“Zhastar Theatre” of Astana city

Zhastar theatre is one of the temples of art that despite of being young has expressively defined its own place in the Kazakh theatre art due to its versatility and innovation. The winning of 10 Grand Prix awards at international and national competitions became a trend towards the direction of the art of theatre’s young staff and a measure of its horizons.

Zhastar theatre was founded on July 5, 2007 with the support of the Astana local administration. The theater lifted its curtains for the first time with the preem of the play «GenghisKhan» by Chingiz Aitmatov and Abish Kekilbaev (the author of the staging is Zhanysh Kulmambetov, the stage director is the Honored worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbay). The first director of the young theater was Gani Kulzhanov, the owner of the prize of the Kazakhstan Youth Union and is the Honoured Artist of Kazakhstan; from 2013 the theatre has been directed by Aibolat Seksenbayev. Nowadays, Yernar Jumatayev is successfully fulfilling his legal responsibilities. Honoured worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbay is a founder of the theatre, art director, as well as, the main director.

99 percent of theatre’s actors are graduates of the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after T.Zhurgenov. Those actors were raised in the workshop of a professor, an excellent student of the RK education, director Nurkanat Zhakypbay. The group of graduates who participated in the founding of the new theatre and entered the wide road of art are, Dauren Sergazin , the owner of the prize of the First President-Leader of the Nation Foundation, Adil Akhmetov, the winner of the state youth prize «Daryn», the owner of the presidential award, the owner of the presidential scholarship: Zhandaulet Batay, Ainur Rakhipova, Azamat Eskulov, Bakhyt Khajibaev, Madina May, Makhabbat Madgulova. These guys and girls have laid the foundation of the creative theatre, and despite their young age are senior representatives of the theatre.

...Starting from the moment of its opening, the theatre paved its way to the creative environment and the young troupe set itself a great pace, which was promoted by the tour to all corners of the Republic in order to be recognized as a creative environment. In particular, in 2007-2008 the theatre staff visited and showed their art in large cities and settlements in the West Kazakhstan region - Aktau, Atyrau, Oral, Aktobe; in the Pavlodar region - Pavlodar; Ekibastuz, Aksu; and such large cities as Kyzylorda, Shymkent, Karaganda. The excellence and supremacy over other theatres at the Republic and international theatrical festivals further rises Zhastar theatre in the estimation of the public.

At «ART ORDO» International Theatre Festival dedicated to the 80th anniversary of C.Aitmatov that was held in October 2008 in the city of Bishkek, «The Heartache» performance (author of the dramatization: honoured worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbaу), based on the works of C.Aitmatov won awards in three nominations: «The best performance» - Grand Prix, prizes «For high artistic performance» and «The best musical arrangement». In March, 2008 in accordance with Astana city theatres’ annual results organized in connection with the International Theatre Day, «Revizor» by N.Gogol (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan) was highly appreciated and won the Grand Prix award in the nomination «The Best Performance».

In April and May of 2009, the theatre staff has staged performances in 12 districts and 36 settlements of Almaty region.

In 2009 the theatre held a ten-day creative business trip to the city of Karaganda, and Daniyar Salamat's performance «Melodies of Love from Nonexistence» (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan) won the special prize named after the People's Artist Z.Shashkina at the XVII Republican Theatre Festival dedicated to175th anniversary of Birzhan sal Kozhagulov.

Also, the theatre team took part in III International Festival of theaters of Central Asia countries in 2010 with the performance «GenghisKhan» by C.Aitmatov and A.Kekilbaev (the author of the dramatization - Zhanysh Kulmambetov) and won the prizes in the nominations «The Best Director» , «The best performance of Genghis Khan role». (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan).

In 2010-2011 talented artisans from Zhastar theatre were on tour to the cities of Taraz, Kokshetau, Pavlodar, Kyzylorda and quenched the thirst for the art of the population of the district.

In September, 2011 at the XIX Republican Theatre Festival dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan held in Almaty, the production of «The long way to Mecca» by S.Raev (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan) won the Grand Prize in the nomination «The best performance».

The creativity of Zhastar theatre was highly appreciated and it was awarded a special diploma at the International theatre festival «The Renaissance and Theatre art», held April 9-13 in the city of Ashgabat.

In November 2011, the deputy director Saibanova Lazima was awarded the title of «Cultural figure» of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A summary tour dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the theatre was held in Almaty on the stage of the Kazakh State Academic Theatre named after M.Auezov in 2012.

At the ХХ Republican festival of Kazakhstan drama theatres dedicated to 80th anniversary of A.Mambetov, held in September 2012 in the city of Oral, the play «Revizor» by N.Gogol was recognized worthy of the Grand Prix in the nomination «Best Performance» (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan).

In 2012, Zhastar theatre was awarded the title of laureate of the First President-Leader of the Nation Foundation for Culture and Art and the badge «For performances of recent years».

In 2013, the theatre took part in the VI International theatre festival of Turkic-speaking countries «Thousand of sighs is one voice» in the Turkish city of Konya and was awarded a special diploma. Also, at the special invitation of the governor of the city Eskishehir, the audience was offered a performance of «Melodies of love from nonexistence» by D.Salamat (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan).

In September 2013 in the city of Aktobe at the XXI Republican Theatre Festival dedicated for the 90th anniversary of the writer and playwright T.Ahtanov the performance «...I would like to see, a boy in love...» by B.Sokpakbayev (The director is, the author of the improvisation – Nurkanat Zhakypbaу, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, Director – Dauren Sergazin, The winner of the prize Fund of the First President – Leader of Nation) won the prize in the nomination «The Best Youth Image».

September 2014 was very successful for the theatre staff. At the XXII Republican Festival of Kazakhstan drama theatres dedicated for the 100th anniversary of S.Maikanova, the collective of Zhastar theatre delivered a comedy «The Taming of the Shrew» by W.Shakespeare (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, Directors – Bekbolat Kurmangozhaev, Honored Artist оf the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dauren Sergazin, The winner of the prize Fund of the First President – Leader of Nation) and by decision of the jury it became the winner of the Grand Prix prize in the nomination «The Best Performance».

In 2014, the director of the theatrе Bekbolat Kurmangozhaev was awarded the title "Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

At the V International theatre festival of Central Asian countries held in October 2014 in the city of Aktau, the production of «Revizor» by N.Gogol once again broke ahead and met the expectations of the troupe. The collective of Zhastar theatre was awarded the Grand Prize for «The Best Performance» and the prize for «The Best Actor» (Dauren Sergazin - for the role of Khlestakov). The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan.

At the International theatre festival «Breakthrough» held in Almaty in November 2014, the theater took part with the melodrama «If only it were true» by Mark Levy and was awarded a special diploma (The director is – Dauren Sergazin The winner of the prize Fund of the First President – Leader of Nation).

In December 2014, the actor Adil Akhmetov was declared the owner of the state youth prize «Daryn».

In June 2015, the theatre took part in XII International theatre festival of Turkic-speaking countries «Nauryz» in Tatarstan, Kazan with the comedy «The Taming of the Shrew» and was awarded a special diploma as a best participant.

At the XXIIІ Republican festival of Kazakhstan drama theatres held in September 2015 in the city of Oskemen, the drama «Cranes» by S.Zhunusov (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan) was recognized as a worthy for award in the nomination «High level of creativity».

FROM MARCH 1, 2015 THE ZHASTAR OF THEATRE BECAME THE OWNER OF THE NEW BUILDING AND LIFTED THE CURTAIN OF THE THIRD THEATRE SEASON BENEATH ITS OWN ROOF.

In 2015, the actor of the theatre Gani Kulzhanov was awarded the title of «Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan».

In 2015, the actors of the theatre Adil Akhmetov and Zhandaulet Batay became holders of the state scholarship of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as Dauren Sergazin became the laureate of the First President-Leader of the Nation Foundation prize in 2016.

In March 2016, the art director and chief director of the theatre, Honoured worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbay took part in the competition held in connection with the celebration of the International Theatre Day with the comedy «The Taming of the Shrew» and was recognized as the winner in the nomination «The Best Director of the Year», and became the owner of «Еңлікгүл – 2016» professional award of Union of theatrical figures of Kazakhstan.

In September 2016, in relation to 25th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Brest, the Republic of Belarus, the theatre staff took part in XXI International theatre Festival «White Tower» with the parable «Genghis Khan» by C.Aitmatov and A.Kekilbayev and it has won the prize in the nomination «For the spectacular performance of the poetic parable».

Also, in September 2016, the theatre participated in XXIV Theatre Festival dedicated for 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Aktobe tried its hands with the musical «Mozart» by J.P.Pilot and O.Schulteis (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan) and became the winner of the prize in the nomination «The Best Performance».

In October 2016, at the VI International Theatre Festival of Central Asian countries «Kazakhstan – Heart of Eurasia» dedicated to for the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the comedy «The Taming of the Shrew» was awarded the I place prize in the city of Taldykorgan.

In November 2016, the art director and chief director of the theatre Nurkanat Zhakypbay became the owner of the national award «Алтын Адам» - «The Choice of the Year» in the nomination «The Man of Arts» for his contribution to the theatrical sphere (directing).

In connection with the 25th anniversary of Independence, the premiere of A.Kekilbaev’s heroic dramatic narrative poem «Hoping for the best» («Ablai Khan») was held on 6-7 December, 2016 (The director is – Nurkanat Zhakypbay Honored Artist of Kazakhstan). In connection with the 25th anniversary of the country's independence, the art director and chief stage director of the theatre, Honoured worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbay was awarded 2nd degree «Dostyk» medal. Also, on the eve of the aforementioned holiday, the actors of our theatre Gani Kulzhanov and Beybit Kusanbayev were awarded a festive medal and deputy director Saibanova Lazima «25 years of Independence of the Republic».

In March 2017, at the competition timed to the International Theatre Day, the art director and chief stage director of the theatre, Honoured worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbay became the owner of the national theatre prize «Сахнагер – 2017», established by the Association of Kazakhstan theaters in the nomination «The best director of the year» and the actor of the theatre Meyirgat Amangeldin was awarded the prize «Үміт» (Hope).

In April 2017, the comedy «The Taming of the Shrew» by W.Shakespeare (directors - Nurkanat Zhakypbay, Bekbolat Kurmangozhaev, Dauren Sergazin) won Grand Prix in the nomination «The Best Performance» and prizes in the nominations «The best actress» (theatre’s actress Ainur Rakhipova for the role of Katherina) and «The most successful visualisation in the performance» (theatre’s actor Adil Akhmetov for the role of Petruccio) at the International theatre festival of Turkic-speaking countries «Theatrical spring - 2017» dedicated to 125th anniversary of the first Kazakh director Zhumat Shanin in the city of Turkestan.

A summary tour dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the theatre was held in Almaty on the stage of the Kazakh State Academic Theatre named after M.Auezov on 26-26 April, 2017.

In June 2017 in the city of Yekaterinburg, the Russian Federation at the 11th International theatre festival of modern drama «Kolyada–PLAYS», the psychological drama «Tortoha of Manya» by N. Kolyada (The director is – Dauren Sergazin, The winner of the prize Fund of the First President – Leader of Nation) was awarded a special diploma.

At the ІV Republican festival of folk (ethnic) theatres of Kazakhstan held in Astana this July, the national heroic dramatic poem «Hoping for the best» by A.Kekilbaev (the stage director - Nurkanat Zhakypbay) won awards in the nominations «For director’s decision in a historical theme» (director Nurkanat Zhakypbay) and «The best actor» (Adil Akhmetov for the role of Ablai Khan).

In September 2017, at the VI International Festival of Turkic-Language Theatres «Tuganlyk» in the city of Ufa, «Revizor» by N.Gogol (director Nurkanat Zhakypbay) was awarded three nominations «For professional equipment and ensemble play», «Best musical design» and «Best female role of the second plan» (for the role of Anna Andreevna-Makhabbat Madgulova)

Also, the theater team took part in the VI International Theatre Festival «Art-Ordo» in Bishkek with the comedy of W.Shakespeare «The Taming of the Shrew» (director Nurkanat Zhakypbay, directors Bekbolat Kurmangozhaev, Dauren Sergazin) and Nurkanat Zhakypbay was recognized the winner in the nomination «Best director».

Nurkanat Zhakypbay was awarded the honorary title «Academician» by the Public Academy of Theater Arts of the Union of Theater Workers of Kyrgyzstan.

The performances offered to the attention of the viewers on the stage of Zhastar theatre are distinguished by its high artistic level, their competence in mastering the cultural achievements of the world theatres.

This year the theater is 10 years old. 70th anniversary of the art director and director of the theater, honored worker of Kazakhstan Nurkanat Zhakypbaу.

The Zhastar Theater is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the 10 th anniversary of the theater, the artistic director of the theater Nurkanat Zhakypbaу on the XI season on October 25 performed a festive show with the best performances «The only melody of my eyes».

Within the framework of the festival viewers will be able to:

25 october – A.Kekilbayev «Hoping for the best» /folk heroic dramatic poem/

26 october – Ch.Aitmatov «The Heartache» /the parable/

26 october – T.Akhmetzhan «Parable of Love» /nocturne/

27 october – Ch.Aitmatov, A.Kekilbaev «Genghis Khan» /the parable/

28 october – .P.Pilo, O.Shulthez «Mozart» /musical/

29 october – – N.Gogol «Auditor» /tragicomedy/

30 october – S. Rayev «The long way to Mecca» /the parable//

31 october – – U.Shakespeare «The Taming of the Shrew» /сomedy/

1 november – N. Zhakypbay presented the best performances «The only melody of my eyes».

In addition, the guests from Kyrgyzstan, who have come to Kyrgyzstan for the celebration of the festival, have presented «Shyngyz Aitmatov International Prize» for their creative work and creative director Nurkanat Zhakypbaу for their creative search in theatrical art, for their contribution to the wide range of directing and masterpieces of Sh.Aitmatov. For the contribution to the development of world theatrical art, the founder of our theater Adil Akhmetov and Dauren Sergazin were awarded the «Certificate of Honor» on behalf of the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic for the best works in the performances of Kyrgyz writers.

In December 2017 the winner of the nomination «Theater» was the actor of our theater Meirgat Amangeldin in the contest «Astana Daryn 2017» organized by Astana city akimat. Also Nazerke Zhumabai, Master of Arts, Head of the Department of Drama and Literature of the theater, was awarded in the nomination «Journalism».

In December 2017, Adil Akhmetov, one of the founders of the theater, who was inspired by theater and art, was awarded the jubilee prize «Astana-Ardagym» for his contribution to cinematography of Astana for 20 years.

In December 2017, the well-known actor of the theater, the director of many fairy-tales, Beibut Kusanbayev, was awarded the badge «Excellence in Culture» by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On the eve of the Independence Day of Kazakhstan, Adil Akhmetov became a laureate of the title of «Honored Artist of Kazakhstan» for outstanding contribution to theatrical and cinema work and for his outstanding contribution to the Kazakh scene art.

On the eve of Independence the director of our theater Bekbolat Kurmangozhayev and the deputy director for spectator, «Madeniet kairatkeri of Kazakhstan» Lazima Saibanova were awarded with «Letter of gratitude» on behalf of Astana city akim Asen Orentayevich Isekeshev.

In January 2018, the well-known theater and cinema actor, one of the founders of the Youth Theater, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gani Kulzhanov was awarded the National Hero of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the breastplate «25 years of the law enforcement service of the Republic of Kazakhstan».

In January 2018, honored worker of Kazakhstan Adil Akhmetov became the owner of the state scholarship of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - the Leader of the Nation for his contribution to the development of the country's culture

NOWADAYS, THERE ARE NEARLY 40 PERFORMANCES IN THEATRE’S REPERTOIRE. EACH OF THESE CREATIVE PERFORMANCES RESPECTED BY THE PUBLIC BECAME AN INTERESTING WORK, WHICH IS WORTH MENTIONING.