Belarusian Theater Shifts: 'The Girl and the Bear' Marks Drop to Three Fully Belarusian Stages
In a significant shift, the number of theaters staging performances exclusively in Belarusian has dwindled to just three after the premiere of 'The Girl and the Bear'. This change comes amidst a backdrop of leadership changes and language policy alterations in Belarusian theaters.
Before the premiere, only four out of Belarus's 28 professional theaters were dedicated to Belarusian-language performances. The Lyalka Theater, founded in 1986, was one of these, staging 'The Girl and the Bear' under the direction of actress Daria Zimnitskaya, who now serves as its artistic director.
Viktor Klimchuk, who held the artistic director position for 38 years, was forced to leave his post in 2024. He was reprimanded for not meeting performance targets, a responsibility that actually lies with the theater’s general director. Following Klimchuk's departure, the RTBD theater announced plans to introduce Russian-language productions, which could reduce the number of fully Belarusian-language theater companies to just two.
The premiere of 'The Girl and the Bear' marks a turning point in Belarusian theater. With only three theaters now staging performances exclusively in Belarusian, the future of the language in professional theater hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, prominent figures like Viktor Klimchuk, who dedicated decades to Belarusian-language performances, have left their posts, and others, like Daria Zimnitskaya, are stepping into leadership roles.
