Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The international Russian-language theatre festival “Hearts of Four – Bridge of Friendship” took place in Tashkent from 14 to 18 October, bringing together members of the theatre community from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Over five days, audiences watched five performances, while participants took part in professional discussions, masterclasses and creative meetings. The festival provided a platform for cultural dialogue, the exchange of experience and stronger humanitarian ties among the participating countries.
Performances were staged at several venues across Tashkent, showcasing productions in a range of genres, from classical drama to experimental theatre.
Uzbekistan’s State Academic Russian Drama Theatre presented “Hamlet”, based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy, and “The Lonely Boat”. Kazakhstan’s Kostanay Regional Russian Drama Theatre staged “The Puppy”, based on a work by Leonid Andreyev.
The programme also featured performances by Perm Theatre “U Mosta”, which brought two productions to Tashkent: “Marriage”, described as a Gogolian phantasmagoria, and “Samanishvili’s Stepmother”. Audiences were introduced to the theatre’s distinctive directorial style, which combines mysticism, subtle humour and psychological depth.
The festival’s educational programme ran throughout all five days. Irina Avtushenko, a professor at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) and an associate professor at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), led masterclasses in stage speech for actors and other theatre professionals.
Sergey Fedotov, artistic director of Perm Theatre “U Mosta” and a laureate of the Golden Mask national theatre award, conducted practical seminars on Mikhail Chekhov’s acting technique.
The festival also hosted a panel discussion titled “The Bridge of Friendship of Russian Theatres”, attended by theatre directors, stage directors and cultural figures from the five countries.
Participants discussed prospects for the development of Russian-language theatres abroad, the expansion of touring activities, the organisation of joint festivals and new cultural initiatives.
The project was curated by Irina Khilkova, an independent theatre producer, board member of the Association of Russian Theatre Professionals Abroad, and author of the international projects “Hearts of Four” and “The Mission of Russian Theatre Abroad”. The festival was organised by the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Uzbekistan.
The event gave audiences an opportunity to discover theatre productions from different countries, while providing professionals with a forum to strengthen existing connections and identify new areas for cooperation.
