With the support of A1 the first video performance of Family inclusive theatre “i” is already available online

There is no premiere of the Family inclusive theatre “i” that draws no attention from the audience and every time the team has something to surprise with. Here and now the seventh big production supported by A1 turned into the first for the theatre video performance ever. How that worked out you can watch on youtube channel of the theatre.

 

The show as an adaptation of Astrid Lingren’s story Ronia The Robber’s Daughter is one of the most large-scale productions of Family inclusive theatre “i”. It engages 70 guys whereas 40 actors are children with autism. The leads in the play are performed by Olya Molotovnik and the son of a well-known Belarusian playwright Gleb Kureichik.

Theatre “i” started rehearsals for the play in autumn 2019. The teachers and children reckoned the premiere will take place in May. However, due to pandemic the rehearsals had to be cancelled. The directors Sergei Isakov and Igor Sidorchyk made a few attempts to organize them online via a video app, but the guys felt it hard to rehearse on their own without feeling the partner and a clear understanding how to act on the stage. Many of them were prepared to accept that they will have to forget about Ronia till September in the best case, however, there arrived a progressive idea: how about filming the show? Irina Kiseleva, creative director of Family Inclusive theatre “i” described how they have converted a two hours performance into 40 minutes film and why it’s production made everyone stressed:

“Video version is absolutely another piece of work. At first our stage director Igor Sidorchik had to rewrite the play in order to make a script out of it. Then we needed a filming location for which we thank Movie Production Company, the largest in Belarus private filmstudio. One has to say that without support of A1 all these ideas would have been unreal to turn into reality. Sergei Isakov took on direction of the video version. We were very concerned we would be unable to finish on time since after a long break we had to gather junior actors together again, again to learn the play, show how to act in front of the camera. And I am very happy that our guys managed these tasks no worse than professionals”.

Besides children, the show engages the teaching staff of the theatre: Gennady Fomin, Denis Dadishkiliani, Diana Fleyer. They were the ones to help junior actors adapt to shooting.

“We are very happy that Family inclusive theatre “i” could implement this idea. A1 is the general partner of theatre “i” since the day of it’s foundation – 2 April 2016- comments Nikolai Bredelev, head of A1 PR. – We support all premieres of the theatre, carefully follow it’s activity, are happy about the actors’ success. Once our counterparts addressed us with a request to support their idea about a video performance we were happy to agree. Even in the current circumstances junior actors need to have their dreams come true, i.e. to act on the stage of the theatre. And we believe that the audience will be able to watch a full two hours version of the play but on a real stage”.

The best gratitude for the guys engaged in the play will be the number of views and feedback the viewers are able to post in the comments section to the broadcasting, however, there is another form of support, i.e. material. A1 subscribers can donate to Family inclusive theater “i” via sms to 0204 or USSD request *222*24# (minimum donation is BYN 2) or transfer funds via A1 Banking app and ERIP being A1 subscriber.

*The author of the play Ronia The Robber’s Daughter is a well-loved by numerous generations Swedish writer Astrid Lingren who gave Carlson and Pippi Longstocking to the world. The writer managed to create a unique world where children’s wisdom goes largely beyond the stupidity of many adults. The play narrates about a mediaeval Sweden and two rival factions with a girl Ronia and a boy Birk. They have made friends and swore to be a brother and sister. In the course of the play they will have a lot to go through together: wild witter attack, death songs of the underground people, howling falls and snow capture. But the most important is their friendship and loyalty of one another that could defeat years of feud between their families.