Tatar culture, like any other, is very distinctive and original. It developed along a unique and inimitable path, but at one moment it was closely intertwined with Russian traditions and customs. Thanks to this union, exceptional cultural phenomena have appeared that have shaped the face of modern Tatarstan and its capital Kazan. Today, this city is considered one of the key cultural centers of the country, in which Tatar theaters thrive. What is their story and what is their feature?
The history of the Tatar theater and drama
Tatar drama is considered relatively young, because it exists a little more than a century. The foundation date of the Tatar theater is traditionally considered to be 1906. Then, on May 5, a performance in the Tatar language was first presented to the general public. It was an adapted drama "The Miserable Child," written by Turkish author Namik Kemal. Previously, this work was played only in home theaters and various theme clubs. The initiative to expand the circle of viewers and make this production more public belonged to Ibrahim Teregulov, an activist of the then popular literary and artistic circle Shimba or Saturday. It was a charity performance in which amateur actors and enthusiasts played. However, the production was very warmly received by the audience. This event is considered the beginning of the Tatar theater.
However, the original Tatar dramaturgy arose earlier, back in 1887. At that time, the first works of such national playwrights as Gabdrahman Ilyasi, Fatih Khalidi and Galiaskar Kamal appeared, with whose name the origin of the national dramaturgy is associated. Russian and Turkish literary traditions, as well as the active development of the Tatar theater, had a strong influence on the formation of the literature of the Tatar people. Drama met the requirements of the time. In the pre-revolutionary period, the focus was on a hero who was trying to find out who he was and what his place in society was. After the revolution, his priorities change, he becomes faithful to proletarian ideas and is ready to sacrifice himself for their sake. United by common reality and historical events, Russian and Tatar dramaturgy became very similar and propagated the same ideals. However, the national color and unique style of the authors still distinguished them.
Famous Tatar playwrights and actors
Galiaskar Kamal is considered a classic of Tatar drama. His debut play, The Unhappy Boy, was a discovery and national innovation. Other interesting authors followed, creating in the genre of drama, comedy, melodrama, and musical drama. The most outstanding of these are the following playwrights:
- Galiaskar Kamal (“Bankrupt”, “Because of the present”, “Mistress”, “Secrets of our city”).
- Gayaz Iskhaki ("Doomsday", "Zuleikha", "Teacher").
- Fatykh Amirkhan ("Youth").
- Karim Tinchurin (“First Flowers”, “Blue Shawl”, “American”).
- Mirheidar Fayzi (“Pathetic”, “Pugachev in Kazan”, “Galiyaban”, “Tukay”).
- Naki Isanbet (“Maryam”, “Escape”, “Mullanur Vakhitov”).
In honor of these writers in Tatarstan named streets and Tatar theaters.
Musa Jalil Opera and Ballet Theater
The opera house in Kazan is one of the largest in all of Russia. The Tatar Opera and Ballet Theater, which was named after the heroic Tatar poet Musa Jalil, opened in 1939. The first production was the opera "Kachkyn" by Nazib Zhiganov, which means "Fugitive" in translation. The first troupe consisted of graduates of the Moscow State Conservatory, whose goal was the development of national musical culture. Today, international festivals are organized here in honor of Fedor Chaliapin and Rudolf Nuriev. In 2009, FORBES magazine recognized the Tatar Opera House as the second largest in Russia in terms of the number of viewers.
The troupe of the theater tours not only in Russian cities, but also in Western Europe. The repertoire includes works by Tatar authors, as well as Russian and foreign composers.
Galiascar Kamal Theater
The theater was named after its founder, Galiaskar Kamal. Interestingly, he acquired the premises only in 1917, at the same time he began to receive financial support from the state. Famous Tatar actors and playwrights began their careers here. A peculiar revolution took place here in the world of the national theater - for the first time, a woman, Sakhibzhamal Gizzatullina-Volzhskaya, entered the stage as an actress. Until that moment, according to Sharia law, all roles in performances were played by men.
The Tatar Academic Theater has several impressive awards. In 1957, he was awarded the Order of Lenin, and a little later - the Gabdulla Tukai Prize for the brilliant staging of the play “My Topek in a Red Headscarf” by Chingiz Aitmatov. Various festivals are also held here: the Turkic festival “Nauruz” and the festival of young Tatar directors “Craft”.
Today, all productions in the theater are in the Tatar language. The administration took care of Russian and foreign audiences. Visitors can rent special headphones and watch the performance with simultaneous translation into Russian and English.
Theater named after V.I. Kachalov
On the main pedestrian street of Kazan is one of the oldest theaters in the city - the Kachalov Drama Theater. It is named after V.I. Kachalov, the actor who played in it at the beginning of the twentieth century. Vibrant cultural events took place in this theater, for example, the debut of the legendary Fedor Chaliapin, from which his theatrical life began. At the end of the 19th century A.M. Gorky spoke here. Around the same time, the theater was recognized as the best among all the provincial theaters in Russia.
Pieces of Russian, Tatar and foreign classics are staged here. The performances are held in Russian. The theater has two stages, small and large, designed for a different number of guests.
Karim Tinchurin Theater
The Tatar State Drama and Comedy Theater was created in 1933 by Karim Tinchurin. Later, the theater began to be named in his honor, and in 1988 he finally settled in Kazan. The first play was “The Bulat Babaya Family”, written by the founder along with Kavi Najmi. Then the new troupe of the theater, consisting of talented artists, was mobile and premiered in the village of Shali.
The main repertoire of the Tatar Drama Theater has been and remains the works of Tatar classics. At the same time, plays by Russian and foreign writers are staged on his stage. Performances are in the Tatar language, but you can also rent headphones for translation into Russian.
Viewers reviews
The impressions of residents and guests of the city about the Tatar theaters are positive. Spectators note the good play of the actors, the convenient location and interesting interior interiors of the theater premises, where during intermissions you can get to know their history better. The disadvantages of visitors include the poor quality of the simultaneous translation of Tatar performances into Russian.