The Taming of the Shrew, famous comedy by William Shakespeare, has been repeatedly staged on the world theater stages and has been filmed dozens of times. The author wrote the play in five acts between 1590 and 1592, but its plot is still relevant today.
Graduate of the Directing Department of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture Tavus Khakimova chose this ageless work of the English playwright for her graduation performance. The students of the Acting Department and the mentor stage director Maral Durdyeva helped her to realize the director’s idea.
The actors are performing in the Turkmen language, but, nevertheless, the Shakespearean text with its sharp and sarcastic phrases is very recognizable.The capital’s theaters helped novice artists with the scenery, costumes and props, thanks to which they managed to fully convey the spirit of the ancient era.
As soon as the curtain rises, the viewer immediately finds himself in one of the most romantic cities in Italy, where everything promotes the birth of love.
An author of the production Tavus Khakimova is a girl with a solid inner core.On the set, she is strict, because the theater director works not only with the acting troupe, but also with the technical staff sound engineers, lighting designers, stage assemblers.
At the same time, the student takes into account every remark of her mentor and immediately corrects the shortcomings.
All novice actors are very demanding of themselves, but, as one wise man noted, youth, which does not forgive itself, is forgiven everything.The performance is complex, and it involves more than 10 students of acting faculties.
Everyone’s level of training is different, there are both first-year students and graduates in petto, but the guys exert themselves and work with great passion and dedication.
“When I first entered the directing department, I decided to stage the tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides Medea, says Tavus Khakimova.But already in the process of studying, I realized that I still have a lot to learn before taking on such a complex work.
And I love Shakespeare very much as an author, so my choice fell on a sharp comedy, which contains both sword fights and the mannerism peculiar to nobles of that time.”
“Students are lucky to work on the legendary stage of the Mollanepes Theater, says teacher Maral Durdyeva.Here, the charged stage space is based on the energy of young people and their own vision of Shakespearean comedy.
About 10 years ago, I staged The Taming of the Shrew at the Pushkin Russian Drama Theater.And it would seem that it is easier to work with the material that you are familiar with.
But the students and I tried to look for new colors, other stage solutions.The performance was born in creative agony, and the exam board will soon evaluate the result.”