November 21 marks the 95th anniversary of the Jakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater (Viciebsk, 1926).
The day of 21 November 1926 forever went down in the history of the cultural life of the country: on the basis of the graduating students of the Belarusian Drama Studio of the Moscow Art Academic Theatre, the Second Belarusian State Theatre (BDT-2) was opened in Viciebsk. Alumni of the studio are A. Iljinski, T. Siarhiejchyk, P. Malchanau, N. Mitskievich, Ja. Hliabouskaja, A. Radzialouskaja, S. Staniuta and others became the first group of the theatre and made a memorable mark. A play by I. Ben, "Back in the day", was the theatre's opening act. The core of the repertoire at the beginning of its activity was the popular drama "King Maximilian", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare, "The Underworld" by Shashalevich, "The Bacchae" by Euripides, "Eros and Psyche" by Zhulouski, "Ostap" by A. Globa and others. Special attention was paid to developing perfect stage technique, improvisation, voice and body movement.
In 1944 the theatre was named after the People's Writer of Belarus Jakub Kolas. The repertoire consistently included productions based on the classics: "The Thunderstorm is Coming" based on the trilogy "Na rostaniakh" (1958, directed by Ju. Shcharbakou), "Symon-Musyka" (1976, directed by V. Mazynski; 2018, directed by M. Krasnabajieu), "On the Road of Life" (1982, directed by V. Mazynski), "Earth" (2001, directed by V. Barkouski).
Over the years, the theatre has been directed by Artistic Directors S. Khachaturau, S. Razanau, N. Mitskievich, V. Darvishau, V. Aksionau, N. Lojtar, P. Malchanau, F. Shmakau, B. Eryn, V. Masliuk, V. Barkouski, R. Talipau, V. Anisienka, M. Krasnabajieu and A. Starykh. A considerable contribution to the creative life of the theatre was made by chief directors A. Skibnieuski, Ju. Shcharbakou, B. Brahantsau, V. Mazynski, V. Barkouski, Ju. Lizianhievich and others; chief stage designers O. Maryks, Je. Nikalajieu, A. Salaujiou, S. Makaranka, V. Matrosau, P. Anashchanka. The theater has always been famous for its acting school. Talented new actors were brought in to replace the older masters of the stage: Н. Zviezdachotau, H. Markina, L. Matsisava, A. Trus, F. Shmakau, A. Shelieh, L. Trushko, V. Kuliashou, M. Krasnabajieu, T. Skvartsova, Z. Hurbo and others, who worthily continued and developed the national traditions of the Kolas actors. Today, the theatre's art is enriched by people's artists of Belarus S. Akruzhnaja and T. Kokshtys, honoured artists of the Republic of Belarus H. Bukatsina, V. Hrushou, T. Likhachova, H. Lojka, H. Shatko and others.
One of the theatre's best traditions, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, has been its fruitful cooperation with Belarusian writers. Plays and prose works by N. Matukouski, A. Makajionak, I. Shamiakin, A. Dudarau, K. Chorny, V. Volski and A. Adamovich have been staged. "Paulinka" and "Prymaki" by Ja. Kupala, "War to War" and "In the Forests of Paliesaie" by Ja. Kolas. were the hallmark in the artistic understanding of the national classics.
Ja. Kupala, "War to War" and "In the Forests of Paliesaie" by Ja. Kolas. From the mid-1930s, the group began to turn extensively to Russian and European classics. "Without a Dowry" was the first embodiment of A. Ostrovsky's drama on the Belarusian stage. Ibsen's The Haunting of Winslow Manor, Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Power of Darkness
During the Great Patriotic War, the theatre worked in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, then in Orekhovo-Zuev, Moscow Region. The plays staged were "The Russian People" by K. Simonov, "The Front" by A. Korneychuk, "The Invasion" by L. Leonov and "The Trial by Fire" by K. Krapiva. Actors performed in military hospitals and formed a front-line brigade. In the post-war period, the theatre was on a huge creative upswing. Among the most striking works are "Pardon, please!" by A. Makajionak (1953), "Andrei Lobanov" by D. Granin (1955), "The Battle on the Road" by G. Nikalaeva (1959) and "Irkutsk Story" by A. Arbuzov (1960). At the beginning of the 1990s, the Ja. Kolas Theatre turned to classic and contemporary absurdist dramaturgy ("ChP-1" and "ChP-2" based on Gogol's "The Government Inspector", "Zalioty" by V. Dunin-Martsinkievich, "The Lucky Accident" by S. Mrozek). The search for a new look for the theatre continued in 1993–1997. During this period, productions were staged such as "The Shardom Circus" based on D. Kharms and "The Offended" by L. Rodewicz (directed by A. Hryshkievich), "The Misunderstanding" by A. Camus, "Uncle Vanya" by A. Chekhov (directed by Ju. Lizianhievich), "King Lear" by W. Shakespeare (directed by V. Masliuk). Viciebsk is becoming a truly theatrical city: the tradition of actor's benefit performances and theatre marathons is being revived, the theatre starts publishing its own newspaper, Rajiok (published in 1993–1996).
In the late 1997s, open postmodernism and a focus on psychoanalysis became characteristic of the performances. In the 2000s, the direction of the theatre's repertoire policy changed dramatically. The modern play has become the main subject of analysis on the Kolas stage. This is evidenced by the performances staged by V. Anisienka: "Songs of the Wolf" by V. Panin, "Elevator" by Ju. Charniauskaja, "What Hurts?" L. Agulyanskaya, "Bury Me behind the Baseboard" based on a story by P. Sanayev, "White Angel with Black Wings" by D. Balyk. Guest directors A. Marchenko, T. Naumova, A. Dolnikov have been organized.
The theatre has repeatedly participated in international theatre festivals. It is the winner of the USSR State Prize (1946, for the play Nescierka by V. Volski), the BSSR State Prize (1968, for the play "The Sixth of July" by M. Shatrou; 1986, for the play "Evening" by A. Dudarau). The troupe has toured Poland, France, Italy and the USA.
The theatre was awarded honorary academic status in 1977, and national status in 2001. In 1976, it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.
Information about the famous theater can be found in the electronic catalog of the NBB, the online encyclopedia “Belarus in Persons and Events” (in Belarusian and Russian), on the website of the Jakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre (in Belarusian).
