Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan, with its Equus show, created with the support of the Fund Forum, participated in “Meetings in Russia”, an International Festival of Russian Theatres of the CIS and Baltic States, hosted by St. Petersburg from 31 March to 9 April 2010. Theatre-goers in St. Petersburg and theatre critics from Moscow, St.Petersburg as well as the CIS and Baltic States had an opportunity to view and assess one of the Uzbek Youth Theatre’s performances.

Equus premiered in Tashkent on September 3 last year. A notable contribution to the staging of the collaborative work by the Youth Theatre and the Fund Forum is attributed to a prominent Russian actor Victor Verzhbitsky. The play was written by an English dramatist Peter Shaffer 36 years ago and was formerly staged by the Youth Theatre in 1991. The play is based on the psychological development of eternal issues: maturation, “fathers and children”, conflict of society and person. The play has become a true discovery of the season and continues to draw applause on the stage of the Youth Theatre.

In St. Petersburg the play ensured a full-house and earned high ratings from the festival critics:

Eleonora Makarova, theatre critic (Moscow, Russia): “The Russian speech of the Youth Theatre parallels a brand for all theatres. Just as noteworthy is the acting by Albert Halmurzayev and Obid Abdurakhmanov”.

Boris Tukh, theatre critic (Tallin, Estonia): “The play shows a high level of theatre culture”.

Eteri Kekelidze, theatre critic (Moscow, Russia): “People, audiences do need this sort of dialogues. This is a dispute play”.

In the opinion of S. G. Shub, the head of Meetings in Russia festival and director general of the festival-theatre Baltiyskiy dom (Baltic House), “Equus has become one of the best shows of this forum.”

Just as successful has been a photo exhibition of Abdugani Jumayeva, a member of IJOD Association of Artists, Art Critics and People’s Masters, presented during the Festival as part of the Fund Forum’s cultural programme “On the Banks of the Neva”. Many theater-goers in St. Petersburg remember the first applied art exhibition organized in 2008. The latest photo exhibition enabled them to learn more about the culture of the Uzbek nation. For many viewers who once lived in Tashkent the exhibition brought back kind memories and nostalgic feelings and to visit Tashkent once again. Below follow thoughts of some of the visitors to the photo exhibition:

Lidiya Porogova, literature teacher: “This is very interesting… it feels like one face, one smile reflects the entire history of the nation”.

Nina Kryuchkova, pensioner: “I lived in Tashkent for forty-teo years. The city therefore feels so native to me. I’m aware that the city has changed immensely now. But the photos are telling me that the spirit of Tashkent is still the same, there’s warmth, people’s friendliness and hospitality. I would love to go to Tashkent once again to breathe in its air and the aroma of blooming apricots and hot pilaff.”

Anatoliy Trunin, architect: “I spent some time working in Tashkent. And these photos brought back good memories. I will never forget your smiling people who are good specialists and I will always support professional links with Tashkent.”

In November 2009, the Centre of National Arts hosted a personal exhibition of the photo artist Abdugani Jumayev, which was dedicated to the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent and organized by the Fund Forum and IJOD Association of Artists, Art Critics and People’s Masters.

The Fund Forum continues to support creative endeavours of the Youth Theatre, provides assistance in presenting Uzbekistan’s theatre arts internationally, and contributes significantly to the development of Uzbek culture and arts.