The first day of the Orientation Seminar: review
News / 27 November 2021

The first day of the Orientation Seminar: review

November 27 was the first day of the Kazan Orientation Seminar for the Finalists of the Open International Competition for development of an architectural concept for the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academy Theatre.


Subject: “The Tatar Theatre, its heritage and future in the modern global world.” 


One of the main parts of the Orientation Seminar was a visit of the Finalists to the competition territory together with Natalia Fishman-Bekmambetova, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Tatarstan and Co-Chair of the Expert Council, Ilsiyar Tukhvatullina, Chief Architect of Kazan, Timur Kadyrov, Deputy Chief Architect, and Tatyana Prokofieva, Supervisor of the City Development Institute. The Finalists had the opportunity to get a closer look at the location, as well as the specifics of the area. 


A Q&A meeting was held in the public offices of the Kazan Kremlin, attended by Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ilsiyar Tukhvatullina, Chief Architect of Kazan, Ilfir Yakupov, Director of the Kamala Theatre, Natalia Fishman-Bekmambetova, Farid Bikchantaev, Chief Stage Director of the Theatre, and Maria Ignatieva, Head of Scientific and Methodical Work and the R&D Department of Nekrasov Central Library and co-author of the Functional Specification for the new building of the Theatre. 


During the meeting, changes in the functional specification, the symbiosis of classic and avant-garde, heritage and experiment as the main dilemma to be resolved by architects, and many other topics were discussed. The Finalists were able to ask all relevant questions to the experts and representatives of the departments responsible for the future construction of the new building of the Theatre.


The guided tour to the Kamal Theatre allowed participants to experience its spirit and culture, to learn its strengths and weaknesses, its distinctive features and important parts that must be taken into account in the development of architectural concepts. The participants visited the premises essential to any theatre: artistic and decorative, stage property, tailoring, wardrobe and welding workshops, as well as dressing rooms. 


The Finalists were greatly impressed by the play “Тамашачы тамашасы”, which was specially prepared for guests of the city. The play was performed not by professional actors, but by citizens of the city, who shared their experiences about the new theater building, talked about their expectations, and expressed their wishes for what they would like to see in it.


The busy day ended at the restaurant of national Tatar cuisine with a festive program performed by the State Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tatarstan and the artists of the Kamal Theatre.