Donetsk, Jun 28 — DAN. The Mariupol Russian Drama Theatre will launch the new season on September 10, the theatre’s acting Director General Igor Solonin told the Donetsk News Agency on Tuesday.
“We plan to open the theatre on September 10 which marks Day of Mariupol liberation from Nazi invaders, ” Solonin said. “We are currently working on Chekhov’s ‘Vaudeville, ’ a timeless classic that will launch the theatre season.”
The performance will run on the stage of the local Philharmonic Hall. All actors are preparing for the season and efforts are underway to restore theatre shops as nearly all stage props and sets were lost because of the fighting. “The losses are tremendous. The house where store rooms were leased has burnt to ashes. The scene and woodworking shops are now restoring stage props. DPR authorities and guests from Russia are providing assistance, ” the theatre director said.
Theatre of Nations Art Director, People’s Artist of Russia Yevgeny Mironov who recently visited the Mariupol theatre has asked for a list of essentials needed to start the season. “The list has been forwarded; he is working on it. They promised to help us; everybody is accommodating us open-heartedly, ” he added.
The first professional group of actors emerged in Mariupol in 1878; this date is regarded as the starting point of the theatre timeline. A modern building of the theatre was built in 1960 and the theatre received the status of state institution. In 2022, Ukrainian nationalists blasted the theatre building. In May, the theatre resumed operation at a new address.*jk