Kyrgyz Theatres
Before the October Revolution of 1917, there was no professional Kyrgyz theatre. Popular entertainment was provided by the traditional manaschi, akyns and musicians such as komuzists. It was in 1926, with the creation of the Kyrgyz Musical-Dramtic Studio, that professional dramatic entertainment can be said to have been established.
On the basis of the Studio, in 1930, the Kyrgyz State Theater was established. In 1935 the company of the Russian Drama Theater was established and the following year that of the Kyrgyz Theater. The first performance was “Capital”, a play about the contraction of the Moscow Metro, and it was followed by a premiere. The companies often perform premieres of new plays, especially by local authors – such as Chinghiz Aitmatov, but they also include in the repertoires a wide range of classics, including Chekov and Shakespeare.
In 1938 a puppet theatre was opened in Bishkek. There is still a puppet theater in the capital and another in Osh.
During the Second World War, the actors of the Kyrgyz Theaters performed for the troops at the front. Troupes have also performed in a number of festivals abroad.
Throughout the Republic there are currently 9 Drama Theatres, 6 Musical Theatres, 2 Puppet Theatres, 3 Philharmonia Concert Halls and the Circus … There are also a number of other concert halls and staged areas (such as the Kojumkol Sports Palace in Bishkek).
In Bishkek there are a number of theaters:
- Russian Drama Theatre – named in honour of the Soviet actor Krupskoi – The theatre was established in 1935, but the current building, in Oak Park was built in 1982. Currently it is the only Russian Drama Theatre in the country. The company performs a range of local and international plays – but performances are in Russian.
- Kyrgyz Drama Theatre - Panfilova Street / Abdumomunova – the company performs a range of local and international plays – performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian. The plans for the building were also used for construction of the theater in Osh.
- Bishkek City Drama Theatre – in the Chernevsky Library – between the Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Russian Drama Theatre – a small, intimate, theatre – the company performs a range of local and international plays – performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian. Often hosts visiting international troupes as well.
- Youth Theatre – in the Pioneer House on Michurina.
- Puppet Theatre – on the corner of Sovietskaya and Michurina – performances on Sundays at 11:00am.
Performances normally start early: 4:00, 5:00 or 6:00 pm
