Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – Minsk will host the Second Youth Theater Forum of the CIS member states, the Baltic countries and Georgia from 19 through 26 November. The event will consolidate the tradition of theatrical schools and laboratories, Vladimir Karachevsky, the head of the executive directorate of the Second Youth Theater Forum and the director of the National Belarusian Drama Theater, told BelTA.

The first edition of the Youth Theater Forum was held in Chisinau in 2012. It marked the beginning of cooperation between creative teams from different countries. Vladimir Karachevsky noted that the main goal of the international forum is to demonstrate the best works by directors aged 35 or under. This year’s competition program features 13 productions by theater troupes from 13 countries such as Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The program of the Second Youth Theater Forum includes competitions for directors, stage designers, and playwrights. The best works by stage designers will be exhibited as part of the festival. Besides, a book of plays by young dramatists will be presented during the international forum.

The events of the forum will be hosted by the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater, the Maxim Gorky National Academic Drama Theater, the National Belarusian Drama Theater, and the Theater of the Young Viewer. Apart from competitions, the program of the Youth Theater Forum also includes workshops, roundtable meetings, readings, and meetings with renowned theater artists.

The production The Quiet Rustle of Departing Steps was staged by joint efforts of the participants of the First Youth Theater Forum. It was produced in 2013 by young director from Kyrgyzstan Shamil Dyikanbayev with the support of the International Confederation of Theater Associations. The production is based on a play by Belarusian playwright Dmitry Bogoslavsky. The Quiet Rustle of Departing Steps received huge acclaim from the Belarusian audience and was presented at many international festivals.

Over 200 guests are expected to take part in the Second Youth Theater Forum. It is not by chance that Minsk has been chosen to play host to the international festival. Belarus’ Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater won the main prize of the First Youth Theater Forum in Chisinau in 2012.

The Second Youth Theater Forum of the CIS member states, the Baltic countries and Georgia has been organized in line with the decision of the International Confederation of Theater Associations, the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund, and the Belarusian Culture Ministry. Among the organizers also are the Minsk City Hall and the National Belarusian Drama Theater.