The Vitebsk "Lyalka" Theatre is preparing a premiere of the play "Chagall. Return to Vitebsk" in its 33rd theatre season, as announced to journalists by Viktor Klimchuk, Honoured Artist of Belarus and Artistic Director of the theatre, reports BELTA correspondent.
The Vitebsk "Lyalka" Theatre is preparing a premiere of the play "Chagall. Return to Vitebsk" in its 33rd theatre season, as announced to journalists by Viktor Klimchuk, Honoured Artist of Belarus and Artistic Director of the theatre, reports BELTA correspondent.
One of the landmark productions of the season will be this play, which is planned to be staged in February 2019. In mid-January, before the rehearsals begin, a meeting will be held with researchers of the artist's life and work: Arkady Podlipsky, Alexander Lisov, and Viktor Martinovich.
"Having read Marc Chagall's book 'My Life', I created a play based on it. I met the wonderful artist Sofia Shakhnovskaya from Murmansk, explained how I envisioned the play, and within three days she created the visual concept for the production," explained Viktor Klimchuk. "I want to portray Chagall as an adult. I think our actor Yuri Frankov will play him. The play will involve both puppets and actors themselves, as well as various projections. With this production, I want to thank the artist for glorifying Vitebsk."
"Lyalka" already has a play titled "Chagall. Exodus". In it, the actors perform on stilts with puppets, and it features shadow theatre and light effects.
The Vitebsk puppeteers will open their new season on September 30. "Lyalka" invites children to the play "The Tale of the Tale". The production, based on the works of Belarusian artist Anna Silivonchik, was brought to life by director Mikhail Klimchuk and artist Sofia Shakhnovskaya. "Anna Silivonchik writes short fairy tales; I took eight of them and combined them into a story. It will feature two characters. One, who has done more good deeds in his life, ends up on a pure white cloud. He sits on it with binoculars and a book, observing people, occasionally descending to earth to tell kind fairy tales. The other character committed more bad deeds and was sent to a thundercloud, given a broom and a shovel. There, for the rest of his days, he cleans the sky of rain and snow," explained Mikhail Klimchuk.
For adults, the season will open with the production "Temptation, or The Black Monk". In addition to the plays, the theatre will host games, contests, and a celebratory concert.
The "Lyalki" ensemble will soon participate in the VIII International Festival of Puppet Theatres "Belogorodskaya Zabava" in Belgorod (Russia) with the play "Skrypka drygvy i vyarasovyh pustachaw". In the longer term, the theatre company intends to stage a production for teenagers. They are planning to create a small stage.