"Four Hearts" – a planet without borders

"Hearts of Four" – A Planet Without Borders

On October 14, the International Festival of Russian Drama Theaters "Hearts of Four – Bridge of Friendship" opened in Tashkent. It brought together representatives of the theatrical community of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, becoming a platform for professional communication, the exchange of creative experience, and the strengthening of cooperation. This year, a fifth "heart" joined the "four" – a Russian company, the Perm Drama Theater "At the Bridge".

The festival is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Republic of Uzbekistan, which acts as the event's organizer. Its goal is to support Russian dramatic art, develop intercultural interaction, and strengthen humanitarian ties.

One of the areas of the theatrical "Bridge of Friendship" was an educational program aimed at improving the professional level of Uzbekistani actors. Practical classes allow them to learn from the experience of Russian teachers who possess great mastery and many years of practice.

Irina Avtushenko is conducting master classes in stage speech at the State Academic Russian Drama Theater and the State Academic Theater for Young Spectators.

Stage speech is one of the key tools of acting technique, and how the audience perceives a play largely depends on it. It is important for an actor not only to have an expressive voice and clear diction, but also to be able to convey the feelings, mood, and inner state of their characters through intonation. Correct pronunciation, articulate speech, and mastery of tempo, rhythm, and pauses help convey the author's intent to the audience, reveal the character's personality, and make their emotions convincing.

"We regularly conduct master classes at various theater festivals, and I gladly accepted the invitation to work with artists from Russian theaters abroad. It is important for me to help them refine their professional skills. Our master classes help artists better understand the principles of training, get acquainted with new methodologies, and master exercises that they can use in their future work. These skills are necessary not only to prepare for a specific performance, but also for continuous professional development. In acting, the body, voice, movement, and speech are interconnected tools that must be mastered to perfection. It is important not just to master a certain technique, but also to learn how to apply it independently, unlocking one's own creative capabilities," noted Irina Avtushenko.

The actors of the Russian Drama Theater worked at the master class with full dedication.

"I have been working in the theater for over seven years. I studied at the State Institute of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan, majoring in 'Drama Theater and Cinema Actor', and I also trained at the theater studio of the Youth Theater of Uzbekistan. I believe that stage speech classes are very important not only for beginners, but also for experienced artists. It is incredibly interesting, although sometimes it can be difficult. When you don't practice certain exercises on a regular basis, some skills are gradually forgotten, and there isn't always enough time to perfect them. Therefore, the opportunity to work with a professional teacher, gain new knowledge, recall already mastered techniques, and see how the instructor works is very valuable. In my opinion, actors sometimes lack such opportunities, so I believe it is essential to attend such master classes," said Alexey Maslov, an actor at the State Academic Russian Drama Theater. "The 'Hearts of Four' program itself, which brings together representatives of different theaters, is no less important. For me, this is primarily an opportunity to exchange experience, communicate, learn about other theater schools, and learn from one another. Such interaction brings people closer, strengthens friendship between theaters, and promotes mutual understanding between nations. When we watch our colleagues' performances, get acquainted with their approaches, and share our own developments, we acquire new experience and evolve."

The festival's educational program helps not only to improve the mastery of artists, but also to develop theatrical art as a whole, strengthens cooperation between professional communities, and creates a foundation for future joint projects.

"Theater is a special planet where there are no state borders, nor should there be," said Irina Avtushenko. And this is indeed true. Political circumstances and the geopolitical situation change, but art continues to unite people.