This poster for a performance of ‘The Scarlet Flower’ at the Saratov Youth Theatre forms part of a significant collection linked to the history of Saratov’s theatres. From the poster, it is possible to ascertain that the show based on the Sergey Aksakov’s fairytale, was to see its 500th performance at the Saratov Youth Theatre. Alenushka, the show’s protagonist, is depicted in the center of the poster.
Sergey Aksakov’s fairytale inspired Irina Karnaukhova and Leonid Brayusevich, graduates of the first Youth Theatre Studio in the 1920’s, to put on a play version of “The Scarlet Flower”. In this way, the fairytale entered into the repertoire of the Saratov Youth Theater. The show’s director was an honored artist of the RSFSR, Vadim Davidov. The play premiered in 1948.
The fairytale ‘The Scarlet Flower’ is one of the theatre’s most successful productions. The show, which more than one generation of children grew up watching, was updated repeatedly, but it never left the Youth Theatre’s playbill. It is a rare example of repertory longevity. Yuri Kiselev, a People’s artist of the USSR, said the following: “The fairytale… “The Scarlet Flower” is nothing but love, and it lives on in the minds of the youngest spectators throughout their whole lives. Achieving this type of artistic clarity and purity of sound which allows children to discuss anything in their own language is a constant objective for theatre. However, drama of this level is rarely shown on a stage specially for younger audiences. Yuri Kiselev managed the Saratov Youth Theatre for over 50 years. Kiselev was named as an “Honorary citizen of Saratov” for his large contribution to the development of theatrical art. The Theater is now named after him. In 2014, in recognition of 100 years since the director’s birth, the square in front of the theatre’s new building was named after him. Later, a monument to Yuri Kiselev was erected in the same square.
The Saratov Youth Theatre is the world’s first professional theatre specially designed for younger audiences. It opened in 1918 with a performance based on Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird”. In late 2011, the Youth Theatre moved to a new building. The theatre maintains its reputation as one of the leaders of the Youth Theatre movement in Russia, which it first earned under Yuri Kiselev’s leadership. The theatre’s current repertoire counts over thirty different plays, including the ageless “The Scarlet Flower”.
Sergey Aksakov’s fairytale inspired Irina Karnaukhova and Leonid Brayusevich, graduates of the first Youth Theatre Studio in the 1920’s, to put on a play version of “The Scarlet Flower”. In this way, the fairytale entered into the repertoire of the Saratov Youth Theater. The show’s director was an honored artist of the RSFSR, Vadim Davidov. The play premiered in 1948.
The fairytale ‘The Scarlet Flower’ is one of the theatre’s most successful productions. The show, which more than one generation of children grew up watching, was updated repeatedly, but it never left the Youth Theatre’s playbill. It is a rare example of repertory longevity. Yuri Kiselev, a People’s artist of the USSR, said the following: “The fairytale… “The Scarlet Flower” is nothing but love, and it lives on in the minds of the youngest spectators throughout their whole lives. Achieving this type of artistic clarity and purity of sound which allows children to discuss anything in their own language is a constant objective for theatre. However, drama of this level is rarely shown on a stage specially for younger audiences. Yuri Kiselev managed the Saratov Youth Theatre for over 50 years. Kiselev was named as an “Honorary citizen of Saratov” for his large contribution to the development of theatrical art. The Theater is now named after him. In 2014, in recognition of 100 years since the director’s birth, the square in front of the theatre’s new building was named after him. Later, a monument to Yuri Kiselev was erected in the same square.
The Saratov Youth Theatre is the world’s first professional theatre specially designed for younger audiences. It opened in 1918 with a performance based on Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird”. In late 2011, the Youth Theatre moved to a new building. The theatre maintains its reputation as one of the leaders of the Youth Theatre movement in Russia, which it first earned under Yuri Kiselev’s leadership. The theatre’s current repertoire counts over thirty different plays, including the ageless “The Scarlet Flower”.
