On September 21, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. An evening of tribute to Yakub Kolas will be held at the theatre named after him in Vitebsk on the national poet's birthday, November 3, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre. For the 130th anniversary of the Belarusian bard's birth, the theatre, which has borne his name since 1944, has prepared a programme that includes Yakub Kolas himself, his famous character Symon-Muzyka, and the poet's beloved women. As noted at the theatre, the evening of tribute is a new form of audience engagement. The venue for this event is the theatre's lounge, which will open its doors for the first time this season. Thus, in addition to its main and chamber stages, the theatre will have another platform. This season, the lounge will host an evening of dedication to Anatoly Vertinsky, an evening in memory of the Belarusian sculptor Vladimir Zhbanov, and an evening of Belarusian humour. The lounge will open on October 25 with "Confession," a performance of love in letters and songs. The author, director, and performer is the theatre's director and artistic director, Honoured Artist of Belarus, State Prize laureate Valery Anisenko. Another pleasant innovation awaits theatre-goers – a theatre buffet. Strangely enough, the academic theatre has not had one until now. Yet, a theatre buffet is a cultural phenomenon. It attracts not only spectators but also theatre critics and playwrights, for whom the buffet sometimes becomes a workspace. It is said that Anton Chekhov wrote the vaudeville "The Bear" on a buffet napkin. At one time, theatre buffets were as competitive as the theatres themselves. The opening of the buffet at the Vitebsk theatre will coincide with the opening of the next, 87th theatre season, scheduled for October 5. -0-

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