On May 12, the Main Drama Theater of Turkmenistan hosted an opening ceremony of the national competition for the best theatrical production based on the books ‘The Spiritual World of the Turkmen’ and ‘Music of Friendship and Brotherhood’ by the President of Turkmenistan.
Artistic directors, stage directors, and leading actors from ten theaters exchanged views on current trends in the art and craft of stage drama. Representatives of regional theaters are participating in the festival in an online format.
Winners of the Turkmen Theater Competition will be selected in the following categories:
- Best Actor,
- Best Actress,
- Best Small-Part Performance,
- Best Production Designer,
- Best Music Director,
- Young Talent,
- People’s Choice Award.
The productions entered into the competition will run at all the capital’s theaters. They feature witty parables and stories of legendary heroes, and explore the themes of spirituality, patriotism, national unity, tolerance and neighborliness.
The play ‘The Legend about the Sultan’s Truth’ staged by the Mollanepes Student Theater was the first to be performed in front of the judges and guests to the festival. Playwright Batyr Batyrov and directors Professor Annamurat Saparmukhammedov and People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Mukhammetguly Kasymov produced a stage adaptation of the story from ‘The Spiritual World of the Turkmen’ authored by the President of Turkmenistan. When the curtain went up, the audience members found themselves immediately transported back in time to the medieval period.
… Once upon the time there lived a Sultan. One day, he went to the bazaar dressed as a commoner. He wanted to find out what people thought of their ruler. After this he decided to give power over one of the provinces to his son Shageldy so that he could become a good ruler of the country in the future.
But the neighboring state’s Sultan was not pleased with the decision. He gave the order to lure Shageldy into a trap and hold him captive in a dungeon. One can only guess what might have happened to Shageldy if his true friends and the young woman who loved him had not helped him.
The story’s ending is quite predictable: not only did Shageldy become the ruler of the province, but he also married brave and beautiful Gulshirin.
Third- and fourth-year students play in the production. First-year students are involved in crowd scenes. We should give due credit to the would-be actors, who miraculously transformed and brilliantly portrayed the characters much older than themselves.
Then, the Alp Arslan National Drama Theater presented the stage premiere of ‘Seyitnazar Seidi’, telling the story of one of the Turkmen nation’s glorious sons. Seyitnazar Seidi, the famous poet, warrior, follower of Magtymguly Pyragy, and talented commander, dedicated his life to the struggle for national unity.
Gadam Kakabaev, the author of the play, is a non-professional playwright. Inspired by Seidi and his heroic personality, he wrote the play that captured the interest of artistic director Khandurdy Berdyev.
… The enemies set harsh terms: they would assign their khan (ruler) and impose higher taxes. Turkmens were given 7 days to accept the terms, otherwise the foes were going to attack.
A council was held and it was decided to fight for the Motherland to the last. At the same time Seidi lost his two young children to a terrible disease.
- I have no right to mourn the loss of my sons now. I have to defend my Motherland, Seidi said to his family. He was a striking example of true patriotism.
Dovran Khojageldyev’s performance as Seyitnazar Seidi is truly wonderful and impressive. Not only does the actor play the leading role, but he also sings and accompanies himself on the dutar. Production designer Mekan Annamuradov created eye-caching stage sets, whose centerpiece is a tree seen as the symbol of life and unbroken continuity between generations.
Tamara GLAZUNOVA, Svetlana CHIRTSOVA
Photo: Yuri SHKURIN
