Kazakh capital set to develop street theatre arts

A new cultural genre - street theatre arts - is set to be developed in Astana. Artists from 10 theatres, including those from Poland, Russia, Estonia, and Almaty, have gathered in the Kazakh capital to participate in the inaugural Theatrical Eurasia International Festival, organized as part of this year’s Astana Day celebrations. Theatrical troupes have prepared a series of captivating performances and events for residents and guests of the city, featuring processions of street theater groups, open-air performances by artists, and various interactive children’s shows. According to foreign guests of the festival, the theatrical celebration has left an indelible impression on everyone involved.

«In street theater, the most important thing for us is eye contact with the audience. When you see people looking into your eyes and their mood changes, that’s perhaps the greatest reward for an artist. Street theater is not centered on scenery, a stage, or special effects; rather, the artist’s mastery lies in direct interaction with the audience. The purer the connection with the audience, the better. It's remarkable how people in Kazakhstan have managed to preserve their inner purity,» said Stanislav Warkki, Founder and Artistic Director of Giraffe Royal Theatre in Estonia.

Artists and festival organizers have shared their plans for the future. Thus, they intend to launch a theater exchange in Astana next year. This initiative aims to discover new talents and promote young Kazakh theatre directors to achieve international recognition.

«We would like to create a special platform for theater and artistic directors. Our plans involve bringing in various world-class directors, including those from France and Russia. As the world changes, so does the stage. We would like to introduce video projectors on stage and create new sets. This will be an annual event venue,» said Elmira Shcherbakova, Director of Theatrical Eurasia International Festival.