On September 24, participants of the InteRussia fellowship in theatre arts visited the K.S. Stanislavski House-Museum. The programme included a guided tour and the round table, held together with representatives of the museum and the theatre community.
During the tour, the young actors learned about the life and work of Konstantin Stanislavski and saw the place where the ideas behind his system took shape. The round table then brought together experts from Russia, China, Brazil and Ethiopia, along with fellows from Argentina, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Malaysia, India and Germany.
The discussion opened with a question: what do the fellows associate with theatre, apart from Stanislavski? Each participant then shared their own view of what theatre is and what role it plays today.
Theatre scholar Pavel Rudnev, Associate Professor at the Moscow Art Theatre School-Studio and Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, spoke with the interns about current directions in the development of theatre. The participants discussed how classical acting methods interact with new dramaturgical forms and technologies.
Guests from Brazil, China and Ethiopia spoke about theatre in their own countries, including national acting schools, directing approaches and the organisation of theatrical life.
"Theatre knows no borders, and the best way to prove it is to bring together people who speak different languages but think in the language of the stage. The MKhAT Museum is always open to such a dialogue: we preserve the heritage and pass it on. I am sure that today's young actors will become ambassadors of the Russian theatre school in their own countries," said Pavel Vashchilin, Head of the K.S. Stanislavski House-Museum..
"It is important for young actors from different countries to get to know the Russian theatre school in Russia itself, to understand Stanislavski's system, its philosophy and principles more deeply, and to see how they are applied in contemporary theatre practice. Such immersion allows them to go beyond interpretations established abroad, turn to primary sources and form their own idea of Russian theatre," noted Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Foundation.
The meeting showed that shared emotions, stories and the joy of creating are close to everyone, whatever country they come from. Conversations like this one are how new friendships and future creative projects begin.
The InteRussia Fellowship in Theatre Arts is implemented by Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund, GITIS and TV BRICS International Media Network. The programme is implemented as part of Rossotrudnichestvo’s flagship New Generation initiative with grant support from the Presidential Grants Foundation.