The fairy tale of the city of Smolensk - puppet theater and its wonderful world

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Puppeteer performances have become widespread as a variety art type, along with itinerant bands of artists. In many countries, traditional types of puppet shows, mysteries of a ritual nature appeared, information about which dates back to the times of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In Russia, puppet history is rooted in pagan rites. With the advent of buffoons, the portable street theater of Petrushka arose; in the 18th-19th centuries, puppets took their places. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Petrograd State Puppet Theater was created, and in 1930 it was merged with the Petrushka Theater. The performances fell in love with the little audience, and soon local theaters were formed in many cities, including the city of Smolensk. The puppet theater was founded here in 1937

History of the theater

The foundation of the puppet theater onSmolensk region. His creative career began with putting up posters. In 1924, he was accepted into the Novgorod troupe of the Theater of the Young Spectator, then in 1931 he entered the service of the Red Army Theater in Smolensk. Six years later, Dmitry Nikolayevich conquered the stage of the Smolensk Drama Theater, and since 1938 he acted as an actor-puppeteer at the Theater. Lenin Komsomol.

For the first time in Smolensk, the puppet theater opened its doors to the audience with the play "Our Circus" (1937), but in the pre-war years, 1938-1941, puppeteers worked on the basis of the Lenin Komsomol Theater. During the war, activities were temporarily suspended. Only in September 1944 was the puppet play staged again in the city of Smolensk. The puppet theater was headed by director N. Chernov.

In 1944, Svetilnikov staged a children's play "Smolka". For ten post-war years he worked as artistic director of the regional ensemble, jazz orchestra, director of the regional Smolensk Philharmonic and the House of Folk Art, head of the Regional Department of Arts. From 1955 to 1971, he served as chief director of the Smolensk Regional Puppet Theater.

On his account more than 100 productions that were successful with children and adults. All his life he was actively engaged in creativity and, as a consultant, passed on to his followers the richest theatrical experience. In 2006, the theater changed its name to the Smolensk Regional Puppet Theater named after D. N. Svetilnikov.

Life after reconstruction

Currently, the original building is located on one ofthe central streets of Smolensk. The puppet theater settled in a building built in 1957, which underwent a complete overhaul, reconstruction and restoration in early 2012. According to the state project "Theaters for Children", the Smolensk puppet theater received federal support in the form of subsidies aimed at co-financing the cost of technical equipment and support creative activity.

This support was provided for the first time, and by the 1150th anniversary of the city, the theater found a new home. Already at the end of 2013, two new stages of the large (150 seats) and small (100 seats) auditoriums received young guests with their parents. The opening ceremony was attended by the director's daughter Nadezhda Svetilnikova.

Repertoire

Smolensk puppeteers celebrate each new theater season with interesting premieres, constantly expanding their repertoire. Performances allow you to plunge into the world of a fairy tale not only for kids, but also for their parents to return to their childhood. Performances based on fairy tales of the peoples of the world, epics, plays, classical and modern literary works have in their repertoire the puppet theater of Smolensk. The poster is always full of bright colors.

During its more than 70-year history, the theater has presented about 400 productions, including for adults. Among them, the most famous are:

• "Kolobok";
• "Scarlet Flower";
• "Three happy little pigs";
• "Swan Geese";
• Puss in Boots;
• "Clicking Fly";
• "The Fox and the Thrush";
• "The Deer King";
• "The Tale of the Turtles";
• "Cinderella";
• Chock Pig;
• Gosling;
• "Morozko";
• "Rogue Little Fox";
• "Scarlet Flower";
• "By the Pike";
• "Masha and the Bear";
• "Cat House";
• "Two queens";
• Buka;
• "Giraffe and Rhinoceros" and others.

Today the theater troupe consists of 12 actors. The theater is constantly developing and improving, updating the technical base, delighting with new performances.