Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 19 November (BelTA) – The Second Youth Theater Forum of the CIS countries, Baltic states and Georgia will uncover new talent and will contribute to the development and rapprochement of unique national cultures, Belarus’ Culture Minister Boris Svetlov said during the opening ceremony of the forum, BelTA has learned.

Welcoming the participants, he noted that he is happy that young people are celebrated this year which was declared the Year of Youth in Belarus. Minsk is playing host to this large-scale event featuring 14 countries. The program will include exhibitions, roundtables, meetings with colleagues and representatives of the public.

"I am convinced that the forum will uncover new talent, will contribute to the development and rapprochement of unique national cultures of the CIS countries, Baltic states and Georgia and will give a start to new creative projects,” said Boris Svetlov.

When addressing the forum participants, the President of the International Confederation of Theatrical Unions, General Director of the Chekhov International Theater Festival Valery Shadrin emphasized that the forum was conceived as a project for creative youth: directors, playwrights, scene-designers, reviewers. "The main objective of the forum is to provide an opportunity for young artists, directors, playwrights to show their art to each other. This is a good thing. This will promote the development of theatrical art in the post-Soviet space. It is very important to keep creative unity in difficult times,” said Valery Shadrin.

Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev and the Russian President's Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy have sent their greeting messages.

Sergei Lebedev noted that such festivals of theatrical talents contribute to the strengthening of friendly relations. Theater, as a laboratory of progressive ideas, performs a unifying role in the search for answers to the questions about spiritual values.

“The Youth Theater Forum of the CIS countries, Baltic states and Georgia contributes to the formation of the theatrical space, brings together young artists. For contestants it is a platform for professional growth and the beginning of a successful international career,” Mikhail Shvydkoy said in his message of greetings.

The forum will open with Iskander Sakaev’s production Chekhov. Comedy. Seagull at the Belarusian State Youth Theater on 19 November. This work will be shown out of competition. The competition program will begin at 7:00 pm with teh ethno-musical Divine Game by the Azerbaijan State National Drama Theater.

The Second Youth Theater Forum of the CIS Baltic states and Georgia will feature productions from 13 countries in Minsk on 19-26 November 26. All in all, it will show productions from 14 countries.

The Second Youth Theater Forum of the CIS countries, Baltic states and Georgia is held in Minsk by the decision of the International Confederation of Theatrical Unions, the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation and the culture Ministry of Belarus. The organizers also include the Minsk City Hall and the Republican Theater of Belarusian Drama.