Irada Ayupova on children's theater festival: “The meaning of the project is to give wings to children”

The final of the 1st Generation Next Republican festival of children's theater groups will be held in Tatarstan.

The   press conference was held at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan dedicated to the children's theater festival.  Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova,  director of the State Budgetary Institution “Kazan Young Theater of the Spectator” Aigul Gornysheva and chief  director of the theater Tufan Imamutdinov took part in it.

The contest have  gathered 30 performances prepared by 29 theater companies from eight cities of Tatarstan. Young actors presented to the jury 30 creative works, including: performances staged in folk works and in their native language, musical performances, as well as a solo performance, a performance with an orchestra and an author's play.

“The ability of children to speak out on the professional stage is wings. The meaning of the project is to give wings to children. We must return our desires and dreams to our children. It will be great if at least a few of them believe that dreams can come true, ”said Irada Ayupova.

The contest  has brought together participants of different ages: for example, the youngest participant is six years old, and the most adult is 17 years old. According to the minister, the festival will give a chance to understand  children, understand their language and become more understandable and in demand for the new generation. At the same time, it is important to avoid formalism, and direct project to the development of children's creative potential.

“We were repeatedly asked for methodological help by  leaders of children's groups for choosing the play and staging. They said more than once that appearance of a theater festival for children and  opportunity to play performances on the professional stage would be real happiness for children, ” director of the Theater for Young People told about the history of the festival.

The competition was held in three stages, during which the jury selected 10 finalists and three winners. The results of the first children's festival will be announced on May 20 at the Kazan Youth Theater, where the final of the contest  and a solemn ceremony of awarding participants, winners and laureates of I, II and III degrees will take place. On the same day, three finalist performances will be shown on the theater stage.

Chief  director of the Theater for Young People, Tufan Imamutdinov, noted the high quality of some performances. According to him, young artists approach creativity with unprecedented dedication and professionalism.

As the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan  noted, the festival has potential, but it is necessary to accumulate material and determine its format, diversifying the contest with an educational program and other venues.