Record-breaking theater competition "Pole. Golden Season" receives an unprecedented number of applications
The 10th Theatre Contest "Polus. Golden Season" Is About to Unveil its Winners
Get ready to witness the triumphs of this year's competition! The 10th "Polus. Golden Season" Theatre Contest is set to announce its victors in late April. Hosting an unprecedented number of applications from theatres across Eastern Siberia and the Far East, the contest has become incredibly competitive, with Kransoyarsk Krai once again leading the pack.These winning performances will be showcased as part of the "Territory. Irkutsk" Festival in June.
Now in its 10th year, the "Polus. Golden Season" Theatre Contest kicked off on January 15th, giving participants two months to submit their videos of theatre productions. The winners will receive a trip to the June Festival of Contemporary Art "Territory. Irkutsk."
The jury will narrow down the list of candidates by April 24th, due to the large number of submissions: 70 theatre productions from 63 theatres, youth creative groups, and amateur troupes will need to be reviewed and evaluated.
Originally, only applications from regions where gold mining company "Polus" operates were accepted: Kransoyarsk Krai, the Habarovsk Krai, Yakutia, Irkutsk Oblast, and Magadan Oblast.
"Theaters in the regions lack a platform where they can receive professional feedback and exchange opinions. It's also important for them to have the opportunity to showcase their work to audiences from other regions and see performances by their peers. For them, the 'Territory' Festival offers such a platform," explained Victoria Vasilyeva, the company "Polus" Director of Public Relations.
In this year's contest, the number of participating professional and amateur theatres is nearly even at 30 and 33 respectively. With 18 newcomers to the "Golden Season," including the "Samorodok" Theatre and the "TVOIY TEATR" Creative Union from Kransoyarsk Krai, 24 theatres have previously taken home first place in the competition, with the most decorated being the City Drama Theatre "Poiysk" and the City Drama Theatre Sharypow.
A total of 20 theatres from Kransoyarsk Krai have submitted their productions for the contest. Many of these were inspired by Russian classics, including works by Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol, Mikhail Lermontov, and Alexander Ostrovsky. This season, a significant theme for the creative exploration of directors has been love, family, and human relationships.
Irkutsk theatres have presented a variety of historical eras in their productions, ranging from Ancient Ireland to the present, as well as two musical productions - a musical and a rock opera. From Yakutia, 11 theatres will compete this season, with many taking inspiration from their local culture and history. Eight theatres from Habarovsk Krai are represented in the contest: five of their productions present the world from a child's perspectives. Magadan Oblast submitted three theatres this year.
The final six professional theatres will compete in the Festival of Contemporary Art "Territory. Irkutsk." Three of these will perform in Irkutsk, with nominations reserved for amateur collectives. In addition to the performers, the winners will split a grant fund worth 7 million rubles. Some of the funds will be used for travel expenses to Irkutsk, with the remainder being allocated for updates to props and scenery, tours, educational programs for staff, and more.
As usual, this year's competition includes an open call for professional participants in the "Territory. Irkutsk" Festival for young cultural and arts professionals from Eastern Siberia and the Far East.
Candidates selected by the expert committee will have their travel expenses covered from their home region to Irkutsk and back.
The Festival of Contemporary Art "Territory. Irkutsk" is expected to run in Irkutsk from June 5 to 11, 2025. This is a joint project by the "Territory" Foundation, the Moscow Museum of Contemporary Art, and gold mining company "Polus."
Photo courtesy of company "Polus."
- Exciting news for theatre enthusiasts: The winners of the 10th Theatre Contest "Polus. Golden Season," happening from June 5 to 11, 2025, in Irkutsk, will receive a trip to the Festival as part of their prize.
- The 70 theatre productions from 63 theatres, youth creative groups, and amateur troupes competing in the 2025 Festival of Contemporary Art "Territory. Irkutsk" represent a wide range of modern entertainment, showcasing works inspired by contemporary themes such as love, family, and human relationships.
- In the fast-paced digital age of современности, the "Polus. Golden Season" Theatre Contest serves as a crucial platform for artistic exchange and professional feedback, offering performances that reflect the rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes of Eastern Siberia and the Far East for a global audience.
