balybek answered, “Many might wish to claim such a magnificent horse. First, you must prove that he is truly yours.” Dressed in fine and elegant clothes, Gorogly was not recognized by his horse. It seemed that Balybek had won. But then Gorogly asked for a dutar. Accompanying himself on the instrument, he sang: “How can a Turkmen live without his horse?!” Hearing his master’s voice, Gairat remembered the familiar song and immediately responded to Gorogly’s call.
The director of this well-known episode from the epic “Gorogly”, Myrat Aradov, shared his thoughts with journalists:
- Producing this play gave me the opportunity to involve the audience as active participants alongside the actors. Theater is a living organism. If the audience does not like something, they simply will not return. The viewer must breathe the same air as the actor and share the same passions as the characters. Only then can we achieve a truly successful result.
A good cast is very important for the play. For the role of Gorogly, we chose Bayramkhan Gayyrov—an actor with a heroic physique, striking appearance, and a deep, masculine voice. In terms of appearance, he is the very image of Gorogly. The role of the old sorceress was an experimental one. We have many talented actresses of the appropriate age for such a role, but we selected Guncha Chommyeva, a young actress, as an artistic experiment.
There is another unique aspect of the production. Another creative team, the Alp Arslan National Drama Theater, also presented a play about Gorogly at the festival. It is always fascinating when two different theater companies stage the same work.
