In the age of computer technology, a very important moment in the education of the younger generation is its familiarization with theatrical art. The leading role in this matter belongs to theaters for children. The Kaluga Youth Theater is no exception.
History of creation
The efforts of the actors of the Kaluga Drama Theater L. Volskaya and V. Tsvetkov in 1964 created a theater troupe, which at first was called the folk theater. The first performances for children “For children under sixteen” by V. Lyubimova and “They and Us” by L. Dolinina were staged in 1965. Not having at first its premises, the Kaluga Theater of Young Spectators nevertheless occupied its solid niche in the cultural life of the city and the region. The creators of the theater became its first directors. In 1967, he was given the premises in which the Udarnik movie theater used to be located. From 1970 to the present, a children's studio has been working at the Youth Theater, in which the future actors of the troupe are educated. In 1982, the theater staff was awarded an honorary diploma for achievements in the upbringing of the younger generation. In December 1997, the amateur group received the status of a professional and was included in the register of theaters in Russia. Now on its stage you can see performances not only for children, but also for adult viewers. To get to the theater, you need to take a trolleybus No. 1, 2 or 3 to the stop "Ploshchad Stary Torg", and then climb up Teatralnaya street. The Youth Theater is located in Kaluga at the address: Teatralnaya Street, 36.
Repertoire for children
The theater team attaches great importance to the deep meaning of their productions. The actors are convinced that through an ordinary fairy tale, not only children, but also adults can be taught a lot. Performances in the repertoire of the Kaluga Regional Young Spectator Theater are divided by age categories:
- for younger children (preschoolers, grades 1-4) - “I count to five,” “Knock knock! Who is it? ”,“ Goat-Dereza ”,“ Cat's House ”,“ On the Green Hills of the Ocean ”,“ Geese-Swans ”,“ Cowgirl and Chimney Sweep ”;
- for secondary school age (grades 5-6) - "The Adventures of Pinocchio", "Cinderella";
- for secondary school age (grades 6-7) - “Jolly Roger”, “The riddle of the Ryaba chicken”, “Fairy Gift”, “Canterville Ghost”, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”;
- for older schoolchildren and adults - “A very simple story”, “The death of Tarelkin”, “Do not leave me ...”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “Remember us funny”;
- for everyone - “The Snow Queen”, “Thumbelina”, “Nightingale”, “Two Masters”, “Scarlet Flower”, “Finist the Clear Falcon”, “Snow Maiden”, “Deceitful Printing”, “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf”.
Performances for adults
Youth Theater of Kaluga pleases with its productions not only children, but also an adult audience. Once a week, on Thursday, at 18.30, one of the following performances can be seen on its stage:
- A Very Simple Story by M. Lado, in 2 acts;
- The Death of Tarelkin by A. Sukhovo-Kobylin, in 2 acts;
- "Do not leave me" A. Dudarev ";
- The Cherry Orchard by A. Chekhov, in 2 acts;
- “Remember us as merry” (“Drummer”) by A. Salynsky, in 2 acts;
- "Sisters" A. Miserable;
- “Museum of disappeared things” A. Ubogogo;
- “Belikov. Rehabilitation ”O. Klyukina.
Kaluga Youth Theater. Actors
In this wonderful theater, there are people devoted to the art of theater who for many years give their talent to the audience. Among them:
- Vizgov Mikhail Alekseevich from 1964 to 1979 was an actor of the Kaluga Youth Theater, and in 1992 he became its main director. In 2005, he was awarded the title of Honored Worker of Culture of the Kaluga Region.
- The director of the theater, Vizgova Valeria Nikolaevna, was given the knowledge of a distinguished cultural worker of Russia. For fifteen years since the inception of the Youth Theater - a leading actress. In the post of director - since 1996.
- Semina Ekaterina Viktorovna since 1997 is a theater actress. She is known for her fox roles as Alice in The Adventures of Pinocchio, Atamansha in The Snow Queen, Captain in Jolly Roger, Magpies in Count to Five, and many others.
- Krokhmaleva Ekaterina Viktorovna plays on the stage of the theater since 2001. Viewers loved her images of the princess in the play “Puss in Boots”, Marie in the play “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”, and Malvins in the production of “The Adventures of Pinocchio”.
Among the very first actors, Evgeny Khakimov, Valery Ushakov, Nadezhda Efremenko, Valentina Mikhaylin, Victor Arkhipov, Larisa Manaev and others can be noted.
The legends of the theater. Mikhail Alekseevich Vizgov
Today's Youth Theater in Kaluga is a young talented troupe brought up by M. A. Vizgov. Thanks to extraordinary performances with interesting drama, the theater gathers the full halls of its loyal fans. From its very foundation, from 1964 to 1979, Mikhail Alekseevich was an actor in the theater. After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of Culture in 1989-1992, he directed the studio of the People’s Theater at the Teacher’s House in Kaluga. In 1992 he became the main director of the theater of young spectators. Thanks to his efforts, the amateur youth team was given the status of a professional theater. The creative team works in the traditions of Russian classical art. On the account of Mikhail Vizgov, more than 80 productions for both children and adults. Vizgov is an honored cultural worker of the Kaluga Region, holder of the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, III degree. His pseudonym is Fedor Rozhkov.
Programs and projects
In addition to the main activity, the Young Spectators Theater in Kaluga implements very interesting programs and projects.
- Since 1970, a children's studio has been working here, the main task of which is to prepare future artists of the troupe. Pupils of the studio take part in theater performances.
- Since 1992, the Youth Theater at its base has been conducting the program “Orthodoxy, Culture and Children”, which includes the organization of colorful Christmas and Easter mornings, exhibitions of children's art.
- Since 1995, the theater has been the venue for the All-Russian festival "Kaluga Theater Vacations." Its initiator was Mikhail Vizgov.
- The creative team holds New Year and Christmas mornings for parents with children up to four years old in the framework of the project "We celebrate the New Year in sliders."
- Thanks to the program “Kaluga Youth Theater for Children of the Kaluga Region”, the troupe visited with various performances in different regions of the Kaluga Region.
- Every Thursday, at 18.30, the collective presents performances for an adult audience.
Exhibitions of children's creativity in the framework of the program "Orthodoxy, Culture and Children"
Since 1998, together with the Kaluga diocese, the theater annually hosts an exhibition of children's art in honor of the Nativity of Christ and the Holy Resurrection. Events are held in the framework of the program "Orthodoxy, Culture and Children." The blessing for its holding was given by the Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsky Clement. In 2018, all districts of the Kaluga region were represented here by more than 100 teams. These are Sunday schools, art schools, secondary schools, kindergartens and children's teenage centers, in total more than 2000 participants. Visitors could get acquainted with drawings, crafts, embroideries, photographs of children, which reflect the Orthodox faith, the triumph of the Nativity of Christ, love of the motherland. The exposition totaled more than 1600 works, many of which were executed at a high artistic level. And as a New Year's gift, young talents watched the premiere of a new performance of the Kaluga Youth Theater “Shepherdess and Chimney Sweep”.
"Cowgirl and chimney sweep"
On December 20, 2018, the premiere of the play “Shepherdess and Chimney Sweep” based on Andersen's fairy tales directed by Mikhail Vizgov took place. The work is a bit unusual. In the main action with a porcelain shepherd and a toy chimney sweep, another performance about the Princess and the Pea is built in. At the same time, both tales are harmoniously combined with each other. Each movement of fairy-tale characters is verified and balanced. The actors' game is lively and plastic, they demonstrate the highest acting skills. The tale is both funny and sad. Dreaming of a fairy-tale prince, the China Shepherd becomes the bride of an ordinary Chimney Sweep. Trying to escape with him from her beloved table, she got scared and decided to go back to her little world. In this tale, the most important human values ​​are intertwined. And above all, this is a story about love, beautiful as old china. The new performance of the Kaluga Youth Theater was poetic, bright and wise.
Museum of Disappearing Things
In November 2018, the theater pleased its fans with the premiere of the play “Museum of Disappearing Things” by Kaluga author A. Ubogoy. Spectators are faced with an unusual plot. The elderly move back many years to their youth. There they have the opportunity to build their own destiny in a different way. Such metamorphoses make them give completely new assessments to their past, present and future. The performance was staged by the chief director of the Kaluga Youth Theater Mikhail Vizgov. The work received a grant from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. An expert commission selected this performance to participate in the XVI Golden Theater “Vityaz” International Theater Forum, which took place in December 2018 in Moscow, at the Pokrovka Theater.
Youth Theater, Kaluga. Positive feedback from viewers
Fans of the theater of a young audience very warmly respond both to the theater’s repertoire and to the play of its actors.
- Fans of stage art praised the location of the theater in the city center.
- Nearby there are no parking problems.
- At the entrance are large colorful posters.
- It turned out to be a pleasant discovery that performances are offered not only for children, but also for adults.
- If you buy an applet, then after the performance you can take a picture with the actors and get an autograph.
- Before starting the production in the lobby, you can see photos of the actors, as well as photos with scenes from various performances.
- The chairs in the hall are transformed, so that even small children can see everything that happens on the stage.
- Actors play sincerely, with a soul. Both children and adults watch with pleasure.
- Pleases the extensive repertoire.
- Interesting exhibitions of children's art in the lobby of the theater before Easter and Christmas.
- Tips from the audience - due to the fact that the hall is small, it is better to purchase tickets in advance.
Negative feedback from viewers
On some organizational issues, the audience has comments on the leadership of the theater of the young spectator in Kaluga.
- When buying online, the cost of a ticket for a performance is more expensive than when buying at the box office.
- The number of seats sold through the official website of the theater is limited.
- The stairs to the second floor are too steep.
- The shooting of the play is prohibited.
- Adults considered some of the dialogues in productions to be somewhat difficult for children's perception.
- There is no buffet in the theater, food and drinks can be bought directly in the lobby.