The Presidential Library’s electronic exhibition marking the anniversary of the oldest theater in Buryatia

On November 24, 2023, the multimedia exhibition “Theater Playbill: Through Time” was opened at the Presidential Library. The exhibition marks the 95th anniversary of the Bestuzhev State Russian Drama Theater - the oldest professional theater in Buryatia.

This exhibition is a joint project of the National Library of Republic of Buryatia and the Bestuzhev State Russian Drama Theater.

For many spectators, theater begins with a poster, the most important attribute of the theatrical business. It gives information about the repertoire, the composition of the troupe, and talks about the stage life of the plays. For historians, this is a reliable document, accurate and impartial, sometimes even more objective than the memoirs and memoirs of contemporaries.

The multimedia exhibition presented in the Presidential Library includes 50 posters of the Bestuzhev State Russian Drama Theater, both modern and past productions, dating back to the 1950s.

The repertoire of the Russian Drama Theater in Ulan-Ude has always been multi-genre: from vaudeville and comedy to heroic drama and tragedy. The best traditions of classical literature were reflected in the productions of plays by A. Ostrovsky, M. Gorky, N. Gogol, A. Tolstoy, A. Chekhov. In the 20th century, the basis of the repertoire was the works of Soviet playwrights: V. Rozov, A. Arbuzov, K. Trenev, A. Korneychuk, K. Simonov, A. Stein, A. Sofronov, A. Dudarev, A. Vampilov, V. Shukshin.

Repeatedly, the Russian Drama Theater turned to the works of Buryat writers N. Baldano, S. Metelitsa, V. Mitypov.

Collaboration with talented authors Isai Kalashnikov and Stepan Lobozerov allowed the theater to declare itself as a group with an original repertoire.

The creative friendship between the theater and the eminent fellow countryman S. Lobozerov continues today. In 2023 was held the premiere of “A Little Performance in the Close of Nature”, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the playwright and the 40th anniversary of the first production of his work. The section of the exhibition “Fiction of Buryat Writers” features the posters of the first production in 1983 and the modern version of the performance in 2023.

The section of the exhibition dedicated to the tours of the 1960s - 1980s reflects a period of significant events for the group: participation in the second Decade of Buryat-Mongolian art in Moscow in 1983, anniversary tour in Moscow in 1988, participation in the second International Festival of Russian Drama theaters in Yoshkar-Ola (Republic of Mari El) in 1995. The theater actively toured its native republic and various cities of Russia, gave performances on stages in Ukraine, Belarus and Mongolia.

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by an active festival movement for the theater. The posters in the “Festival Roads” section speak about this.

The “Golden Mask” section of the exhibition is represented by posters of two performances by director Sergei Levitsky, “Frontline Girl” (2016) and “Flood” (2021). The productions became a noticeable phenomenon in the Russian theatrical space and aroused the interest of experts at the most prestigious theater festival.

The exhibition also includes posters for the productions “The Blizzard” and “To Live or Undead” which opened the 95th anniversary theater season in 2023. The play “Blizzard” was staged on the eve of the 225th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin. The mythical fantasy "Live or Undead" is a vibrant, original story based on ancient Slavic mythology. It is noteworthy that for the first time in Buryatia, a poster for the performance was created using a neural network.

Materials for the exhibition “Theater Playbill: Through Time” were provided by the Museum of the Bestuzhev State Russian Drama Theater as well as by the Regional Center of the Presidential Library, based on the National Library of Republic of Buryatia.

To visit the exposition, which will run until December 11, 2023 please pre-register by calling (812) 334-25-14 or sending an email at excursion@prlib.ru.

Accreditation of media representatives 

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked Media Accreditation at media@prlib.ru, hudjakova@prlib.ru Alexandra Khudyakova, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 167; mob. +7 (981) 788-28-08.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.