In the modern times the art of pantomime flourished due to clown-mime Leonid Engibaryan, who in the last year of his life left the circus and established his pantomime theater, which was named “Leonid Yengibaryan’s Extraordinary Theater.” The theater formed as a complete stage art only in 1969. Henrik Poghosyan, a student of Moscow State Institute of Theater Arts, was attracted to pantomime genre and established “Tushpa” theater group, which performed in the House of Art Employers of Armenia. Sevak’s “Unceasing Belfry,” Poghosyan’s “Move it, Time” and other performances were staged.
In 1972 Arsen Poladov, a student of faculty of directory of Moscow University of Culture, was invited to stage a performance. Poghosyan, however, left the theater and the group dissolved. Poladov who had already arrived in Armenia had to start over from scratch. Within a short period of time a new group was gathered in which such artists like Levon Hovsepyan, Nune Oganezova, Samvel Aghabalyan, Levon Ivanyan, Karine Shahinyan, Ruzan Banduryan, Stepan Shahinyan and others were included. The group performed William Saroyan’s “Hungerers” and a number of etudes. In 1974 the theater group was included in ArmConcert. And it’s exactly this year that’s being marked as the birth of the Armenian pantomime theater. In the years that followed the following performances were staged – “Heroic Ballad,” “Stone, Eagle and Man,” “Blinds,” “The Robber and the Child,” “Autumn,” “Virus of Laugh” etudes and Saroyan’s “Who is there?”and Gogol’s “Overcoat.”
The theater had tours in Ukraine, Belarus, Far East, Kamchatka, Odessa, Saint Petersburg, and other cities and countries. The tours were organized in various regions of Armenia as well. The theater constantly received admiration and appreciation. Of interest is what Soviet stand-up comedian Arkady Raikin said regarding the Yerevan Pantomime Theater. “I have seen a number of pantomime theaters and groups, but I can easily recognize the Yerevan Pantomime Theater among hundreds,” he said.
The interest towards the pantomime theater was growing, and a pantomime studio was established in Lusashkh House. It was led by actor Levon Ivanyan. The students of the studio used to take part in the performances. Also notably, Jirayr Dadosyan was one of the studio students. On the basis of this studio the Pantomime Theatre of Journalist’s House was established. Nevertheless, the greatest event was yet to come; in 1983 the theater was awarded state status. The status was received but still one main issue was remaining unsolved – the theater had no building. Up to this day this issue has been only partially resolved. It was very hard for a theater that had a play list but no building to plan its further activities. Despite this, the theater continued its tours and festivals.
The theater faced a new bunch of difficulties after Armenia became an independent Republic. The poor social conditions had their impact on the theater as well. Quite unexpectedly Poladov’s health state got worse and upon his proposal Yuri Kostanyan became the theater’s art director. A process, which can be described as change of generation, started. Attempts were made to find new ways of expression. Other than that, new and young artists and performers were invited. The theater temporarily acquired a territory – the stage of the former Student Theater of the Academy of Fine Arts.
The territory was rebuilt due to Kostanyan’s and the theater staff’s efforts. The performances started but they were not completed because of the varying approaches and art viewpoints of various performers. In 1998 Jiraryr Dadasyan was appointed the art director of the theater (the appointment was made upon Kostanyan’s proposal). It was a period when a new play list was formed and new ways of expression were established. The theater started its tours and performed in Iran, Germany, Egypt, Georgia and so on.
In 1999 an adjacent studio was formed. The goal of the studio was to prepare and to be always ready to provide the theater with mime artists. Presently the graduates of the studio are already in the main staff of the theater.
In 2001 the first theatrical festival “Nazenik” was held in Independent Armenia. Outstanding pantomime theaters arrived in Armenia from such cities like Moscow, Riga, Ulan-Bator, Tiflis, and so on.
Presently the theater stages ten performances.
In 2008 the theater organized an International Festival of Mime Theaters in Tsakhkadzor. The festival is now held every two years. The festival held in 2010 was named after remarkable clown-mime Leonid Yengibaryan. And in 2012 the International Mime Festival was held on August 10-15.
Address: 3 Moskovyan Str., Yerevan Theater for Young Audiences
Tel.: (374 91) 601 594, (374 77) 991 149
E-mail: [email protected]
