Rejuvenated Paulinka production at Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater
This production opens every season of the Kupala Theater. The play revolves around a story about a girl who decided to marry a guy against her parents’ will. The story written by People’s Poet of Belarus Yanka Kupala takes the audience on a fascinating journey to the depths of Belarusian national culture and traditional folk humor. Paulinka is a national cultural brand of Belarus and one of the hallmarks of the Kupala Theater and entire Belarusian drama. There is much more to it than just a family drama. It is a kind of social satire and a wide reaching survey of the national character. In addition, the story is written is an ornate and flowery Belarusian language. An interesting storyline exposes the conflict of generations and shows the yawning for a new way of life,” Director General of the theater Aleksandr Shestakov said.
He added that the rejuvenated Paulinka production features not only Kupala Theater’s established troupe, but also fledgling actors - students of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts who joined the troupe after passing a casting. The production was directed by student of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts Zinaida Vedenina; its artistic director is actress Olga Nefedova. “The new cast represents the biggest refreshment of Paulinka, because the artists have a different vision and offer a new interpretation of the play. In addition, they are desperate to work at the Kupala Theater. The team approaches the opening of the new season in a very responsible way. The updated production will debut today. We want the audience to come for more,” the director general emphasized.
Paulinka will run on 3, 5, 6 and 7 March. The performance is in Belarusian and is intended for viewers over 12 years old.
The legendary production is an integral part of the Kupala Theater repertoire. It was first staged by Honored Artist of the BSSR Lev Litvinov in Tomsk in 1944, where the theater was in evacuation. The theater’s longest running performance is loved by the audience and has become a real visiting card of the Kupala Theater. The troupe believes that the secret behind such a long stage life is a mix of bright characters, an interesting plot, folk songs and dances, the elaborate language of Belarusian literature classic Yanka Kupala and skillful acting. Since Paulinka’s debut, several generations of the country’s best artists have played in it, and the production itself became a real school of stage skills. At the end of 2019, the production was included in the list of historical and cultural values of Belarus.
