The Museum Centre
of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
of the Azerbaijan Republic

Assembly hall
Time: 18:00
Organizer: Children's Theatre "Gunay" jointly with Museum Center

On 21 May 2010, at 18:00, the “Gunay” Children’s Theatre performed the play “Arshin Mal Alan” in the Assembly Hall of the Museum Centre. The play was dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the eminent Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov.
The Museum Centre has held many different events for children in 2010, united under one title “Museum to the children”. These have included thematic lectures, exhibitions of children’s paintings, plays, holiday celebrations etc.
Among the events planned there is a new project by the Museum Centre “Theatre in the Museum”. A series of plays by the “Gunay” Children’s Theatre will be held within the framework of this project. The project’s concept is the harmonious interaction of theatre and the visual arts. The background for the young actors is not traditional scenery, but works by Azerbaijani artists of different generations, specially chosen for the play. This is a new and daring combination of the great music of Uzeyir Hajibeyov and pictorial art: the special flavour of the beginning of the 20th century is conveyed by the works of Azim Azimzadeh, the bright colours of Toghrul Narimanbeyov are fascinating, the quiet muse of Icheri Sheher streets is conveyed by Faig Gambarov, Arif and Orkhan Huseynov; Anar Huseinzadeh carries bright memories and also the mysterious phantoms of Enver Askerov, there is a kaleidoscope of characters by Vugar Ali… The synthesis of these two kinds of art produces an amazing result. The sincere immediacy of the playing of the young actors against a background of colourful fiery lights presents the audience with an atmosphere of festivity, the magic of a child’s dream and the appeal of wishes which will certainly come true.
The artistic production of the play at the Museum Centre was by Vugar Ali. Larisa Tarusova has been the director of the “Gunay” theatre since 2003. The theatre’s repertoire includes several interestingly staged plays. Some of them have already been staged at the Museum Centre, others will be presented to audiences in autumn and winter this year. Another performance by the “Gunay” theatre within the framework of the project “Theatre in the Museum” will take place at the Museum Centre on 02.06.10.
The play “Arshin Mal Alan” was staged in 2007. Since then, the play has been successful on different stages in the city and was awarded the diploma of the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan. In 2010 “Arshin Mal Alan” passed a competitive selection by an international jury and will represent Azerbaijan at the 24th International Theatre Festival of Children and Youth groups in Toulouse, France.