Theatre for youth as a cultural phenomenon eastern region Ukraine

Abstract

In the present article the specific functions and major tasks of the regional theater for the young spectators are given, identified the problems associated with its activities in the concrete cultural epoch. The author analyzes the specific activities of the theater for the young spectators in the Eastern part of Ukraine, as well as, his own creative achievements among the staff. The most important is to determine the Regional Russian theater for the young spectators as a professional theater for children and youth. Taking into consideration this statement, it is necessary to educate young people and form their aesthetic concepts and ideas. The theater for the young spectators can influence, by its specific means, the relationship depth and appreciate the uniqueness of human beings, nature, culture and society. The current state of Ukrainian society is defined by quantitative and qualitative transformations that affect the cultural sector and its components. Among them is the field of a theater, where the social change is the most marked or not. Unfortunately, many Ukrainian theaters underwent many transformations during the period of "perestroika". While studying the phenomenon of the children's theater in Ukrainian culture it is important to determine the place and role of the national theater in the contemporary social and cultural progress of society with new social realities that significantly affect the creative and artistic production activity groups and to analyze the mutual influence and interdependence of cultural and social spheres. The state mast be interested in the activities of the theatrical institutions, expand their network, that includes the issue of theater in social and cultural programs that meet the purposes of the cultural policy. Today's reality makes it possible to conclude that the lack of assessment of public institutions of the theater, as a mean of education, leads to the lack of stimulation of the given area. It is significant that the existence of state taxation of the new productions and programs hampers the expansion of the theater repertoire. Similar problems exist at the regional level, because of the lack of support from the cultural institutions and institutions of regional administration, the local theater has to deal with solving different problems concerning: economic profitability, lack of dramatic material, lack of special training institutions, which slowdown its development, and cannot disclose the potential of the art directors and directors or the company of actors. The main problem with the Regional Russian theater for the young spectators in Donbass is that it functions in the regional cultural environment. And one more interesting fact – the theater has a bilingual repertoire. The Theater repertory policy gives attention both to the topical reading of Russian, Ukrainian and world classics, as well as, modern drama. The theatre uses different ways of engaging and educating its audience, including questionnaires, "The Spectator Board performance targets" for apprenticeship and students, different theater festivals. By means of the following activities in the analyzed region of Ukraine, which is characterized by the diversity of the population, ethnic and confessional groups the spectators must take into account these specific characteristics. The purpose of Donetsk Russian Theatre for the young spectators, which operates in Makeyevka, is the realization of public cultural programs in accordance with its principles and creating theatrical productions, organizing cultural events, preserve and enhance national, universal and cultural heritage. The main task of the educational theater is to create a humane and aesthetically correct perception of the world among the younger generation, based on the eternal values of faith, hope, love, attracting young people to the world of art and beauty. To solve this problem the theatre prefers to take the performances from the classics of the world literature and meet high cultural and aesthetic requirements and do not contradict the secular needs of the audience. Since 2007, the theater’s management has chosen the way of updating and enriching the company of young actors, this helps to create the performances based on classical works for children and youth – "The Centerville Ghost" by O.Wilde, "The Red Chief" by O'Henry, "Romeo and Juliet" W. Shakespeare, "The Night before Christmas" by M. Gogol. In recent years, the theater has taken part in several international projects aimed at improving the actors’ professional skills. In 2007, a group of young theater actors were invited by the Russia Union of the theatrical figures to take part in the number of master classes in Moscow. Thus we may say that the Regional Russian theater for the young spectators has to solve a number of problems in order to gain its main goals. The problems are: the lack of governmental funding for the development of the creative initiatives, as a result of this, financial difficulties, staffing issues related to the lack of professional training in the regional institutions; constant need to expand the range of activities, so as to involve a wide range of the dwellers of the region into dramatic art; overcome the total imposing of the other types of entertainment that a modern leisure market offers. This may be quite far from the arts and educational challenges that the theatre wants to face. In other words, popularization the theatrical art among the dwellers of the region. Operating in the region, the leaders of the Regional Theatre for the young spectators work in the following directions: they update the theater repertoire, accept the young artists, open the youth theater studio, monitor the viewers’ interest in theater’s performances, take part in festivals and international programs.